Shenipsit State Forest
- Status
- Status not postedOpen daily; hours not posted
- Entrance fee
- See fee details
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed7-ft leash
- Camping
- None listed
- Official site
- ctparks.com(860) 684-3430
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
Shenipsit State Forest is a forest in Capitol Planning Region County, about 13 miles southeast of Springfield.
Visitors come for horseback riding, historic sites, hunting in season, biking, and fishing.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Open daily (hours not posted) | ||
Official wording
Open Daily (½ hour before sunrise – ½ hour after 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
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.
Pets
Dogs allowed · leash up to 7 feet
• All pets must be on a leash that is no longer than 7 feet.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Things to do
BikingFishingHikingHistoric sites and toursHorseback ridingHuntingPicnicking
Trails
A variety of woods roads and trails both marked and unmarked will take you through the rocky terrain within Shenipsit State Forest. The marked trails, mostly within the Sodom Road and Soapstone Mountain sections of the forest, 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 Shenipsit State Forest are non-motorized multi-use trails with some exceptions of being foot travel only along the Blue Blazed Shenipsit Trail.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
- Park Trail Map
- Letterboxing Clues
Fishing
Know before you go
Before heading out, be sure to check the latest water conditions and fishing regulations.
- A fishing license is required for all persons age 16 or older.
- Fishing licenses can be purchased online 24/7
- More Fishing Resources
Fishing and Waterfowl Habitat
North of 190
- Bald Mountain Marsh (10 acres) 0.50 miles from 26 Galbraith Road Entrance
South of 190
- Wilcox Pond (4 Acres) Yellow gate 0.70 miles from 250 Chestnut Hill Road Entrance
- Beaver Swamp (6 acres) – 0.01 miles from the intersection of Sodom Road & Gulf Road
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Picnic areas
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
Museum
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Rules and permits
- Buses seating more than 30 passengers are not allowed at this park
- 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 permitted within Shenipist State Forest.
- During the appropriate seasons, hunting is allowed in Shenipsit State Forest.
- Wear bright clothing and avoid wearing gray, brown, tan, or white when hiking in hunted areas to increase your visibility.
- Trail Map
Getting there
- Address
- Off Route 190
Stafford/Somers/Ellington, CT 06029 - Nearest town
- Springfield — about 13 mi southeast (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 41.9762, -72.3853
- Phone
- (860) 684-3430
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
“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