Lakes in Connecticut

• Where is Quaddick Lake located?
  • Quaddick Lake is located within Litchfield County’s Berkshire Mountains near the city of Winsted and was created in 1860 by the damming of the Mad River.
• What recreational activities are available at Quaddick Lake?
  • Today, the 444-acre lake is known as a popular resort area and offers swimming, boating, fishing, and water skiing opportunities for visitors.
• What types of fish can be found in Quaddick Lake?
  • The lake’s Second Bay area is a popular fishing spot for largemouth and smallmouth bass, Atlantic salmon, kokanee trout, and yellow perch.
• Where can visitors launch their watercraft?
  • The lake’s First Bay serves as a launch spot for watercraft.
• Are there any nearby parks or campgrounds?
  • Portions of its Third Bay are located within nearby Burr Pond State Park, which offers private campground facilities.
• What other attractions are near Quaddick Lake?
  • Other nearby attractions include Platt Hill State Park, Paugnut and Sunny Brook State Forests, and the West Branch of the Farmington River, which has been designated as a National Parks Service Wild and Scenic River.

Highland Lake, 338 Main Street, Winsted, CT 06098

• Where is Quaddick Lake located?
  • Quaddick Lake is a natural freshwater reservoir within Mystic County that was dammed in 1867, deepening the existing Kings Pond and connecting it to nearby Stump Pond.
• What is the origin of Quaddick Lake's name?
  • The lake’s name was derived from a Nipmuc indigenous word for “bend in the river,” which was also used in the naming of several other regional sites.
• What recreational activities are available at Quaddick Lake?
  • Today, the 407-acre lake is a popular spot for seasonal and year-round resort homes and offers ideal water conditions for canoeing, kayaking, water skiing, and paddle boating.
• What amenities does Quaddick State Park offer?
  • Quaddick State Park, located along the lake’s Middle Lake shoreline, offers a concession stand and recreational activities such as a swimming beach, ball fields, picnic areas, and the 1.5-mile Red Trail Loop.

Quaddick Lake, 818 Quaddick Town Farm Rd, Thompson, CT 06277

Romantic Lakes

• What are the Bolton Lakes?
  • Bolton Lakes is comprised of three freshwater lakes within Tolland County, known as Upper, Middle, and Lower Bolton Lake.
• What is the total surface area of Bolton Lakes?
  • Together, the lakes span a surface area of 246 acres, 175 acres of which is contained within Lower Bolton Lake, the area’s largest lake.
• What recreational activities are available at Bolton Lakes?
  • Popular activities within the lake region include swimming, sailing, kayaking, canoeing, and year-round fishing for catfish, perch, sunfish, and largemouth bass, including opportunities for ice fishing during the winter months.
• Are there any nearby trails or sports facilities?
  • A six-mile mountain biking and hiking trail is provided at the nearby Hop River State Park Trail, and softball and baseball fields are offered at the Bolton Lake Sailing Club.

Bolton Lakes, 300 Valley Falls Rd, Vernon, CT 06066

• Where is Amston Lake located?
  • Amston Lake is a natural freshwater lake located near Connecticut’s River Valley and Mystic Country tourist regions.
• How large is Amston Lake?
  • The lake covers 186 acres and is privately owned as part of the Amston Lake District.
• Who owns and manages Amston Lake?
  • The lake is owned by the Amston Lake District, which was formed by local property owners following jurisdiction disputes between the nearby cities of Lebanon and Hebron.
• Who is allowed to use Amston Lake?
  • Use of the lake is restricted to nearby property owners, but a number of seasonal vacation rentals are available for visitors wishing to access the region’s two sand beaches and seven boating access points along its three-mile shoreline.
• What fishing opportunities are available at Amston Lake?
  • Angler fishing opportunities are available for largemouth, rock, and calico bass, as well as bluegill and yellow and white perch.
• Are there any nearby recreational activities?
  • Nearby activities include Air-Line Trail State Park, which offers hiking, cross-country skiing, and horseback riding opportunities.

Amston Lake, 271 Leonard Bridge Rd, Lebanon, CT 06249

Lakes for Families

• What is Anderson Pond?
  • Anderson Pond, also referred to as Blue Lake, is a natural freshwater lake located within southeastern Connecticut near the city of North Stonington.
• How large is Anderson Pond?
  • The pond spans 57 acres and is situated within a kettle formation created by glaciers during the last Ice Age.
• What wildlife can be found around Anderson Pond?
  • The lake features wetland areas populated by beavers, mink, and a variety of waterfowl.
• What recreational activities are available at Anderson Pond?
  • Though swimming is not permitted at the lake, visitors can enjoy boating, canoeing, and kayaking access at several sites along its two-mile shoreline.
• What fishing opportunities are available at Anderson Pond?
  • The lake offers fishing opportunities for largemouth and calico bass, chain pickerel, brown bullhead, and yellow perch.
• What nearby attractions can visitors explore?
  • Nearby attractions include Pachaug State Forest and Mystic Seaport, which offers a variety of maritime-related attractions.

