Nipmuck State Forest

Nipmuck State Forest is a forest in Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region County, about 8 miles southwest of Southbridge Town.

Visitors come for horseback riding, historic sites, hunting in season, boating, and fishing. Overnight options include campsites, with tent sites.

Camping is only permitted at one of our three backpack camping sites, reservations required. There is no camping or ground fires without a permit within Nipmuck State Forest.

A variety of woods roads and trails both marked and unmarked will take you through the rocky terrain within Nipmuck State Forest. The marked trails, mostly within the Breakneck Block of the forest adjacent to Bigelow Hollow State Park, have colored blazes on trees to help guide your way. The several unblazed trails will lead you around many of the less explored areas of the forest. Be sure to have a planned route as it is not always easy way to find your way back to your starting point. The trails within Nipmuck State Forest are non-motorized multi-use trails with some exceptions of being foot travel only along the Blue Blazed Nipmuck Trail.

Know Before you Go Wear your Life Jacket (PFD)! There must be a wearable coastguard approved life jacket for each person in the proper size and in good condition aboard all vessels. • Boating and Paddling • Paddling in Connecticut • Padding Safety Boat Launches • Black Pond, Woodstock • Morey Pond, Union

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Before heading out, be sure to check the latest water conditions and fishing regulations. Black Pond, Woodstock (74 acres) • Parking: 100 Camp Road, Woodstock CT 06281 • Motors limited to 5 horsepower • Fish Species: Trout (Brook, Brown, Rainbow, Tiger), Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Chain Pickerel, Brown Bullhead, Calico Bass, Yellow Perch, Sunfish (Bluegill, Pumpkinseed) • Fishing Regulations/Rules: Trout Management Lake: From March 1 until 6:00 am second Saturday of April, daily creel limit 1 trout, 14” minimum length. From 6:00 am on the second Saturday of April until the last day of February, daily creel limit 5 trout, not more than 1 of which, may be a Brook Trout that is 14” or greater. Morey Pond, Union/Ashford (45 acres) • Fish Species: Sunfish (Bluegill, Pumpkinseed), Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Brown Bullhead, Chain Pickerel • Fishing Regulations/Rules: 8 MPH speed limit Griggs Pond, Woodstock (38 acres) • Walk in access from route 198 only. Please do not block the gate. • Use of internal combustion engines prohibited. • Fish Species: Sunfish (Bluegill, Pumpkinseed), Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Brown Bullhead

A state fishing license is usually required.

Parking Picnic Tables

• Please carry out what you carry in. Thank you for not littering. • All pets must be on a leash that is no longer than 7 feet. • There is no camping or ground fires without a permit within Nipmuck State Forest. • Camping is only permitted at one of our three backpack camping sites, reservations required. • During the appropriate seasons, hunting is allowed in Nipmuck State Forest. Wear bright clothing and avoid wearing gray, brown, tan, or white when hiking in hunted areas to increase your visibility.