Black Rock State Park
- Status
- Status not postedDaily 8 a.m. – sunset
- Entrance fee
- $15 ($10 nonresident)Annual pass available
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Not stated — check with park
- Camping
- 30 campsitesAlso cabins
- Official site
- ctparks.com(860) 283-8088
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
Black Rock State Park is a park in Naugatuck Valley Planning Region County, about 8 miles northwest of Waterbury.
Popular activities here are swimming, fishing, hiking, and picnicking. Overnight options include 30 campsites, with RV sites and tent sites. Roofed lodging includes cabins.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Daily | 8 a.m. – sunset | — |
Official wording
Open Daily (8:00 a.m. – Sunset)
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/New York).
Fees and passes
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| FREE – In-State Registered Vehicles (resident) | Free |
| $15 – Out-of-State Vehicles (Weekends/Holidays) (nonresident) | $15 |
| $10 – Out-of-State Vehicles (Weekdays) (nonresident) | $10 |
| $112 – Out-of-State Vehicles (Season Pass) (nonresident) | $112 · year |
Official wording
FREE – In-State Registered Vehicles $15 – Out-of-State Vehicles (Weekends/Holidays) $10 – Out-of-State Vehicles (Weekdays) $112 – Out-of-State Vehicles (Season Pass)
Connecticut park passes
- Passport to the Parks — free parking for CT-registered vehicles (funded by an $8/yr vehicle registration fee from July 1, 2025). Day-use parking at all CT State Parks and Forests Details
- Out-of-state vehicle season pass — $112. Season parking for out-of-state vehicles (as listed on park fee boxes) Details
From the Connecticut state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- ReserveAmerica (connecticutstateparks.reserveamerica.com)
- Phone
- 1-877-668-CAMP (2267)
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Camping
| Campground or site type | Sites | Hookups / features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 RV/Tent Sites • Basic campsite: $17 resident/$27 non-resident plus processing fee
• Campsite with electric and water: $27 resident/$37 non-resident plus processing fee
• Open and wooded sites with picnic table, fire ring, and grate
• Accessible campsites available by reservation
• Six-person maximum per site
• Maximum stay: 14 days | 30 | Campsite with electric and water: $27 resident/$37 non-resident plus processing feeShowers | — |
Camping details from the park
The Black Rock State Park Campground offers 78 campsites—some wooded, some open—and four rustic cabins within walking distance to the beach, fishing pond, recreation field, and hiking trails. Black Rock Campground 2026 Season: Opens Friday, May 22 and closes Monday, October 12 at noon 2027 Season: Opens Friday, May 28 and closes Monday, October 11 at noon. Cabins available on Friday and Saturday nights from Friday, May 28 through Sunday, June 13, and daily from Monday, June 14 through Monday, September 6. Cabins are not available after Labor Day. Campground Map Know Before You Go • No pets • No alcohol • Camping in Connecticut State Parks and Forests 30 RV/Tent Sites • Basic campsite: $17 resident/$27 non-resident plus processing fee • Campsite with electric and water: $27 resident/$37 non-resident plus processing fee • Open and wooded sites with picnic table, fire ring, and grate • Accessible campsites available by reservation • Six-person maximum per site • Maximum stay: 14 days Four Rustic Cabins • Daily Rate: $50 resident/$60 non-resident – plus processing fee, 15% occupancy tax, and refundable $50 security deposit • Two-room cabins with double bed and two bunk beds • Comfortably sleeps four people with space up to six • Available to reserve on Friday & Saturday nights prior to mid-June, and daily from mid-June - Labor Day weekend • Two-night minimum required Amenities • ADA access • Bathhouses with hot showers, dishwashing, and potable water* • Dumping station • Fishing • Swimming • *Early season is designated as rustic camping only - no bathrooms, showers or running water available. Portable toilets available near campground office. Reserve a Campsite Online: Reserve America By phone: 1-877-668-CAMP (2267)
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Cabins and lodging
- Four Rustic Cabins• Daily Rate: $50 resident/$60 non-resident – plus processing fee, 15% occupancy tax, and refundable $50 security deposit • Two-room cabins with double bed and two bunk beds • Comfortably sleeps four people with space up to six • Available to reserve on Friday & Saturday nights prior to mid-June, and daily from mid-June - Labor Day weekend • Two-night minimum required
Things to do
CampingFishingHikingPicnickingSwimming
Trails
Bisected by the Connecticut Forest and Parks Association’s Mattatuck Trail and home to a network of intersecting trails and footpaths, Black Rock offers something for every hiker, from 30-minute strolls to all-day treks. Black Rock Loop (Red Blaze to Blue Blaze) • 1.6-mile loop with scenic views • Level of difficulty: Moderate to strenuous One of the park’s main attractions, this circuit offers a highlight reel of many of the park’s key features including a jaw dropping view of the park’s namesake black rocks. Starting at the footbridge near the main parking lot, head up an unmarked footpath toward the blue-blazed Mattatuck Trail, which brings you up a heart-pumping half-mile climb, then rewards you with a panoramic view of Naugatuck Valley. After the power line corridor, hang right on the red-blazed trail for a more leisurely walk back to the footbridge. Black Rock Pond Path (Unmarked) • Footpath with pond views • Level of difficulty: Easy For a closer look at the pond, follow the unmarked footpath that meanders along the banks of the pond. For a shorter hike, head back in the direction you started when you’re ready or keep going to eventually link to the Mattatuck Trail (blue blaze) and Bidwell Hill Road, which travels back to the park. Know Before You Go • Trail Map • Trail Map - Mobile
Swimming
Know Before You Go • Current Water Quality Report (updated weekly, Memorial Day – Labor Day) • Beach Regulations and Swimming Safety Information
Fishing
With its many bubbling streams and shimmering calm waters of Black Rock pond, Black Rock State Park is a favorite for anglers. And as one of Connecticut’s 13 designated trout parks, regularly restocked throughout the spring and fall, Black Rock Pond is a family-friendly destination for even the youngest anglers. Types of fish: Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout Know Before You Go • Connecticut Trout Parks
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Picnic areas
- Restrooms: not available (stated by the park)
Camping
- Tent camping
- RV camping
Lodging
- Cabins
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
Parking Restrooms
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Rules and permits
• An alcohol ban is in place at Black Rock State Park - alcohol is prohibited • Bus Permits are required for mid-size and full-size busses seating 30 or more passengers • Trail Map • Trail Map - Mobile
Getting there
- Address
- 2065 Thomaston Rd.
Watertown, CT 06795 - Nearest town
- Waterbury — about 8 mi northwest (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 41.6546, -73.1069
- Phone
- (860) 283-8088
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Connecticut State Parks and Forests — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- DEEP 'Find a Park or Forest by Name' list (portal.ct.gov) merged with the ctparks.com ParkFinder search service
- Wikidata
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology