Shenipsit State Forest

Shenipsit State Forest is a state forest located in northeastern Connecticut with 11 parcels scattered between the towns of Somers, Ellington, and Stafford.[3] The forest's headquarters are home to the Civilian Conservation Corps Museum, which houses memorabilia from CCC camps throughout the eastern United States.[3] The forest is managed for forestry products and offers various recreational pursuits.

Shenipsit State Forest
View from Soapstone Mountain summit lookout tower in Connecticut's Shenipsit State Forest.
Location in Connecticut
LocationTolland, Connecticut, United States
Coordinates41°58′32″N 72°23′12″W
Area6,962 acres (28.17 km2)[1]
Elevation886 ft (270 m)[2]
Established1927
Governing bodyConnecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
WebsiteShenipsit State Forest

Geography

The forest is located mainly within the Eastern New England Uplift and contains tracts along the eastern edge of the Connecticut River Valley. The highest point wholly within the state forest is Soapstone Mountain at 1,075 feet (328 m), but the Town of Somers owns adjacent land that includes the 1,121 feet (342 m) summit of Bald Mountain,[4] the highest point along the eastern edge of Connecticut River Valley from Long Island Sound to the Vermont border. The terrain rises up to 800 feet (240 m) from the surrounding Connecticut River Valley, though most mountains and hills rise 300–500 feet (91–152 m) from the surrounding terrain elsewhere in the forest. The forest floor is scattered with boulders and large rocks from the last ice age. Soapstone Mountain used to be the site of a soapstone quarry in Colonial days.

Recreation opportunities

The Shenipsit Trail, which runs 40 miles (64 km) from East Hampton to Somers, passes through the Shenipsit State Forest and passes over the summit of Soapstone Mountain. The summit has the only lookout tower in northeastern Connecticut.[3] The original fire tower was removed in 1971.[5] Various forest trails can be used for hiking, mountain biking, equestrian travel, and cross-country skiing.

References
  1. Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee (January 23, 2014). "State Parks and Forests: Funding" (PDF). Staff Findings and Recommendations. Connecticut General Assembly. p. A-3. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  2. "Shenipsit State Forest". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  3. "Shenipsit State Forest". State Parks and Forests. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  4. "Bald Mountain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  5. "Connecticut State Forests Seedling Letterbox Series - Clues for Shenipsit State Forest". State Parks and Forests. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Retrieved July 23, 2014.


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