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CT State Parks and Forests Main Page |
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Forest Location |
Multiple access points in Easton, Newtown, Redding, Weston. (Directions) |
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Forest Contact Information |
Aquarion Water Company
714 Black Rock Road Easton, CT 06612 |
(203) 452-3511 |
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{Symbol for Handicapped Accessibility} |
ACCESSIBILITY |
This forest offers: |
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HOURS: |
The forest recreation areas are open from sunrise to sunset. Other forest areas are open one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. |
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PETS: |
Pets are not permitted in Centennial Watershed State Forest. | |
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{Centennial Watershed State Forest} |
Centennial Watershed State Forest Easton, Newtown, Redding, Weston |
The 15,300 acres of Centennial Watershed State Forest offer diverse opportunities for hiking, fishing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and birding. | |
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Permit required for all activities |
{Bird Watching} Birding |
{Hiking} Hiking |
{Cross-Country Skiing} Cross-Country Skiing |
{Hunting} Hunting |
{Fishing} Fishing |
Letterboxing | |
To be on Centennial Watershed State Forest, you must have a valid permit. A hiking permit allows access to 17 miles of scenic trails. A fishing permit provides access to freshwater fishing at Saugatuck, West Pequonnock and Far Mill reservoirs in Weston, Redding, Monroe and Shelton. A hunting permit provides access to archery and shotgun deer hunting. |
Hiking, Snowshoeing, Cross-Country Skiing: Trail maps/permits are available at kiosks located at the trailheads, at the Aquarion Water Company office at 714 Black Rock Road (Route 58) Easton or they may be downloaded .
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The Trail Map serves as your permit and must be carried at all times.
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Hikers under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult permit-holder.
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Swimming, wading, camping, alcoholic beverages, smoking, campfires, picnicking, littering, radios, motors and vendors are prohibited.
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The Saugatuck Universal Access Trail located at the northern end of the Saugatuck Reservoir on Newtown Road in Redding is wheelchair accessible.
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Pets are prohibited.
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No motorized vehicles, bicycles or mountain bikes are allowed.
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Horseback riding is not allowed.
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Fishing: Anglers need a fishing permit from the Aquarion Water Company valid only for the year in which it is issued. A current Connecticut fishing license is also required. Fishing permits are not transferable. Season permit fees are $25.00, one-day permits are $5.00, and permits for senior citizens and physically challenged anglers are free. Where to purchase a fishing permit.
Three Aquarion reservoirs are open for fishing by permit: ( Fishing maps may be downloaded from the Aquarion website.)
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The Saugatuck, in Redding and Weston. At this reservoir, there is a fishing dock accessible to wheelchairs users, located in Weston at the intersection of Valley Forge and Davis Hill Roads.
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The Far Mill, in Shelton.
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The West Pequonnock, in Monroe.
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Fishing season begins the third Saturday of April and ends on the last day of December. Ice fishing is prohibited. During fishing season, you may fish daily, including holidays, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
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Anglers 16 years of age or older must have a valid state fishing license to apply for an Aquarion Water Company fishing permit. Anglers under 16 are not required to have a permit, but must be accompanied by an adult permit-holder.
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Anglers 65 years of age or older are eligible for a lifetime permit. Non-residents and Connecticut residents with valid season state fishing licenses may purchase a season or daily permit. Non-residents, with a valid 3-day non-resident fishing license, may only purchase daily permits.
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Fishing is permitted only from the shoreline. Boating, flotation devices and waders are prohibited.
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To protect the public water supply from contamination, the introduction of alewives into the water is prohibited. Please do not empty bait containers into the reservoir.
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Cleaning fish on the shoreline is prohibited. |
Deer - Roughly 3,350 acres are open to archery and about 3,500 are open to Shotgun (Lottery Area 56). Access permits from Aquarion are required (call 203-452-3511). View maps of deer hunting areas.
Small Game - 81 acres in Shelton. |
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Chemical Toilets in the Saugatuck Reservoir Recreation Area and Aspetuck Trail Area |
{Centennial Watershed State Forest} Centennial Watershed State Forest |
Aspetuck Trail |
To reach the north end of the trail: From the intersection of Routes 107 and 58 in Redding (Putnam Memorial State Park), take Route 58 south for 1.7 miles. Turn left on Hopewell Woods Road. Follow for 1.8 miles to parking on right. |
To reach the south end of the trail: From the intersection of Routes 58 and 136 in Easton, take Rt. 58 north for 2.6 miles. Turn right on Valley Road. Follow for 0.5 miles. Turn left at intersection with Staples Road. Continue for 0.8 miles to fork. Take left fork to Rockhouse Road. Turn left on Rockhouse Road, follow for 0.2 miles to parking on right. |
Saugatuck Trail |
To reach the north end of the trail: From the junction of Routes 57 and 53 in Weston, go north on Route 53 for 5.5 miles. Turn right onto Route 107 in Redding. Continue 0.6 miles to Deer Hill Road. Turn right on Deer Hill Road and go for 0.7 miles. Trailhead is on the side of 56 Deer Hill Road, alongside and behind a stormwater catch basin. |
To reach the south end of the trail: From the junction of Routes 57 and 53 in Weston, go north on Route 53 for 3.5 miles to Valley Forge Road. Turn right on Valley Forge Road and continue for 1.8 miles to Davis Hill Road. Turn right on Davis Hill Road, trailhead is about 500 feet on right (north) side of road. |
Alternate Parking: There are several parking areas along Route 53 that also provide access. |
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There are no parking fees at this forest.
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In 2002, the State, in partnership with The Nature Conservancy (TNC), acquired ownership from Aquarion Water Company of roughly 6,000 acres and also the conservation and public access easements on an additional 9,000 acres. The name “Centennial Watershed” was chosen to honor the 100-year anniversary of Connecticut's State Forest System and to recognize that one of the main purposes of the land is to protect drinking water supplies. About 90% of the land is in Fairfield County, with the rest in Litchfield, New Haven, and Hartford Counties. Management of this Forest is through the Conservation Land Committee (CLC) consisting of representatives of Aquarion Water Company, DEEP, and TNC.
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Other Nearby State Recreation Areas Include: |
Collis P. Huntington State Park, Redding Location: Take Route 58 to Sunset Hill Road. Park entrance is on east side of Sunset Hill Road Activities: Canoeing, Cross-Country Skiing, Fishing (5 ponds), Hiking, Horseback Riding Charge: None |
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Related Links |
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{Link to Top of Page} | Content Last Updated July 18, 2016 |