Pachaug State Forest
- Status
- Status not postedDaily 8 a.m. – sunset
- Entrance fee
- See fee details
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Not stated — check with park
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- ctparks.com(860) 376-4075
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
Covering about 223 acres, Pachaug State Forest lies in Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region County, about 11 miles east of Norwich.
Visitors come for horseback riding, hunting in season, boating, swimming, and biking. For overnight stays there are campsites (tent sites).
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 | Free |
Official wording
Free Fees apply for camping
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
- Camping
- Required
- Booking system
- ReserveAmerica (connecticutstateparks.reserveamerica.com)
- Phone
- 1-877-668-CAMP (2267)
• Backpack camping permits are available by reservation only.
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Camping
Pachaug State Forest Campgrounds
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
- No alcohol
- Campground is located near public lands open to hunting. Please use caution.
- Camping in Connecticut State Parks and Forests
Pachaug’s seemingly endless trails, streams, and forest to explore make it a perfect spot to set up camp and stay awhile. And with eight different camping options, you can find what you’re looking for, no matter your camping style. Plus, the forest is one of the few pet-friendly spots in the state, so your best friend can join you for the adventure. Even horses are welcome. Youth group camping is also available to qualifying youth organizations.
The forest has two main campgrounds. Mount Misery Campground, located in the Chapman area of the forest, is nearby its namesake and the forest’s highest peak and in striking distance to the stunning Rhododendron Sanctuary. Green Falls is the — surprise, surprise — Green Falls area and has convenient waterside access to swimming and fishing at Green Fall Pond.
Read more from the park
A third campground dedicated to the equine set is located near the intersection of two horseback riding trails, near Mount Misery Brook.
All three campgrounds are somewhat rustic without showers, RV hookups, and other creature comforts. But what they lack in frills and cell phone signal, they more than make up for with natural scenery, fresh air, and solitude. The perfect place to get away from it all!
2026 Season: Opens Friday, April 10 and closes Monday, October 12 at noon
2027 Season: Opens Friday, April 9 and closes Monday, October 11 at noon
Forest office: (860) 376-4075
Green Falls Campground
- Green Falls Road (Green Falls area)
- 18 wooded campsites with picnic tables
- Two pets allowed per campsite
- Daily Rate: $17 resident/$27 non-resident plus processing fee
- Six-person maximum per site
- Maximum stay: 14 days
- Campground Map
Mount Misery Campground
- Off Route 49 (Chapman area)
- 22 wooded sites with picnic tables
Frog Hollow Equestrian Campground
- 41.606° N, 71.866° W
- 2026 Season: Opens Friday, April 10 and closes Monday, October 12.
- 2027 Season: Opens Friday, April 9 and closes Monday, October 11.
- 18 semi-wooded equestrian campsites (available exclusively to equestrians with their horses - no horse rentals available)
- Available first-come, first-served
- Daily Rate: $17/residents $27 non-residents, payable on site.
Amenities
- Compost toilets
- Recycling
- Two pets/site permitted
RESERVE A CAMPSITE
- Online: Green Falls Campground | Mount Misery Campground
- By phone: 1-877-668-CAMP (2267)
- Equestrian Campground are sites available first-come, first-served.
Youth Group Camping
- 2 sites available, each site accommodates up to 100 campers OR if both sites are reserved together, accommodates up to 300 campers
- Open to qualified youth groups only
- Advance reservations are required
- Youth Group Camping
Pachaug State Forest Trail Backpacking Campsites
- Two pets allowed per campsite.
- Camp only in designated areas indicated on the map and by signs.
- Backpacking areas are located near public lands open to hunting. Please use caution.
- Backpacking in Connecticut State Parks and Forests
Itching to explore a little deeper into the forest? Reserve a permit to camp at one of the forest’s four backpacking sites and some of the few scattered throughout the state.The backpack camping areas are primitive sites with few facilities. Although several have Adirondack-type lean-tos of limited capacity, we recommend bringing your own tents. Also, drinking water is not provided except at approved state park and forest wells.
