Salmon River State Forest
Managed by Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
2,249 acres30.4 mi of trail
Salmon River TrailPinesNorth Loop (SRT)Twin Peaks+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Photo: Thundersnow · CC BY-SA 3.0A−Outdoors
Outdoors in Colchester
20% of Colchester’s land is conserved: 6,147 acres
69 miles of mapped trail cross Colchester, 1.4 per square mile of land. The biggest trail networks: Salmon River State Forest (30.4 mi), Deep River Reservoir Watershed (7.4 mi), Babcock Pond State Wildlife Management Area (3.7 mi). 391 acres are parks and preserves, 25 per 1,000 residents.
Ahead of 79% of U.S. towns · #85 of 155 in Connecticut. What drives it
Conserved land
20%
6,147 acres · of 48.9 sq mi of land
Trails
69 mi
1.4 per sq mi of land
Park land
391 ac
25 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
33%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
5.7 mi
5.7 mi paths
Highest peak
577 ft
Buckley Hill
Lakes & rivers
23
1 beach · 3 boat launches
What kind of outdoors town is Colchester?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Colchester have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Colchester is ahead of 79% of U.S. towns, #85 of 155 in Connecticut. Conserved land holds the grade up; the share of residents near a park pulls it down.
A−
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of Colchester’s overall grade.
Conserved land20% of the land · typical CT town 15% · U.S. 4%ATrails1.4 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (69 mi) · CT 1.4 · U.S. 0.4APark land25 acres of park per 1,000 residents (391 acres) · CT 22 · U.S. 13B+Parks close to home33% of residents within a half mile of a park · CT 57% · U.S. 72%C
All U.S. towns we grade (21,298)Ahead of 79%
LessMore
Connecticut towns of 2,500+ (155)Ahead of 45%
Connecticut towns conserve more land than most (a typical one, 15%; the U.S., 4%), so Colchester’s 20% is ahead of 68% of Connecticut towns, while its trails per square mile lead 52% of them.
How sure. Graded on any three of the four inputs instead, the letter would range from B+ to A. Trails and many small parks come from OpenStreetMap, mapped by volunteers, so coverage varies from town to town; the half mile is a straight line from each census block, so a river or highway in the way isn’t counted against it.
PAD-US, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors), Census 2025 Gazetteer and 2020 blocks; details in Sources below. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Salmon River State Forest, with 30.4 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Deep River Reservoir Watershed
Managed by City of Norwich
1,184 acres7.4 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
Babcock Pond State Wildlife Management Area
Managed by State of Connecticut
871 acres3.7 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Day Pond State Park
Managed by Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
183 acres2.7 mi of trail
YellowNorth Loop (SRT)South Loop (SRT)
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Bulkeley Hill Preserve
Managed by Colchester Land Trust
127 acres2 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
Stablitz Preserve
Managed by Town of Colchester
72 acres1.9 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Colchester Recreation Complex
Managed by Town of Colchester
32 acres1.1 mi of trail
RecPlex Walking Path
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Airline State Park Trail (Southern Section)
Managed by State of Connecticut
56 acres0.4 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
All 18 parks & preserves
Salmon River State Forest2,249 acres · 30.4 mi of trail · Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
DirectionsDeep River Reservoir Watershed1,184 acres · 7.4 mi of trail · City of Norwich
Babcock Pond State Wildlife Management Area871 acres · 3.7 mi of trail · State of Connecticut
DirectionsDay Pond State Park183 acres · 2.7 mi of trail · Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
DirectionsBulkeley Hill Preserve127 acres · 2 mi of trail · Colchester Land Trust
Stablitz Preserve72 acres · 1.9 mi of trail · Town of Colchester
DirectionsColchester Recreation Complex32 acres · 1.1 mi of trail · Town of Colchester
DirectionsAirline State Park Trail (Southern Section)56 acres · 0.4 mi of trail · State of Connecticut
DirectionsNew Britain Hunting and Fishing Club130 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · New Britain Hunting and Fishing Club
Ruby and Elizabeth Cohen Woodlands204 acres · Town of Colchester
DirectionsMcDonald Road Property56 acres · Colchester Land Trust
Zagray Farm31 acres · Colchester Historical Society Inc
Whispering Woods Preserve23 acres · Colchester Land Trust
Gateway Preserve19 acres · Colchester Land Trust
DirectionsColchester Spur Trail10 acres · Eversource; Town of Hebron; Town of Colchester
DirectionsSchuster Park6 acres · Colchester Hayward Volunteer Fire Company
Colchester Fish and Game Club6 acres
DirectionsStony Brook Farm Open Space4 acres · Town of Colchester
Who protects it
6,147 conserved acres
20% of Colchester’s land. Who manages Colchester’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
State conservation181 ac
USDA easements (NRCS)99 ac
Other state land73 ac
Private owners60 ac
Town or city34 ac
Not recorded5,868 ac
State Resource Management Area · 2,167 acWatershed Protection Area · 1,150 acState Conservation Area · 860 acPrivate Conservation · 676 acLocal Other or Unknown · 368 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 242 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 99 of 103 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salmon River State Forest State Resource Management Area | Not recorded | 1,214 | Unknown |
| Deep River Reservoir Watershed Protection Area | Not recorded | 1,025 | Unknown |
| Day Pond State Park and Salmon River State Forest State Resource Management Area | Not recorded | 952 | Unknown |
| Unknown Conservation Easement | Not recorded | 864 | Unknown |
| Babcock Pond Wildlife Area State Conservation Area | Not recorded | 860 | Unknown |
| Air Line State Park Trail State Park | Not recorded | 180 | Unknown |
| Cohen Woodlands Local Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 151 | Unknown |
| New Britain Fish and Game Club Private Conservation | Not recorded | 126 | Unknown |
| Bacon Academy High School Research or Educational Area | Not recorded | 88 | Unknown |
| Deep River Reservoir Watershed Watershed Protection Area | Not recorded | 79 | Unknown |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
24 places to go in Colchester
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Beaches in Colchester
1 beach without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Playgrounds in Colchester
Kids Play Area
DirectionsPlus 8 playgrounds without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Dog parks in Colchester
Colchester Dog Park
DirectionsBoat launches in Colchester
Pickerel Lake Boat Launch
DirectionsPickerel Lake Boat LaunchIn Salmon River State Forest
DirectionsPlus 1 boat launch without a name on the map.
