Cool area. lots of places to lay low and relax. Biking is not a problem. The water is nice feeling…read moredue to a cold spring as well.

If you need breathtaking views especially this time of the year where the trees change color, this…read moreis the spot for you. There is more than one trail and if you have a map you can decide which trail to follow. If you are interested in just a walk around the lake the red trail would be perfect but if you are more interested in the view of the lake from higher up, then the blue to the orange trail, blue and blue to the red trail will get you there. The entire hike got us was about 3 miles. A simple hike that is good enough for a beginner. It had a steep hill and I was so out of breath going up but when you get to the top at the lookout point it was all worth it. The lake wasn't the cleanest as the water was green but there were still people fishing. A lot of picnic tables to sit, eat or hang out and a big parking lot with adequate space.

Walked in for the first time last summer needing some bait so me and my little guy could go just…read moreabout last minute fishing. The gentleman in there was very nice and the place looked really clean. The bait we got looked healthy and worked great. Thanks!

From the owner: Local bait shop specializing in Northern Pike, Striped Bass, and Trout on the Connecticut river,…read moreit's tributaries, and surrounding waters.

This was a busy beach when we went on a Saturday afternoon. There were a lot of people sunbathing…read morebut nobody in the water that day. They have clean restrooms with a large covered pavilion. You can also walk on the trails along the beach. I was told by a close friend that the lagoon across the beach is a great place for bird watching too. There were a lot of birds flying around when we were there.

Hammonasset Beach State Park is located in Madison, CT. We arrived here on a cloudy, but sunny day,…read moreso the beach area wasn't super busy. For Connecticut residents admission is free. For non residents it can be as high as $22, per day depending on time of arrival and the day of the week. They had a substantial amount of campers and tents on the park side of the beach! They also have restrooms and showers. You can also find a snack and ice cream bar here. The walk to the beach from the parking was pretty short, since there's no boardwalk here. I found the sand to be pretty soft, the shells were the most prominent and the most aggressive the closer to the water. Unfortunately due to the wind and the cloudy sky, it was too cold for a swim. We used an SPF 70, and still walked away with a red back! The beach was clean and the water was clean. There were lifeguards on duty. I would return here again.

Nice fishing and boating area mostly private property surrounding the Lake so you can't walk…read morearound it but is quiet and peaceful Small boats kayaks can be launched from small boat ramp

There is Lower, Middle and Upper Bolton Lake only Lower and Middle have boat launch areas. Upper…read moreBolton isn't very large and not worth kayaking but I would say the fishing should be good because of the aquatic plant life: lily pads Bull Rushes and the like. I couldn't put my kayak in because of the Fire Dept drills that were going on but hope to do it next weekend. Middle Bolton is smaller than Lower but has less houses which makes it nice if you seek a serene spot to nature watch. The Lower and the Upper are both beautiful and a wonderful natural resource for water activities but note motor boats are limited in size so you won't be seeing any water skiing there, just fishing, sailing and kayaking...nice!

This is a beautiful park, it's very well maintained and clean. There are a lot of people walking…read moretheir dogs. You can walk in a small boardwalk and read about the wildlife. There are also some more challenging hikes where there is even some scrambling. Very clean and peaceful. The pine needles smell so beautiful! There's lots of free parking. You need pay for parking if you're out of state. Plenty of porta potties and bathrooms.

It has been at least 25 years since we last visited this park which is a shame because it is a true…read moregem. There is no entrance fee for CT residents and only costs $5 for out-of-state vehicles. We enjoyed walking around the ponds and trails with out dog as it appears many others do. The sole disappointment is the small covered bridge is currently closed. Next time, and there will be a next time in the not too distant future, we will bring a lunch and settle in at one of the many picnic tables.

What a great find! It was a bit out of our way, but well worth the visit. Friendly, helpful staff…read more Good selection of bait and tackle. Store like this are getting harder to find but well worth your support.

I stopped by and also stopped to the building behind them to where a friend lives that i know, and…read morewhile visiting I noticed the people in the back were nothing but ignorant. these guys are nothing but loud noisey and, inconsiderate. They have a dog that does nothing but bark at you. 24/7. No matter time of day. You ask them to quiet him they tell you to shut the f up. At one point last summer (2023) they had a guy that would call you hateful derrogatory names (f*ggot) I was highly disgusted by this behavior!!

Went on Blackhawk yesterday November 23rd, it was a beautiful day for fishing, and that's exactly…read morewhat we did. Everyone caught their limits, the crew were a superior bunch, very helpful and friendly, I don't know why they were said to be off putting. My cousin and I would strongly recommend taking a day trip with them!

We have been on The Black Hawk quite a few times and every time we have a wonderful experience! I…read morecan't say enough about the Captain and crew. They not only help to educate anyone new to fishing in a fun way, but they also enjoy what they do and it shows. We catch beautiful fish every time we go. Our whole family enjoys it and we look forward to many years of fishing on the Black Hawk and creating great family memories.

This is an interesting park. George Dudley Seymour State Park is adjacent to Hurd State Park, it's…read morejust to the south of it. Access to the park is at the end of Clarkhurst Road, which basically dead-ends at what used to be a bridge for cars, but now is a pedestrian bridge. There's a small gravel lot here, across from a private residence. The first part of the park is interesting - after you cross the bridge, you're still hiking on old roadway, down the hill. Once at the bottom of the hill, there are a number of meandering little trails, none of which are blazed. If you follow the main trail, you eventually end up in a semi-marshy area, where paths have been mowed. This would be a great park if there were a little more signage and trail blazing. Just even an entrance sign would be enough.

Well maintained hiking trails. Beautiful and scenic whichever way you decide to hike. Make sure you…read morewear proper fitting as the terrain can get rocky and steep in some areas. If you are lucky enough to find the falls, it's worth the hike!

Another visit to this state park though this time we only walked our dog around a small section…read more There were a number of people sitting around enjoying the nice weather or having a quick lunch at one of the numerous picnic tables. We will be back