Day Pond State Park

State park in New London County, Connecticut

41°33′12″N 72°25′06″W / 41.55333°N 72.41833°W / 41.55333; -72.41833^[1]Area180 acres (73 ha)^[2]Elevation463 ft (141 m)^[1]DesignationConnecticut state parkEstablished1949AdministratorConnecticut Department of Energy and Environmental ProtectionWebsiteDay Pond State Park

Day Pond State Park is a public recreation area covering 180 acres (73 ha) in the town of Colchester, Connecticut. The state park abuts Salmon River State Forest and is managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The park offers opportunities for hiking, swimming, shoreline fishing, picnicking and mountain biking. ^[3]

History

Foundation stones and the park's pond are the few remaining signs of the pioneering Day family, who built the pond to provide waterpower to operate the family sawmill. The land became a state park in 1949.^[3]

Activities and amenities

The park is designated for trout management and offers shoreline fishing on Day Pond.^[4] The pond covers about 7 acres (2.8 ha) and reaches a depth of a little over 10 feet (3.0 m).^[5] Park trails connect with approximately five miles of trails in the adjoining state forest.^[6] Swimming is also available.^[3]

Day Pond Brook Falls

A multi-drop waterfall can be found along Day Pond Brook, dropping a total height of 40 feet (12 meters). The falls were once not well known and could not be accessed without bushwhacking. But in 2010, a spur trail was created by a Boy Scout to provide easier access to the falls for the public.^[7]

References

^ ^a ^b "Day Pond State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
^ "Appendix A: List of State Parks and Forests" (PDF). State Parks and Forests: Funding. Staff Findings and Recommendations. Connecticut General Assembly. January 23, 2014. p. A-1. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Day Pond State Park". State Parks and Forests. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. July 18, 2016. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
^ "2016 Connecticut Angler's Guide" (PDF). State of Connecticut. p. 33. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
^ "Day Pond" (PDF). Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. September 2011. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
^ "Day Pond State Park Map" (PDF). Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. May 12, 2014. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
^ Parsons, Greg. "Day Pond Brook Falls". New England Waterfalls.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Day Pond State Park.

Day Pond State Park Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Day Pond State Park Map Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

Protected areas of Connecticut

National Park Service