Mashamoquet Brook State Park RV & Campground Guide
Connecticut
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In 1918, the Fay family from Pomfret, Connecticut donated the first few acres of what would eventually become Mashamoquet Brook State Park. Over the years, more gifts and bequests came in, and the park now covers slightly more than 1,000 acres. Mashamoquet Brook State Park also includes the Wolf Den National Historic Site. In 1742, Israel Putnam shot and killed the last wolf in Connecticut, and the den has been a historic site since 1985.
Nearby cities
Hartford, CT
Providence, RI
Springfield, MA
Norwich, CT
Spring 46–70 F
Summer 77–82 F
Fall 52–73 F
Winter 14–41 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Mashamoquet Brook State Park
Campground Accommodations
Mashamoquet Brook State Park Campground
Water hookups: No
Electrical hookups: No
Sewer hookups: No
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: No
Max RV length: 35 feet
Other amenities: restrooms, vault toilets, a small museum, dump station, dishwashing area, communal potable water, all-purpose athletic fields, showers, ranger station, picnic tables, fire rings, and a beach
Wolf Den Campground
Water hookups: No
Electrical hookups: Yes
Sewer hookups: No
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: No
Max RV length: 35 feet
Other amenities: the same as the other campground because they share facilities
West Thompson Lake Campground
About 10 miles north of the state park is a lovely little campground called West Thompson Lake Campground. This park is nicely shaded with beautiful, secluded sites. Fishing and boating are both options at this campground, and rates are between $15 and $30 a night, making it a very affordable option.
Water hookup: Yes
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: No
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other amenities: Dump station; shower houses; playground; horseshoe pit; disc golf
Charlie Brown Campground
Prefer to stay somewhere to the west of the park? Charlie Brown Campground might be a good option for you. This campground is nice and clean, with lovely landscaping. People love that it is family friendly, and the staff are beyond welcoming. This park is on the small side, so if you plan to stay here, be sure to make reservations.
Water hookup: Yes
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: No
Wi-Fi: Yes
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other amenities: Clean bathhouses; playground; special events
Peppertree Campground
Another great place to stay to the west of Mashamoquet Brook State Park is the privately owned Peppertree Campground. This park offers activities to keep guests entertained between visits to local attractions, as well as a variety of other amenities. Rates are a bit high, but considering what you get in exchange, we’d say they’re fair enough.
Water hookup: Yes
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi: Yes
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other amenities: Propane; clean bathhouses; small store; planned activities
Brialee Family Campground
The perfect park for people on a budget, Brialee Family Campground has some of the best rates around. It does get busy, but that’s because it’s just so much fun, what with the many planned activities and recreational activities available. Make sure to take full advantage of these things during your stay!
Water hookup: Yes
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other amenities: Swimming pool; clean bathhouses; pet beach; recreation opportunities; fishing; planned activities; small store
What to Do at
Mashamoquet Brook State Park
You're bound to enjoy a cool dip at the campground's beach or an invigorating hike through the woods. For more exercise, be sure to take advantage of the athletic fields. Tossing a Frisbee around is a great bonding activity for active families.
Chase some trout in the brook, or take to the hills and the forest for a hike. Visit the Wolf Den for a bit of local history. Or test your skills on the boulders in the area.
Inside Mashamoquet Brook State Park
Now that you have your lodging sorted, it’s time to think about what you’ll do while in Mashamoquet Brook State Park. Fortunately, there are plenty of things to do in this park—but really, even just relaxing in nature is enough for some.
Walking/Hiking — Every visit to a state park must include at least one hike, and the hiking at this particular park is absolutely lovely. The beautiful trees shade the trails and make everything green and wonderful to look at while walking.
Swimming — Thanks to a pond that happens to reside in this park, swimming and water play are also possibilities. This is fabulous on hot summer days and offers a perfect way to cool off during your time spent outdoors.
Fishing — Fishing is another great option for something to do during your visit. Be sure to bring all of your gear so you can see what you can catch!
Picnicking — Of course, you’ll want to eat something during your visit. Luckily, there are plenty of places to have an awesome picnic. Just make sure you grab the picnic basket before you head out.
History Lessons — History buffs will love the historic sites located in this park. The grist mill is particularly interesting, as it is staffed by people who can help you understand the history behind it.
Hiking
There are two hiking trails in the park, and both of them are moderately difficult. The Table Rock Loop is 2.8 miles long and climbs about 400 feet, and the 4.2-mile Mashamoquet Brook Trail climbs nearly 750 feet along its loop. The latter is renowned not only for its beauty but also for its bird-watching, so bring your binoculars and camera.
Stargazing
Mashamoquet Brook State Park is rated 4 on the Bortle Scale. You can only stargaze from the campgrounds, though, because the park itself closes at dusk. A rating of 4 indicates some light pollution on the horizon but dark skies overhead. Because the campsites of the Wolf Den Campground are more open than those in the Mashamoquet Brook State Park Campground, your stargazing will be better there.
Flora and Fauna
There have been sightings of 81 different species of birds within Mashamoquet Brook State Park, and these include not only raptors like the bald eagle and the red-shouldered hawk but also songbirds like flycatchers, warblers, and kinglets. On the ground, you can see squirrels, chipmunks, and foxes. There are also a few coyotes, so be sure to know what to do when confronted by a predator. There are a bit more than 1,200 black bears in Connecticut, so you might encounter one of these, too, especially on the hiking trails.
Fishing
The fishing in Mashamoquet Brook State Park and its environs yields brook trout, rainbow trout, and brown trout. Occasionally, you can also catch smallmouth bass. Be sure to secure the correct fishing licenses before dropping your line.
Climbing
There are eight bouldering problems in and near Mashamoquet Brook State Park. They range in difficulty from an intermediate V3 to a "professional-only" V10. There aren't any traditional or sport vertical climbs in the area, however.
How to Get to
Mashamoquet Brook State Park
From Hartford, drive east on Route 84 until you reach the exit for Route 74. Then, take Route 74 east. When you reach Route 44 in West Ashford, take it east. Follow the signs for Mashamoquet Brook State Park.
From Providence, take Route 44 west. Route 44 winds and turns a bit, and it even turns due south at Pomfret, but it will take you right to Mashamoquet Brook State Park.
From Norwich, follow Route 395 north. Exit Route 395 at Route 44, and take it west until you see the signs for Mashamoquet Brook State Park.
Entering Mashamoquet Brook State Park
Mashamoquet Brook State Park is one of the few state parks in Connecticut that does not require a parking pass or a day-use fee.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Mashamoquet Brook State Park
The best time of year to visit is when the two campgrounds are open, which is between May and September every year.
Birds are plentiful, and so are small animals. You might see a black bear or coyote while hiking, so take the right precautions. Never get closer to predators than 150 feet, and never feed them, either. Keep all food inside your vehicle unless you're using a fire ring. Never throw leftovers outside.
Between the two campsites, there are 53 RV-specific campsites at Mashamoquet Brook State Park. Just one of them has an electrical hookup, which is a 30-amp connection at one site in the Wolf Den Campground.
Yes, you need reservations. You cannot make them on the day of arrival, however. The latest you can make them is two days before you arrive. The cost is $14 per night for a Connecticut resident and $24 a night for an out-of-state resident. There is a processing fee for every rented campsite.
Yes, pets are allowed, but only on the hiking trails and in the park itself. Neither of the two campgrounds allows pets. If you do visit Mashamoquet Brook State Park for day use and want to hike with your pet, then remember that your pet must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet and that you must clean up after them.
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