McLean Game Refuge
Nature preserve
990 acres6.2 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Photo: John Phelan · CC BY-SA 4.0A+Outdoors
Outdoors in Simsbury
Simsbury has 103 miles of mapped trails, 3.0 for every square mile of land
29% of Simsbury’s land is conserved, about 6,322 acres. 2,019 acres are parks and preserves, 81 per 1,000 residents. The biggest trail networks: McLean Game Refuge (6.2 mi), Penwood State Park (6.2 mi), Massacoe State Forest, Great Pond Block (5.7 mi).
Ahead of 96% of U.S. towns · #10 of 155 in Connecticut. What drives it
Conserved land
29%
6,322 acres · of 33.9 sq mi of land
Trails
103 mi
3.0 per sq mi of land
Park land
2,019 ac
81 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
72%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
21 mi
2.2 mi lanes · 14 mi paths
Highest peak
1,001 ft
West Ledge
Lakes & rivers
24
3 beaches · 1 boat launch
What kind of outdoors town is Simsbury?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
A trail town3.0 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, more than 97% of U.S. towns.Land that stays wild29% of the land is conserved; a typical Connecticut town, 15%.Room to roam81 acres of park per 1,000 residents; the typical U.S. town has 13.History along the way15 places on the National Register.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Simsbury have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Simsbury is ahead of 96% of U.S. towns, #10 of 155 in Connecticut. All four inputs are above most U.S. towns; trail miles rank highest, the share of residents near a park lowest.
A+
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of Simsbury’s overall grade.
Conserved land29% of the land · typical CT town 15% · U.S. 4%ATrails3.0 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (103 mi) · CT 1.4 · U.S. 0.4A+Park land81 acres of park per 1,000 residents (2,019 acres) · CT 22 · U.S. 13AParks close to home72% of residents within a half mile of a park · CT 57% · U.S. 72%B
All U.S. towns we grade (21,298)Ahead of 96%
LessMore
Connecticut towns of 2,500+ (155)Ahead of 94%
Connecticut towns conserve more land than most (a typical one, 15%; the U.S., 4%), so Simsbury’s 29% is ahead of 90% of Connecticut towns, while its trails per square mile lead 95% of them.
How sure. Graded on any three of the four inputs instead, the letter would range from A 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 McLean Game Refuge, with 6.2 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Penwood State Park
Managed by Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
201 acres6.2 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Massacoe State Forest, Great Pond Block
Nature preserve
292 acres5.7 mi of trail
re-routed trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Talcott Mountain State Park
Managed by Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
279 acres4.7 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Stratton Brook State Park
Park
186 acres4.5 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Onion Mountain
Nature preserve
177 acres3.7 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Tanager Hill - The Ellsworth Property
Nature preserve
75 acres2.5 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Simsbury Farms Recreation Complex
Park
239 acres2.2 mi of trail
Simsbury Farms Family Fitness Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
All 46 parks & preserves
McLean Game Refuge990 acres · 6.2 mi of trail
DirectionsPenwood State Park201 acres · 6.2 mi of trail · Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
DirectionsMassacoe State Forest, Great Pond Block292 acres · 5.7 mi of trail
DirectionsTalcott Mountain State Park279 acres · 4.7 mi of trail · Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
DirectionsStratton Brook State Park186 acres · 4.5 mi of trail
DirectionsOnion Mountain177 acres · 3.7 mi of trail
DirectionsTanager Hill - The Ellsworth Property75 acres · 2.5 mi of trail
DirectionsSimsbury Farms Recreation Complex239 acres · 2.2 mi of trail
DirectionsWagner Woods65 acres · 2 mi of trail
DirectionsBelden Forest45 acres · 1.6 mi of trail
DirectionsTown of Simsbury Gersten Property61 acres · 1.3 mi of trail
DirectionsStratton Brook Open Space63 acres · 1.2 mi of trail
