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Chatfield Hollow State Park, with water wheels and trails that lead to old water mill ruins, is a must visit Connecticut state park. Plus like so many things in New England, it offers something for all ages.

Prep for Chatfield Hollow State Park

Before even starting the car to drive to Chatfield Hollow State Park, we were knee-deep in a mystery.

We’d found information about an off-the-beaten-path Connecticut state park that ordinary citizens were not allowed to use. The hint of restriction, combined with the history of the Chatfield Hollow State Park, definitely was an enticing incentive to visit the spot.

Chatfield Hollow is a heavily used Connecticut state park, well recognized for its contributions from the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC), but right across the street is a “state park” that is not available to the general public.

On the other side of Route 80, sits Forster State Park, a Connecticut State Park with signs warning anyone trying to access it, not to trespass. On the property is a manmade lake, many buildings, including the family mansion of a renowned architect, as well as the town’s first power plant, a hydroelectric dam.

In the 1930’s famed architect Frank Forster acquired the land off of Route 80 and began construction on the buildings as well as the large pond. Frank passed away in 1948 but was survived by his wife Mary.

In the 1960’s Mary decided to strike up a deal with the state to keep her husband’s legacy and property alive for future generations. The state purchased the land for $125,000 and Mary lived out her days in the grand house her husband designed and built.

In the 1970’s, the state purchased the 41 acres next to the Forster piece that contained the water wheel power plant. In the 1980’s the state entered into a legal battle with the property’s caretaker, who refused to vacate following Mary Forster’s death in 1980. He stated that in her final days, Mary was unhappy with the deal the state had made with her.

Looking at the management of the property today, it isn’t a surprise that Mary would have misgivings. Once the legal issues were sorted out, the state of Connecticut gained full access to the property and began renting out two of the houses to forestry employees. The Connecticut state park was not opened to the public except for a small program allowing special needs children to fish on the pond occasionally.

Today, things have not changed. The Forster property is still closed to the public, inciting outrage within the small group of people who know of the state parcel’s existence. In 2012, a few of the historic outbuildings and one cottage were demolished. A campaign was started to save the remaining out buildings and the hydro electric dam. Today these buildings still stand in ruins, with only the 2 main houses being maintained by the state.

Our visit to Chatfield Hollow State Park

We began our visit by driving up to the entrance of Forster State Park. We didn’t get far before a locked gate and no trespassing signs barred the way. So, we crossed the street and entered the open Chatfield Hollow State Park and drove to the farthest point.

Here we found a stone-lined pond surrounded by greenery and adorned with a rustic wooden water wheel, remnant from an early gristmill owned and operated by the Chatfield brothers. After wrangling our golden retriever, Nemo, back out of the water, we spent some time exploring the stone sluice way and the water wheel, pretty impressive structures in their own right.

Being that we wanted to see the rest of the infrastructure of the park, we headed to the large pond on the property. In 1934, the CCC built the earth and stone dam at the 7-acre Schreeder Pond turning the Connecticut State Park into a top destination for state residents.

It’s peaceful and serene in the fall but is a bustling place in the warm summer months. Park benches surrounding the water invite relaxation and peaceful viewing. You’ll also find a boardwalk that leads into the adjacent wetlands area and a small nature center in a historic building.

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Hiking this Connecticut State Park

Branching off from the pond are hiking trails that seem to lead off in every direction. Although we visited on a weekday, we saw many groups of people heading out on hikes. I can imagine based on the park map, you could spend all day winding your way through the immense hiking trails.

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Chatfield Hollow State Park features six main trails that wind through various terrain, including a historic Native American foot trail. One picturesque hike in particular, begins with a bright red covered walkway bridge, while another starts off in dense tall trees. Additional trails take off from the eastern park boundary and traverse the adjacent Cockaponset State Forest.

With adventure in mind, we headed back to the entrance of the park in search of the hiking trail that led to the Indian Caves.

With so many unofficial trail entrances, we did have trouble finding the exact trail we were looking for. But after an adventure quite literally up the wrong trail, we found the trail markers for the Indian Caves. The caves are natural structures that create hollow places inside the solid rock hill. Accessing the caves is not for those with bad balance as the trail leads through some slippery and steep places. To access the trail, look for the Green Chimney Trail on the map.

Crossing Into Forster State Park

Once we felt satisfied we had adequately covered Chatfield Hollow State Park, we sprinted across route 80 and headed into Forster State Park. The Chatfield Trail, part of the Connecticut Blue-Blazed system, runs through here, making a narrow edge of the park accessible to the public.

In our research, we had read access to the old water mill could be gained from here, and we had to try.

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After crossing the road and a small bridge, we followed a large cable partially buried in the ground. We walked maybe half a mile when an  unmarked path led off to the left.

With little to go on when it came to finding the old mill ruins, we decided to take the left-veering trail. Soon, we were questioning if we had gone the right way, the path was becoming narrower, harder to navigate and less maintained, but we pressed on.

After a short while, we could hear water rushing ahead of us, so we followed the sound. After a little while, we could see large boulders to our left, fighting to hold back the rushing stream running fast from a very wet summer. After years of neglect, the water had forced cracks in the rocks. While the sides of the dam were still holding strong, the center was falling in upon itself.

I noticed a large pipe coming out from underneath the water flow. Gazing downstream, I could tell the pipe was leading somewhere.

Walking in tandem with the pipe, we followed a narrow, barely worn footpath, until we came up to two buildings. The pipe led straight into one of them, which I assumed was the power plant building in its time.

Both buildings were in ruin, with plants reclaiming their territory and roofs in different states of cave in. We observed and imagined what this all looked like in the past, with a hint of sadness over the state of disrepair, knowing that these once historic buildings could not be fixed.

With light growing dimmer in the deep forest, we decided to head back to Chatfield state park where we’d left the car, and save the rest of the Chatfield trail for another day.

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What to Know Before You Go

Chatfield Hollow State park is located off Route 80 in Killingworth, CT. Parking is plenty and free on weekdays and weekends Labor Day through Memorial Day. The rest of the year non-residents must pay a $15 parking fee on weekends and holidays.

Activities at this Connecticut State Park besides hiking include fishing in the streams and brooks, picnicking and swimming in the pond. Public facilities include bathrooms and picnic shelters. For more information about Chatfield Hollow State Park click here.

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