Nipmuck State Forest is a
Connecticut
Connecticut () is the southernmost state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. Its capita ...
state forest
A state forest or national forest is a forest that is administered or protected by some agency of a sovereign or federated state, or territory.
Background
The precise application of the terms vary by jurisdiction. For example:
* In Australia, a ...
. Its surround
Bigelow Hollow State Park
Bigelow Hollow State Park is public recreation area in the town of Union, Connecticut, in the Quinebaug Highlands. The state park's border Nipmuck State Forest on the east and west and Mashapaug Lake on the north. The park and forest are loc ...
in the
town
A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world.
Origin and use
The word "town" shares an ori ...
of
Union
Union commonly refers to:
* Trade union, an organization of workers
* Union (set theory), in mathematics, a fundamental operation on sets
Union may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment
Music
* Union (band), an American rock group
** ''Un ...
and include parcels in
Stafford,
Ashford, and other towns.
[ The forest is part of a larger network of forest lands making up some in all.
]
Recreation opportunities
Hiking
Hiking is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century.AMATO, JOSEPH A. "Mind over Foot: Romantic Walking and Rambling." In ''On Foot: A Histor ...
is available on more than of trails. One of the most popular routes is up to and around Breakneck Pond. Other trails are available in other parcels of the forest. Snowmobiling trails are offered in winter.[ ]Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch fish. Fish are often caught as wildlife from the natural environment, but may also be caught from stocked bodies of water such as ponds, canals, park wetlands and reservoirs. Fishing techniques inclu ...
is popular both in summer and winter (ice fishing
Ice fishing is the practice of catching fish with lines and fish hooks or spears through an opening in the ice on a frozen body of water. Ice fishers may fish in the open or in heated enclosures, some with bunks and amenities.
Shelters
Longe ...
). The streams, ponds and lakes feature stocked as well as native trout
Trout are species of freshwater fish belonging to the genera '' Oncorhynchus'', '' Salmo'' and '' Salvelinus'', all of the subfamily Salmoninae of the family Salmonidae. The word ''trout'' is also used as part of the name of some non-salm ...
, small and large mouth bass
The largemouth bass (''Micropterus salmoides'') is a carnivorous freshwater gamefish in the Centrarchidae ( sunfish) family, a species of black bass native to the eastern and central United States, southeastern Canada and northern Mexico, but ...
, and pickerel. Camping
Camping is an outdoor activity involving overnight stays away from home, either without shelter or using basic shelter such as a tent, or a recreational vehicle. Typically, participants leave developed areas to spend time outdoors in more na ...
is allowed in the back country of the forest.
Mountain Laurel Sanctuary
In the western portion of the forest, a Mountain Laurel Sanctuary is located on Snow Hill. Mountain laurel thrives here and reaches heights of 15 to 20 feet which is rare for mountain laurel.[
]
See also
* Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor
References
External links
Bigelow Hollow State Park & Nipmuck State Forest
Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
{{ConnecticutTrailSystem
Connecticut state forests
State forests of the Appalachians
Geography of Tolland County, Connecticut
Parks in Tolland County, Connecticut
Union, Connecticut
Protected areas established in 1905
1905 establishments in Connecticut