Reservoir 6 Recreation Area103 acres · 1.1 mi of trail · Metropolitan District
Town Open Space103 acres · 1.1 mi of trail
DirectionsDarling-Hilles Forest Or Ensign Memorial Forest34 acres · 1 mi of trail
DirectionsTown Forest49 acres · 0.9 mi of trail
DirectionsTown Open Space (Natural Areas)138 acres · 0.8 mi of trail
DirectionsMassacoe State Forest71 acres · 0.7 mi of trail · Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
DirectionsRoskear Farm Open Space38 acres · 0.6 mi of trail
Owen-Mortimer Property27 acres · 0.6 mi of trail
DirectionsGlover Preserve9 acres · 0.6 mi of trail · Simsbury Land Trust
DirectionsTariffville Park42 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
DirectionsDarling Wildlife Sanctuary40 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
DirectionsSimsbury Open Space27 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsHallview I Open Space16 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
Memorial Park29 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsJames Property9 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Simsbury Land Conservation Trust
DirectionsStratton Brook Open Space (2 Parcels)9 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsSimsbury Fish & Game Club17 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsMeadow Pond87 acres · Simsbury Culture, Parks and Recreation Department
DirectionsCurtiss Park82 acres
DirectionsBerman Property58 acres
Grimes Brook Open Space (5 Parcels)40 acres
Town Open Space (5 Parcels)34 acres
DirectionsSimsbury Coon Club27 acres
Wardell-Saint Johns21 acres
DirectionsCase Circle Open Space13 acres
Weatogue Park12 acres
DirectionsWest Mountain Park & Mt Farms Open Space (2 Parc)12 acres
Saint Johns Place Open Space9 acres
DirectionsTown Open Space (2 Parcels)9 acres
DirectionsTootin Hill Property Owners Association Pond7 acres
Pinchot Sycamore Area6 acres
Schultz Park4 acres
DirectionsMarion K Wilcox Park1 acres
Tariffville Green1 acres
Who protects it
6,322 conserved acres
29% of Simsbury’s land. Who manages Simsbury’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
Town or city1,150 ac
State conservation422 ac
USDA easements (NRCS)339 ac
Joint164 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits1 ac
Not recorded4,851 ac
Local Other or Unknown · 1,841 acPrivate Conservation · 1,353 acLocal Conservation Area · 1,155 acAgricultural Easement · 442 acState Conservation Area · 412 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 589 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 227 of 265 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown Local Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 1,602 | Unknown |
| Mclean Game Refuge Private Conservation | Not recorded | 993 | Unknown |
| Ethel Walker Woods Local Conservation Area | Not recorded | 304 | Unknown |
| Simsbury Wildlife Management Area State Conservation Area | Not recorded | 295 | Unknown |
| Simsbury Farms Recreation Complex Local Conservation Area | Town or city | 241 | Open |
| Hopmeadow Cc Local Park | Town or city | 225 | Open |
| Massacoe State Forest State Resource Management Area | Not recorded | 216 | Unknown |
| Onion Mountain Local Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 174 | Unknown |
| Goodwin State Forest State Resource Management Area | Not recorded | 160 | Unknown |
| Penwood State Park State Park | Not recorded | 158 | Unknown |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
59 places to go in Simsbury
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Beaches in Simsbury
3 beaches without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Public pools in Simsbury
Simsbury Farms PoolIn Simsbury Farms Recreation Complex
DirectionsPlaygrounds in Simsbury
15 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Dog parks in Simsbury
Paw Meadow Dog Park
DirectionsBoat launches in Simsbury
1 boat launch without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Fishing spots in Simsbury
3 fishing spots without a name on the map.
Waterfalls in Simsbury
Cathles Trail FallsIn Town Open Space (Natural Areas)
DirectionsNorthgate FallsIn McLean Game Refuge
DirectionsWestledge Trail CascadesIn McLean Game Refuge
DirectionsPlus 1 waterfall without a name on the map.
Scenic views in Simsbury
16 scenic views without a name on the map.