Waterfalls in Colchester
Day Pond Brook FallsIn Salmon River State Forest
DirectionsScenic views in Colchester
2 scenic views without a name on the map.
Peaks in Colchester
Buckley Hill577 ft elevation
DirectionsBull Hill545 ft elevation
DirectionsHalls Hill538 ft elevation
DirectionsMill Hill505 ft elevation
DirectionsProspect Hill502 ft elevation
DirectionsJeremiahs Back479 ft elevation
DirectionsPicnic areas in Colchester
1 picnic area without a name on the map.
Trails & water
18 named trails and 23 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 12.8 miHorses · 4.4 miUnpaved · 37.4 mi
Salmon River Trail1.4 mi
North Loop (SRT)1.4 mi
Pines1.2 mi
Twin Peaks0.8 mi
River0.8 mi
RecPlex Walking Path0.6 mi
South Loop (SRT)0.6 mi
Double Down0.6 mi
Upper Packard Goose0.6 mi
Yellow0.5 mi
8 more trails
Dickinson Road Connector
0.5 miSoul Train
0.4 miComstock Bridge Connector (SRT)
0.4 miLower Packard Goose
0.3 miCQT
0.3 miTea
0.2 miDay Pond Brook Spur
0.2 miOverlook
0.1 miLakes & rivers tap for directions
Babcock PondlakeCotten PondlakeDay PondreservoirDeep River ReservoirreservoirEliza Brook PondFish & Game LakeHall Pond LowerHall Pond UpperHarvey PondMakas PondpondMcDonald PondpondNorth Westchester PondreservoirNumber Two PondPickerel LakelakePine Meadows Park PondreservoirSherman PondpondSmith PondlakeStandish PondStrongs PondpondStula PondThousand Acre PondVerrill PondpondSalmon River
Biking & sports
5.7 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
5.7 mi
off-road bike paths
Courts & fields
9Soccer
7Tennis
6Softball
6Tracks
4Baseball
1Volleyball
1Basketball
1Football
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →8 places on the National Register
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 4 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
Henry Champion HouseBuilding · listed 1972
About itHayward HouseBuilding · listed 1972
About itBacon AcademyBuilding · listed 1982
About itBlackledge River Railroad BridgeStructure · listed 1986
About itLyman ViaductStructure · listed 1986
About itRiver Road Stone Arch Railroad BridgeStructure · listed 1986
About itWheeler BlockBuilding · listed 1993
About itColchester Village Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1994
About itWhen to get out
The best walking months in Colchester: May to September
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.5 | 10.5 | 11.8 | 13.3 | 14.5 | 15.2 | 14.9 | 13.8 | 12.4 | 11.0 | 9.8 | 9.2 |
| High (°F) | 37 | 40 | 47 | 59 | 70 | 78 | 83 | 81 | 74 | 63 | 52 | 42 |
| Rain (in) | 3.7 | 2.9 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 3.8 | 4.3 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 4.4 | 4.9 | 4.1 | 4.5 |
February is the driest month (2.9 in) and July the warmest (highs of 83 °F). 4.9 inches fall in October, the wettest month. The climate in Colchester →
Next door
Colchester and its neighbors
Tap a town to see its outdoors.
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colchester | 20% | 1.4 | 25 | 33% | A− |
| Hebron | 24% | 2.1 | 81 | 52% | A |
| Lebanon | 27% | 1.2 | 149 | 36% | A |
| East Hampton | 24% | 2.1 | 83 | 43% | A |
| East Haddam | 27% | 2.2 | 126 | 34% | A |
| Marlborough | 27% | 1.2 | 33 | 71% | A |
| Salem | 30% | 1.6 | 127 | 21% | A |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Colchester
Where can I hike in Colchester?
The longest trail networks: Salmon River State Forest, 30.4 miles; Deep River Reservoir Watershed, 7.4 miles; Babcock Pond State Wildlife Management Area, 3.7 miles; Day Pond State Park, 2.7 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Colchester is conserved land?
20% of its land, against a typical 15% for a Connecticut town and 4% nationally (PAD-US). Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors: easements are usually private land.
Are dogs allowed on Colchester’s trails?
Salmon River State Forest and Deep River Reservoir Watershed don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Colchester?
5.7 miles of bike routes are on the map: 5.7 of off-road paths.
Is there public land near Colchester?
12,418 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Colchester or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 391 of them inside the town line.
How much outdoors does Colchester have?
Ahead of 79% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #85 of 155 in Connecticut. The grade combines the share of land that is conserved, miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, park acres per 1,000 residents and the share of residents within a half mile of a park. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Colchester neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →