Backpack campers love the fact that the trails maintained by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association feature shelters and campsites for their use. It’s exhilarating to pitch your tent and camp under the stars. The following five stunning backpack campsites in Connecticut will help you truly connect to nature.
Featuring over 9,000 acres of forests, wetlands, and abandoned farmland, Tunxis State Forest makes for a beautiful backpacking destination. Beware of bears, however. This is one of the eastern U.S. spots where they’re seen early—and abundantly—each year. Backpackers can enjoy the Nepaug campsite, Hurricane Brook lean-to, and Roaring Brook campsite.
Mohawk State Forest stretches all the way from Massachusetts to the Cornwall, Connecticut area. There are shelters available for backpack campers, but reservations are required. Check the website’s map to see where the three lean-tos are located.
Located in the largest state forest in all of Connecticut, Pachaug sprawls across 26,477 magnificent acres. Here, explorers will find four designated backpack camping areas. Choose from the Dawley Pond, Dry Reservoir, Legend Wood, and Peg Mill lean-tos.
This gorgeous land is situated right in the junction of the Bigelow River and Still River, forming the Natchaug River. Here you will find horse trails, extraordinary trout fishing spots, a picnicking area, and many all-terrain trails. If you check out the website, you will find maps with several lean-to locations for backpackers to camp overnight.
The Nipmuck State Forest Trail campsites can be found along Breakneck Pond, and there you will enjoy a truly primitive-style camping expedition. The strenuous hike to get to this campsite will be overshadowed by the beauty of this verdant woodland forest.