Peaks in Simsbury
West Ledge1,001 ft elevation
DirectionsLittle Phillip Mountain614 ft elevation · In Reservoir 6 Recreation Area
DirectionsLaurel Hill381 ft elevation · In Town of Simsbury Gersten Property
DirectionsBushy Hill
DirectionsKing Phillip MountainIn Talcott Mountain State Park
DirectionsThe Hedgehog
DirectionsThe Sugarloaf
DirectionsWilliams Hill
DirectionsPicnic areas in Simsbury
7 picnic areas without a name on the map.
Trails & water
6 named trails and 24 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 7.1 miHorses · 6.6 miUnpaved · 37.9 mi
Simsbury Farms Family Fitness Trail1.5 mi
Simsbury Riverwalk1.4 mi
Old Canal - Latimer Neighborhood Connector Trail0.6 mi
Esker Path0.5 mi
Orange Trail0.2 mi
re-routed trail0.2 mi
Lakes & rivers tap for directions
Brooks PondpondBuckley DamBurke PondCase ReservoirEnos Pond No 2Enos Pond No 3Ensign Bickford PondreservoirGreat PondpondHazel Meadow PondLaurel PondpondLucy Brook PondSimsbury ReservoirreservoirSmiths PondStoddard ReservoirreservoirStratton Brook State Park PondStratton Park PondTown PoolreservoirTuller ReservoirreservoirWhite Foundation PondpondWhitman PondpondWhitman Pond LowerWoods PondpondFarmington RiverHop Brook
Biking & sports
21 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
2.2 mi
painted or protected bike lanes
14 mi
off-road bike paths
5.2 mi
shoulders & shared lanes
Courts & fields
61Tennis
17Soccer
12Baseball
10Basketball
8Lacrosse
8Softball
5Tracks
2Equestrian
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →15 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.
Capt. Elisha Phelps HouseBuilding · listed 1972
About itAmos Eno HouseBuilding · listed 1975
About itSimsbury Railroad DepotBuilding · listed 1976
About itDrake Hill Road BridgeStructure · listed 1984
About itMassacoe Forest PavilionBuilding · listed 1986
About itSimsbury Bank and Trust Company BuildingBuilding · listed 1986
About itEast Weatogue Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1990
About itJohn Humphrey HouseBuilding · listed 1990
About itRobert and Julia Darling HouseBuilding · listed 1991
About itBelden, Horace, School and Central Grammar SchoolBuilding · listed 1993
About itEno Memorial HallBuilding · listed 1993
About itSimsbury TownhouseBuilding · listed 1993
About it3 more on the History page.
When to get out
The best walking months in Simsbury: April 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) | 36 | 39 | 47 | 60 | 72 | 80 | 85 | 83 | 75 | 63 | 51 | 41 |
| Rain (in) | 3.6 | 3.2 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 3.8 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.7 | 5.3 | 3.9 | 4.5 |
February is the driest month (3.2 in) and July the warmest (highs of 85 °F). 5.3 inches fall in October, the wettest month. The climate in Simsbury →
Next door
Simsbury and its neighbors
Simsbury has the most mapped trails of the 7 towns around it. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simsbury | 29% | 3.0 | 81 | 72% | A+ |
| East Granby | 21% | 2.2 | 32 | 29% | A− |
| Tariffville | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Avon | 19% | 2.8 | 71 | 77% | A+ |
| Bloomfield | 13% | 2.5 | 38 | 86% | A |
| Canton | 14% | 2.1 | 9 | 48% | B+ |
| Granby | 29% | 1.7 | 36 | 63% | A |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Simsbury
Where can I hike in Simsbury?
The longest trail networks: McLean Game Refuge, 6.2 miles; Penwood State Park, 6.2 miles; Massacoe State Forest, Great Pond Block, 5.7 miles; Talcott Mountain State Park, 4.7 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Simsbury is conserved land?
29% 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 Simsbury’s trails?
McLean Game Refuge and Penwood State Park don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Simsbury?
21 miles of bike routes are on the map: 2.2 of painted or protected lanes, 14 of off-road paths and 5.2 of shoulders and shared lanes.
Is there public land near Simsbury?
18,201 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Simsbury or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 2,019 of them inside the town line.
How much outdoors does Simsbury have?
Ahead of 96% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #10 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 Simsbury 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 →