Anderson Pond, I-95, North Stonington, CT 06359

• Where is Bantam Lake located?
  • Bantam Lake is located at an elevation of almost 900 feet and spans a surface area of 947 acres, making it the largest natural body of water in the state.
• What water sources feed Bantam Lake?
  • The lake is fed by the Bantam River and features 10 miles of heavily forested shoreline maintained by the nationally-known White Memorial Foundation.
• What fishing opportunities are available at Bantam Lake?
  • More than 20 bass tournaments are held at the lake annually, which also offers opportunities for northern pike, black crappie, chain pickerel, and bluegill fishing.
• What other recreational activities can visitors enjoy at Bantam Lake?
  • Popular activities include water skiing, winter ice boating, canoeing, and kayaking. Visitors can also explore hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails in Foundation-owned land nearby.

Bantam Lake, 123 N Shore Rd, Bantam, CT 06750

Lakes For Photographers

• What is Beach Pond Lake?
  • Beach Pond Lake is a man-made reservoir that was completed in 1885 and spans a surface area of 459 acres near the Rhode Island state line and the cities of Exeter and Voluntown.
• What canoeing opportunities are available at Beach Pond Lake?
  • The lake is part of a popular regional canoe trail that spans the nearby Pachaug and Quinebaug Rivers.
• What recreational activities can visitors enjoy at Beach Pond Lake?
  • Boat ramps at the lake’s northern Connecticut end offer access for fishing, boating, water skiing, canoeing, and kayaking.
• What types of fish are found in Beach Pond Lake?
  • Largemouth, smallmouth, and calico bass are found in the lake’s higher levels, while rainbow and brown trout and walleye are prevalent within deeper level areas.
• Are there any camping opportunities near Beach Pond Lake?
  • Walk-in and backpack camping is available near the lake’s shoreline.
• What other outdoor activities are available nearby?
  • More than 24,000 acres of nearby forest are available for visitor hiking and exploration.

Beach Pond Lake, 108 Forge Hill Rd, Voluntown, CT 06384

• What is Candlewood Lake?
  • Candlewood Lake is the largest man-made reservoir in the state of Connecticut, spanning a surface area of 5,420 acres.
• How was Candlewood Lake formed?
  • The lake was formed after the 1928 construction of the Rocky River Dam, which impounded the nearby Housatonic River.
• What role does Candlewood Lake play in Connecticut?
  • Today, the reservoir serves as a major hydroelectric power source for the state and offers 86 miles of shoreline for visitor recreation.
• What boating and rental options are available at Candlewood Lake?
  • The lake features 10 fully-stocked marinas with accessible boat launch ramps. Visitors can rent canoes, kayaks, and boats, along with fishing and water sport equipment.
• Why is Candlewood Lake known for fishing?
  • The lake is considered to be the state’s best fishing area and is managed as a trophy trout area that hosts more than 100 annual fishing tournaments.
• What other attractions are near Candlewood Lake?
  • Nearby attractions include Squantz Pond State Park, which offers hiking, picnicking, and overnight camping opportunities.

Candlewood Lake, 36 Hayestown Rd., Danbury, CT 06810

Lakes for Hikers

• What is Colebrook River Lake?
  • Colebrook River Lake was created in 1969 after the completion of a flood control dam by the United States Army Corps of Engineers along the west branch of the Farmington River.
• Where is Colebrook River Lake located?
  • The lake is located in Colebrook and is accessible via a seven-mile loop of Route 8, which provides access for foliage viewing excursions during the autumn months.
• What fishing opportunities are available at Colebrook River Lake?
  • The lake is a popular spot for brown and rainbow trout fishing. Other fish species include large and smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, northern pike, and pan fish.
• What recreational activities can visitors enjoy at Colebrook River Lake?
  • Other popular activities at the lake include boating, canoeing, kayaking, geocaching, birding, and wildlife watching.

Colebrook River Lake , P.O. Box 58, Riverton, CT 06065-0058

• What is Coventry Lake?
  • Coventry Lake is located within Mystic Country and is also known by its indigenous name Wangumbaug Lake, which translates as “crooked pond.”
• What is the history of Coventry Lake?
  • The lake was originally settled in the early 18th century and served as a popular site for farmsteads. It later became a well-known New England vacation destination at the turn of the 20th century.
• Where is Coventry Lake located and how large is it?
  • Today, the natural freshwater lake is located within the city of Coventry and spans a surface area of 373 acres, offering seven miles of visitor shoreline.
• What recreational activities are available at Coventry Lake?
  • Visitors can enjoy swimming, sailing, water skiing, and windsurfing on the lake, along with fishing opportunities for bass, walleye, trout, and carp.
• What attractions are near Coventry Lake?
  • Nearby in Coventry, Patriots Park hosts the annual Coventry Fest and is home to a number of museums and historic sites.

Coventry Lake , 3104, 124 Lake St, Coventry, CT 06238