Emergency Burn Ban In Effect 10/26/24 - An emergency burn ban is now in effect for all Connecticut State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Management areas, prohibiting the use of all outdoor grills, firepits, and campfires, and the kindling and use of flame outdoors. DEEP and local agencies are working to contain several active fires across the state. Please avoid all affected State Parks and Forests, as well as the blue-blazed Mattabesett Trail. The Enduro Trail in Voluntown and portions of North Stonington within the Pachaug State Forest are closed at this time. Rocky Neck State Park is also closed until further notice due to a brush fire. Please note that today's forest fire danger report remains at a 'very high' or 'extreme' level. More information about the current fire danger, burn ban and recommended safety measures can be found here

Picnicking / Grilling
What better way to discover and enjoy Connecticut’s State Parks and Forests then with a picnic basket in hand!  Pack up some of your favorite foods, grab a blanket and a few friends or family members and enjoy a good old picnic at any of our state parks and forests.
Grilling is allowed at all parks and forests except Topsmead State Forest.  
Grills are avaialble for use at:
Bluff Point State Park, Groton
Burr Pond State Park, Torrington
Chatfield Hollow State Park, Killingworth
Day Pond State Park, Colchester
Devil’s Hopyard State Park, East Haddam
Dinosaur State Park, Rocky Hill
Gay City State Park, Hebron
Gillette Castle State Park, East Haddam
Haddam Meadows State Park, Haddam
Hammonasset Beach State Park, Madison
Harkness Memorial State Park, Waterford
Hopeville Pond State Park, Griswold
Housatonic Meadows State Park, Sharon
Hurd State Park, East Hampton
Indian Well State Park, Shelton
Kent Falls State Park, Kent
Kettletown State Park, Southbury
Lake Waramaug State Park, Kent
Macedonia Brook State Park, Kent (Firepits)
Mansfield Hollow State Park, Mansfield
Mashamoquet State Park, Pomfret
Mohawk Mountain State Park and Forest, Goshen/Cornwall
Mount Tom State Park, Litchfield
Natchaug State Forest, Eastford
Nehantic State Forest, Lyme
Osbornedale State Park, Derby
Pachaug State Forest, Voluntown (Green Falls Area)
Pattaconk Lake State Park, Chester

Picnic shelters at many state parks are available for rental from Memorial Day through Columbus Day.  More information.
Content last updated October 2014