Bigelow Hollow State Park in Connecticut, USA - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-10-29. Check linked official notices before travel.

Bigelow Hollow State Park in Union, Connecticut, offers pond-side scenery and forest walks beside Nipmuck State Forest. Choose a shorter loop west of the park road or prepare for a much longer walk toward Breakneck Pond. A visit here needs a trail plan and a parking plan, especially on busy summer weekends.

Forest walks and pond views

Rocky ground, open water and a mix of deciduous and evergreen woods shape the outing. The park is part of a larger forest setting, so a path leaving a picnic area can lead much farther than expected. Match the route to your group before starting.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Long routes and unmonitored water

There is no designated swimming area or lifeguard service. The ponds are not tested for water quality, and steep drop-offs are not monitored. Choose a park with a designated swim area for a swimming trip. Obey all no-swimming and no-water-entry signs here. During regulated hunting seasons, wear high-visibility clothing and stay on marked trails.

Park rules at the ponds

Campfires on the ground and camping are prohibited in the state park. Alcohol, generators and amplified music are also prohibited. Keep pets leashed within seven feet, remove your litter and use designated picnic and parking areas. Stay off the islands and rocks.

Day passes do not reserve a space

Use the authorized day-pass guidance for payment after arriving. Do not pay ahead expecting guaranteed admission. Route 171 outside the entrance cannot be used as overflow parking; choose another destination if the park is full.

Reach the Union entrance

The park address is 298 Bigelow Hollow Road, Union, CT 06076, off Route 171. Use the official trail map for paths, the park road and the adjoining forest. Distances printed between trail marks are individual segments, not total round-trip lengths. The Blue-Blazed Nipmuck Trail is for foot travel.

Other nearby forest and park visits

Mashamoquet Brook State Park in Pomfret is reached at 276 Mashamoquet Road and opens 8 a.m. to sunset. Shenipsit State Forest offers another option off Route 190 in the Stafford–Somers area. Check the approach and seasonal gate conditions for your chosen forest entrance before driving there.

Choose the right length of walk

For a shorter outing that returns to its starting point, examine the loops west of the park road. A circuit around Breakneck Pond requires at least six miles of walking. The marked routes heading toward that area do not each form a convenient short loop, so do not treat the first outward leg as the whole hike.

Basic day-use facilities

The official facility list includes picnic tables, pit toilets and a boat-launch ramp. These are practical day-use facilities rather than evidence of a staffed swimming beach or campground. Use the park information page to check the rules and services relevant to your outing.

About Bigelow Hollow

The park and neighboring Nipmuck State Forest protect part of a large, continuous wooded area in eastern Connecticut. Their adjoining trails make the boundary between a short park visit and a longer forest hike important for planning.

History

The State Park and Forest Commission established the Bigelow Hollow recreation area in 1949. Nipmuck State Forest’s first land acquisition dates to 1905, so the forest’s history predates the recreation area.

Woodland habitat and nature watching

Mixed deciduous and evergreen woodland meets ponds and rocky ground here. Use a quiet pause on your walk to observe that setting, and leave the shore and vegetation undisturbed. The forest experience does not depend on seeing a particular animal.

Contact

Call 860-684-3430 or email [email protected] for park questions. Ask about conditions affecting your selected route or access point before a visit that depends on them.