Shenipsit State Forest
Managed by Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
641 acres9.4 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Photo: Elipongo · Public domain–Not graded
Outdoors in Crystal Lake
Few parks or trails are on the map in Crystal Lake
The biggest trail networks: Shenipsit State Forest (9.4 mi), Ernie Boothroyd Nature Preserve (1.2 mi), Shenipsit Woods Preserve (0.5 mi). 26% of Crystal Lake’s land is conserved, about 1,498 acres. 8 acres are parks and preserves, 4.0 per 1,000 residents.
Conserved land
26%
1,498 acres · of 8.9 sq mi of land
Trails
15 mi
1.6 per sq mi of land
Park land
8 ac
4.0 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
49%
of residents within ½ mile
Highest peak
866 ft
Newell Hill
Lakes & rivers
5
1 beach · 1 boat launch
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 Shenipsit State Forest, with 9.4 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Ernie Boothroyd Nature Preserve
Managed by Northern Connecticut Land Trust
58 acres1.2 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Shenipsit Woods Preserve
Managed by Northern Connecticut Land Trust
39 acres0.5 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
Bellante Preserve
Managed by Northern Connecticut Land Trust
35 acres0.3 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
All 19 parks & preserves
Shenipsit State Forest641 acres · 9.4 mi of trail · Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
DirectionsErnie Boothroyd Nature Preserve58 acres · 1.2 mi of trail · Northern Connecticut Land Trust
DirectionsShenipsit Woods Preserve39 acres · 0.5 mi of trail · Northern Connecticut Land Trust
Bellante Preserve35 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · Northern Connecticut Land Trust
DirectionsWraight Bird Field Conservation Area89 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Northern Connecticut Land Trust
Bradway Reservoir Watershed Reserve Land83 acres · State of Connecticut
Sandy Beach Road Open Space54 acres · Town of Ellington
Grassy Hill Road Open Space36 acres · Town of Ellington
Crystal Lake Road Open Space11 acres · Town of Ellington
Edgewood Road Open Space9 acres · Town of Ellington
Ladd Road Open Space4 acres · Town of Ellington
Stafford Road Open Space4 acres · State of Connecticut
Aborn Subdivision Open Space4 acres · Aborn Subdivision Homeowners Association Inc.
Wendell Road Open Space4 acres · Town of Ellington
Ellington Congregational Church Open Space3 acres · Ellington Congregational Church
Buff Cap Road Open Space2 acres · Town of Ellington
Webster Road Open Space1 acres · Town of Ellington
White Road Open Space1 acres · Town of Ellington
West Shore Road Open Space1 acres · Town of Ellington
Who protects it
1,498 conserved acres
26% of Crystal Lake’s land. Who manages Crystal Lake’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
State conservation84 ac
Not recorded1,493 ac
State Resource Management Area · 950 acPrivate Conservation · 180 acState Other or Unknown · 128 acPrivate Other or Unknown · 123 acLocal Other or Unknown · 105 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 1 acre is a conservation easement, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 28 of 29 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shenipsit State Forest State Resource Management Area | Not recorded | 943 | Unknown |
| Unknown State Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 277 | Unknown |
| Crystal Lake Private Conservation | Not recorded | 177 | Unknown |
| Furnace Brook-middle River Flood Control Site 4 State Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 82 | Unknown |
| Sandy Beach Local Recreation Area | Not recorded | 7 | Unknown |
| Shenipsit State Forest (Old Forest Management Area) State Resource Management Area | Not recorded | 7 | Unknown |
Things to do
3 places to go in Crystal Lake
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Beaches in Crystal Lake
Sandy Beach
DirectionsBoat launches in Crystal Lake
Crystal Lake Boat Launch
DirectionsPeaks in Crystal Lake
Newell Hill866 ft elevation
DirectionsTrails & water
5 lakes & rivers
Lakes & rivers tap for directions
When to get out
The best walking months in Crystal Lake: 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) | 9.4 | 10.5 | 11.8 | 13.3 | 14.5 | 15.2 | 14.9 | 13.9 | 12.4 | 11.0 | 9.7 | 9.1 |
| High (°F) | 35 | 38 | 46 | 58 | 69 | 77 | 82 | 80 | 73 | 62 | 50 | 40 |
| Rain (in) | 3.5 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 3.7 | 4.6 | 4.0 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 4.8 | 3.7 | 4.3 |
February is the driest month (3.0 in) and July the warmest (highs of 82 °F). 4.8 inches fall in October, the wettest month. The climate in Crystal Lake →
Next door
Crystal Lake and its neighbors
Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Stafford74 miTolland59 miEllington43 miSomers39 miWillington35 miCrystal Lake15 miStafford Springs3.3 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal Lake | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Ellington | 18% | 1.2 | 5 | 34% | B |
| Willington | 11% | 1.1 | 77 | 29% | A− |
| Stafford | 26% | 1.3 | 14 | 40% | A− |
| Tolland | 18% | 1.5 | 46 | 41% | A− |
| Stafford Springs | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Somers | 22% | 1.4 | 3 | 21% | B |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Crystal Lake
Where can I hike in Crystal Lake?
The longest trail networks: Shenipsit State Forest, 9.4 miles; Ernie Boothroyd Nature Preserve, 1.2 miles; Shenipsit Woods Preserve, 0.5 miles; Bellante Preserve, 0.3 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
Are dogs allowed on Crystal Lake’s trails?
Shenipsit State Forest and Ernie Boothroyd Nature Preserve don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Is there public land near Crystal Lake?
12,792 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Crystal Lake or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 8 of them inside the town line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Crystal Lake 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 →