Dawley Pond Lean-To
- 41.621° N, 71.815° W
- Backpacking site with primitive lean-to shelter, a fire ring, and nearby pond for drinking water
- Location: Pachaug Trail, west side of Great Meadow Brook Pond
- Availability: Year-round with permit
- Maximum stay: One night
Dry Reservoir Lean-To
- 41.591° N, 71.881° W
- Backpacking site with primitive lean-to shelter, fire pit, and nearby stream
- Location: Near the intersection of the Nehantic and Pachaug Trails
Legend Wood Lean-To
- 41.497° N, 71.876° W
- Backpacking site with primitive lean-to shelter, a fire ring, scenic views, and a nearby pond for drinking water
- Location: Narragansett Trail, north of Wyassup Lake
Peg Mill Lean-To
- 41.533° N, 71.802° W
- Backpacking site with limited camp shelters, a fire ring, and nearby stream
- Location: Narragansett Trail, east of Green Fall Reservoir near the Rhode Island border
CAMPING PERMITS
- Backpack camping permits are available by reservation only. To get a permit, call (860) 295-2923.
- Submit your application form at least two weeks before your intended stay.
- Download Backpacking Application here.
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
BikingBoatingCampingFishingHikingHorseback ridingHuntingPicnickingSwimming
Trails
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
- Trail Maps: Chapman Area | Green Falls Area | Snowmobile
- Blue-Blazed Hiking Trails Interactive Map (Blue-blazed trails are foot traffic only)
With four blue-blazed trails that traverse the wilds of the Eastern Connecticut, popular routes to scenic overlooks like Mount Misery, loops that bring you closer to the forest’s ponds, a well-established backpacking trail network, and with a number of multi-access trails, Pachaug is a hotspot for every type of trail user.
Of the blue-blazed, foot-only trails, sections of the Nehantic, Pachaug, and Quinnebaug trails pass through the Chapman area. And Green Falls, Narragansett, Nehantic, and Pachaug through the Green Falls area.
Read more from the park
Rhododendron Sanctuary Trail
- Nature walk
- Level of difficulty: Easy
- A short scenic walk (including a planked wooden boardwalk) through rare ecological terrain — one of only few such areas in New England. The walk beautiful all year long, but especially spectacular when the rhododendron are in bloom, usually around July 4th.
Green Fall Pond Loop
- 1.8-mile loop around the pond
- Level of difficulty: Moderate
- Take a walk around Green Fall Pond for some picturesque water — and waterfall — views, solitude, and to get your blood pumping. Cooling off in the pond afterwards is optional but recommended! (In the summer, at least.) The trail is rocky and steep in parts, but well-maintained and well-marked.
Mt. Misery Trail (Blue Blaze)
- 1.9-mile loop with scenic overlook
- This trail requires a bit of a climb (though not as treacherous as the name would have you believe) but rewards you with some of the best scenic views in eastern Connecticut, which gives you some of the best scenic views the area has to offer. At 441 feet, Mount Misery Overlook is the highest point in the area and offers panoramic views of the forest and surrounding towns for its rock outcropping at the summit.
Interested in Letterboxing? Get clues for the High Ledge Lookout.
Swimming
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Swimming is allowed in the Greenfalls Pond section of Pachaug State Forest.
- Current Water Quality Report (updated weekly, Memorial Day – Labor Day)
- Beach Regulations and Swimming Safety Information
Boating and paddling
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
- Boating and Paddling
- Paddling in Connecticut
- Padding Safety
Boat Launches
- Green Fall Pond Car-Top Boat Launch: At Route 138, take access road south to the Green Falls area of the Forest. Follow signs to launch.
- Beachdale Pond Trailered Boat Launch: The launch is located on the east side of Route 49, one mile north of the Route 138 and Route 165 junction.
Whether you want to leisurely paddle around the small islands of Green Fall Pond (also known as Green Fall Reservoir) or zip around Beachdale Pond in a motorboat, you choose your speed at Pachaug. (As long as you keep it below 8 MPH, please).
Fishing
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Before heading out, be sure to check the latest water conditions and fishing regulations.
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Picnic areas
Camping
- Tent camping
Recreation
- Horse trails
✓ 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
N/A
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 Pachaug State Forest
- Buses seating more than 30 passengers are not allowed
- Gated roads within the forest are typically closed from January 1st through March 31st annually, but closures may occur earlier if severe weather occurs
- Trail Map - Green Falls
- Trail Map - Mt. Misery
Getting there
- Address
- 219 Ekonk Hill Road
Voluntown, CT 06384 - Nearest town
- Norwich — about 11 mi east (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 41.5842, -71.8761
- Phone
- (860) 376-4075
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
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“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