Bigelow Hollow State Park

This is a beautiful park. The trails are well marked. You will have to be mindful of where you're walking- lots of rocks and roots to stumble on!! Be careful and stop often to take in the scenery! They have plenty of areas to picnic. Lots of tables and grills. They do have some primitive facilities and shelters ... camping in designated areas. There are several different loops to choose from depending on how much time you're looking to spend. I'd consider the trails I hiked to be a level 2.2 +/-. There are areas to scramble if you're looking for some level 3.

Very nice park. It's park of Nipmuck state Forrest. Trails are well marked the Blue one is is pretty narrow and has a lot of rocks and steep areas. There are a few spots where you can park. Restroom available. Printed Maps available at the entrance

Hands down one of the most beautiful parks in CT. Out in the middle of nowhere. Such a great place to fish and picnic, barbecue and relax. Super clear water. Caught my personal best rainbow trout here recently.

Wonderful place to go swimming and hiking. They have fire pits and lots of picnic tables. There were porta potties at both picnic areas. Also very dog friendly!

Absolutely beautiful state park with lots to do! Outside charcoal grills at several different spots, picnic tables, swimming, fishing, kayak, canoe, boat launch with out houses in each parking lot. The water is clean and teaming with wildlife! A great place to plan a day with the family from hiking to fishing, swimming, grilling, there always something to do here.

Breathtakingly beautiful! We decided to stop by on our way to Portland and I’m glad we did! Park is clean, quiet and full of pine trees. And of course picnic areas with tables and grills. It’s just 3 hours away from NYC which makes it perfect for weekend getaways.

recommend 10/10

This is the perfect place for any outdoor activity including hiking, swimming, riding bikes, kayaking, fishing, and having cookouts. They have grills here and also benches through out the park. There is also a boat launch. I enjoy swimming here every year because the water is so clean that you can see the bottom in some areas and the lake also has a sand bar. They have a rock that you can jump from and is deep enough. There is a lot of trails to hike as well and if anyone has not been here I would definitely recommend checking it out. You can also get some beautiful pictures here as well.

Free for CT with lots of parking. There's a boat launch area, lots of folks kayaking, family picnic area where folks were grilling. But I use it for hiking. There are many trails on AllTrails app and this time we did a 5.2 mile loop. Didn't see any animals just many varieties of mushrooms. Trail was well marked, buggy at parts, overall a good hike.

Great place for hiking, fishing, boating, swimming and other outdoor activities. Parking can fill up quickly. So plan accordingly. Overall a Beautiful Park.

This place is a total hidden gem. The small lake offers a very scenic hike. The hike in itself isn't strenuous at all and people of all age groups can do it. The hiking trails have lots of shade. The lake itself is very clean, so you can certainly go for a swim. I have never seen this park get overcrowded. There's always ample parking. Obviously, one of the best picnic spots in northeastern CT as well.

Very nice park with lots of trails and gorgeous views of the lakes. Highly recommend and will return. Only 20 mins from UCONN campus and minutes from the MA border.

Beautiful place. Happened to hit the park later in the afternoon on Halloween 2020 and the fog was rising from the water, there was still snow on the ground and trees and it was beautiful! Lots of little outlets/areas to go. Be sure to explore!

Wonderful park with a ton to do. If you are looking for a relaxing picnic, long hike, fishing, or paddle (all 4) this is the place for you. The hike to breakneck pond is wonderful. Great swimming in the big lake. Also a really nice place to go xc skiing. Go on a weekday and the place isn't crowded at all.

One of the best hiking trails I've done since moving to New England. It did have some uphill elevation changes but nothing too drastic or very long.

My suggestion is when you arrive at the fork of the loop, start towards the left. This side of the trail has the best views of the lake. The views along the lake are pretty amazing.

You do have to cross over 2 waterways by using a fallen tree. Find a long tree branch to use for balance since these trees are not very wide or flat. There is no other way to complete this trail without using these fallen trees like a bridge.

There is also a small waterfall that took me by surprise as rounded the loop on the way back. This side of the lake is a bit more overgrown and a rockier.

This is a definite trail you can come back to over and over.

My husband and I go kayaking here all the time. It is beautiful and serene. In the summer there are families laughing and having such a great time. People talk and laugh with you. I love it here.

Wow, what a gem. Great trails, lake, and clean surroundings. The trail we took connects to Nipmuck State Forest and Breakneck Pond.

Absolutely beautiful hiking trails and camp sites. The water is clean and good for kayaking, paddle boarding and swimming in the summer months. Great views.

The water is clear. The place is beautiful. We kayak here every week. We tried the fisherman's pond for the first time. There are lots of fairy houses. Quiet and peaceful. Much smaller than mashepaug but nice just the same.

I had never been to Bigelow Hollow before, but I was pleasantly surprised. The area we chose to set up was very secluded and we had lots of privacy. The lake was beautiful, and was shaded by a gorgeous canopy of trees. The only downside I could see is if you have mobility challenges (Walker's or wheelchairs) is could be inaccessible due to the need to hike through the woods to get to picnic areas.

Perfect spot for day picnic. Fire pit and benches are there. Bring some wood or collect some for fire.You can do fishing ,boating and try paddle boat. Carry your trash back. Enjoyed nature. So many trails, good for hiking.