CT State Parks and Forests Main Page Park Location  Route 171 Union (Directions) Park Contact Information Bigelow Hollow State Park c/o Shenipsit State Forest 166 Chestnut Hill Road Stafford Springs, CT  06076 (860) 684-3430 {Link to Purchase a State Park Season Pass}   {Symbol for Handicapped Accessibility} ACCESSIBILITY This park offers: {Symbol for Handicapped Accessibility} Parking {Symbol for Handicapped Accessibility} Picnic Tables HOURS: The park is open from 8 am to sunset. Forest areas are open one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. PETS: Pets on a leash are permitted. STATE PARKS CONTACT INFORMATION: Email: dep.stateparks@ct.gov Telephone: (860) 424-3200 (866) 287-2757 (Toll Free in CT) Fax: (860) 424-4070

{Picnic Area at Bigelow Hollow State Park} Bigelow Hollow State Park &  Nipmuck State Forest Union Bigelow Hollow State Park and the adjoining Nipmuck State Forest offer over 9,000 acres of recreation opportunities including miles of hiking trails and an 18-acre pond in Eastern Connecticut. Activities Facilities Directions Map History Activities {Boating} Boating {Picnicking} Picnicking {Cross-Country Skiing} Cross Country Skiing {Pond Fishing} Pond Fishing {Hiking} Hiking {SCUBA Diving} Scuba Diving {Hunting} Hunting (Forest Only) {Snowmobiling} Snowmobiling Facilities Boat Launches: Bigelow Pond; Mashapaug Lake, Picnic Tables, Pit Toilets {Bigelow Hollow State Park} Bigelow Hollow State Park, Union Hiking Marked trails lead from Bigelow Hollow to the Breakneck area, but no trail in this area is a loop trail. Hikers should be prepared to walk at least 6 miles to complete a loop around Breakneck. There are no marked trails to Briggs pond. For hikers desiring trails that start and end in the same place, the trails west of the park road both form loops and cover less of a distance than the trails leading to Breakneck.  This extensive trail system is maintained in cooperation with the Connecticut Forest and Park Association, which provides volunteer assistance. For information on volunteering for trail activities throughout the state contact the Connecticut Forest and Park Association, 16 Meriden Road, Rockfall, CT 06481; Telephone: (860) 346-2372. Directions Bigelow Hollow State Park is located on Route 171 and can be reached via I-84. Take Exit 73 or 74, then follow Route 190 north to Route 171 east to the park entrance. Nipmuck State Forest Mountain Laurel Sanctuary Eastbound on I-84: take Exit 72. Follow Route 89 north to the intersection of Route 89 and Route 190. Go west onto Route 190. The sanctuary entrance is a short distance from the intersection and is well marked. Take Exit 73 to visit another area of Nipmuck State Forest. Fees   Information on Season Passes There is a seasonal weekend/holiday parking fee at Bigelow Hollow State Park. More Information Map Hiking Map  (Color, 906 K) History Nipmuck State Forest and Bigelow Hollow State Park in the town of Union lie within one of the largest unbroken forest areas in Eastern Connecticut. Nipmuck is the second oldest state forest in Connecticut. The first parcel was acquired in 1905. Additional lands in the towns of Stafford, Ashford, Willington, and Woodstock have been added to the forest over the years. Today Nipmuck State Forest and Bigelow Hollow total over 9,000 acres. The recreation area in Bigelow Hollow was established in 1949 by the State Park and Forest Commission. The name "Bigelow" is a mystery since no person of that name seems to have been associated with this area. According to older residents of Union, the name is derived from "Big Low" in reference to the deep hollow in which the 18-acre pond of that name is located. The word "Mashapaug" is the Nipmuck Indian word for "Great Pond". The present lake of 300 acres was originally about half the size. In the mid-1880's, two different parties attempted to draw the water from this natural pond. One party ditched to the north and the other to the south. The latter party was forced to give up the battle when they ran into a ledge and later joined forces with their rivals to create the present lake. Two other smaller ponds, Breakneck and Griggs, lie to the north and east of Mashapaug in Nipmuck State Forest. The contrast of rock, water, and mixed deciduous/evergreen woodland provide ample beauty to the many visitors this park receives. Other Nearby State Recreation Areas Include: Quaddick State Park, Thompson Location: 7 miles northeast of Putnam via East Putnam Road off 44 Activities: Pond Fishing, Swimming, Boating, Picnicking, Field Sports Charge: Weekends and holidays {Bigelow Hollow State Park} Bigelow Hollow State Park Shenipsit State Forest, Stafford Springs Location: 15 miles west on Route 190 Activities: CCC Museum, Hiking, Lookout Tower, Picnicking, Winter Recreation Charge: None Related Links Connecticut Tourism Information Fishing Information Boating Information {Link to Top of Page}