State Parks: Some Closed, A Few Late Openings, Others At Capacity

CONNECTICUT — Despite a chance of some rain showers, Saturday is anticipated to be a warm, busy day at Connecticut's state parks, beaches, forests and campgrounds. However, in the wake of continued cleanup and damage repair caused by Tropical Storm Isaias, some of the usual hangout spots are closed and a few opened later than usual.

The state Department of Energy and Environment Protection (DEEP) manages 110 state parks, 32 state forests and more than 100 state boat launches. 51 EnCon officers patrol Connecticut waters, parks, campgrounds and forests.

These locations managed by DEEP are closed Saturday:

• Belding Wildlife Management Area (Vernon)
• Chatfield Hollow (Killingworth)
• Dinosaur State Park (Rocky Hill)
• Housatonic Meadows (park and campground) (Sharon)
• Kent Falls (Kent)
• Kettletown (park and campground) (Southbury)
• Lake Waramaug (park and campground) (New Preston)
• Macedonia Brook (park and campground) (Kent)
• Mashamoquet and Wolf Den campgrounds (Pomfret)
• Mohawk Mountain (Goshen)
• Penwood (Bloomfield)
• Pierrepont State Park and boat launch (Ridgefield)
• Salt Rock (park and campground) (Baltic)
• Southford Falls (Southbury)
• Talcott Mountain (Simsbury)
• Tankerhoosen Wildlife Management Area (Vernon)
• Wadsworth Falls (Middletown)
• West Rock Ridge (New Haven)

Two locations will open later than usual:

• Gay City State Park (Hebron) opened at 11 a.m.
• Rocky Neck campground (East Lyme) opened at noon (note: state park and beach open normal hours)

Continuing the pattern which has been followed all summer, DEEP staff members have been closing off entry to parks once their parking lots have reached full capacity. An updated list of those sites is provided below, along with the approximate cutoff time.

• Gardner Lake (Salem), 1 p.m.
• Millers Pond (Haddam), 1:20 p.m.
• Scantic River (Enfield), 2:15 p.m.

Saturday's forecast in Connecticut calls for a 20 percent chance of rain, with otherwise partly sunny skies and high temperatures ranging from the low to mid 80s.

Don't miss local and statewide news from all across Connecticut. Register for free Patch alerts and daily newsletters.