Black Rock State Park

Named after the valuable graphite mined by early settlers, Black Rock State Park boasts a status as one of Connecticut's most popular parks.

Park history

This dramatic landscape, with steep, wooded hillsides jutting down to Black Rock Pond, is a perennially popular spot with outdoor enthusiasts. The park was given to the people of Connecticut in 1926 due to the efforts of a community group that wanted to see the natural beauty of the area preserved. The Civilian Conservation Corps constructed a number of access roads and other features during the Great Depression.

Hike the woods

The big draw at this park is getting close to nature, and there is no better place to do so than on one of the many trails that line the landscape. Perhaps the best-loved walk is the Mattatuck Trail, which wends through the Connecticut countryside from Waterbury to Morris. Crossing through the Naugatuck Valley, expect to see dramatic ridges, rushing water and local wildlife.

Staying put

Even if you are not feeling up to a walk, there is still plenty to do close to the campsite. Black Rock Pond is a state-designated trout fishing area, and anglers try their luck all season. The camping area features 96 individual sites, each given a measure of privacy by thick forests that separate them. Camping season spans April through September of every year.

The splendor of New England nature that captivated the early settlers who visited this spot is still on display at Connecticut's Black Rock State Park, which has kept its wild, reckless beauty over the centuries. A visit is well worth the trip.