Fort Shantok Park in Uncasville CT

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If you are visiting Mohegan Sun Casino, check out nearby Fort Shantok Park in Uncasville, CT. This family-friendly park has something for everyone to enjoy.

fort shantok dam.

History of Fort Shantok Park

There is a lot of history attached to Fort Shantok. It was the sacred ground of Uncas, one of the most prominent and influential Mohegan Indian leaders and statesmen of his era.

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The park land was the first site where the Mohegan people settled with Uncas. Because of this, Fort Shantok represents a location of distinction for the Mohegan Tribe.

covered shelter with benches around it.

In addition, Fort Shantok was used as a stronghold by the Mohegan leader Uncas when fending off an attack from the Narragansetts during 1645. Although the fort was sturdy and well-defended, the attack continued until an English force led by Lt. Thomas Leffingwell provided help. At this point, the Narragansetts abandoned the siege and returned home.

In 1930, the park was purchased by State Park and Forest commission and it became Fort Shantok State Park. In 1993, the land was declared a National Historic Landmark. After this, the area became known as the Fort Shantok Archeological District.

While my mother remembers this park as Fort Shantok State Park, it is no longer a Connecticut state park. This is because in 1994, the state returned the land to the Mohegan Tribe. The Mohegan Tribe was given the land back through a claims settlement act.

After the Mohegans reclaimed the land, they kept it open as a public local park for people to continue enjoying. They are now responsible for the upkeep of the park.

Getting There

Fort Shantok is located just up the road from Mohegan Sun. If you’re coming from the Mohegan Sun resort and casino, you’ll take a left on to Route 32 towards Uncasville. Then at the light by the Jiffy Lube and the Fairfield Inn & Suites on to Fort Shantok Rd. In about mile, the park’s entrance will be on your left.

If you’re coming from the highway, you’ll take Route 2A. Most likely, you’ll be taking Interstate 395 to get to 2A. From 2A, you’ll take Exit 5 on to Route 32 and you’ll turn left towards Mohegan Sun. Coming from this way, you’ll take a left on to Fort Shantok Road. The entrance will still be on your left.

When you get there, there are various places to park. If you’re looking to go to the pond or walk down to the river, you’ll take the first left. There are a couple different spots to park.

If you want to walk the loop around the pond, park in the first spaces you see. If you’re looking to go to the river, park a bit further down that road by the dam.

fort shantok dam.

Things to Do

There is a lot to do at the park. You can fish, hike, picnic, take in the views, and look for wildlife. It’s a beautiful place that’s great for photographers!

The Fort Shanktok Park Pond Trail

The pond is one of the main features of this beautiful park. There is a loop trail that goes around the pond so you can get views of the pond from all angles. The trail around the pond is a wide gravel path. It’s an easy walk to do with the family!

fort shantok pond.

Bridges

There are also two bridges you get to cross, the most prominent one being a beautiful wooden bridge. The other bridge isn’t quite as pretty, but one side of it gives you great views of the pond. On the other side, you get views of the waterfall of the pond’s dam.

wood bridge surrounded by snow.

Along the wooden bridge, you can expect to see a lot of wildlife. For this reason, it’s the first spot I take my sister when we arrive at the park.

Wildlife

Some of the wildlife you can expect to see are geese, ducks, song birds, dragon flies, and sun turtles! Sometimes, you can even see fish swimming around in the pond!

turtle sitting on rock.

Thames River views

One of my favorite things about this park is the access it gives you to the Thames River. You get stunning views of the river and the Mohegan-Pequot Bridge. This has been one of my favorite photo spots for years!

bridge and thames river.

First Path To River

There are two ways to get down to the river. The first way is to park just past the dam in a lot just up the hill. You’ll walk in the opposite direction of the way you came in. You’ll come to an open area on top of a hill where you get great views of the river from the top of a hill.

field with river views in background.

If you continue down the hill, you’ll find the path down to the river. You’ll cross a faded bridge that was once vibrantly painted with a turtle. Walk through the trees on this bridge to get to the river.

bridge to river.

You’ll come out to a set of train tracks that go along the river. You can walk along the tracks. If you go left, you head towards Norwich. If you go right, you head towards Uncasville.

girl walking on train tracks.

There are a couple of access points to the river along the tracks. It’s down hill with stone, so be careful on your way down. The loose rocks make the ground a bit unsteady!

Down at the river, people like to go fishing, enjoy the views, and my personal favorite, skip rocks. It’s a great spot off the beaten path to enjoy in the park! I always make sure I go down to the river when I visit Fort Shantok!

girl skipping rock at river.

Second Path To River

The other way to get to the river is by taking the path by the picnic tables across from the parking lot from where the dam is. If you go to the left of the picnic tables, you’ll find a path that will take you to the bottom of the hill that the other path takes you to.

Picnic

Another way to enjoy the park is to have a picnic! There are various picnic tables around the park to have a picnic with family and friends.

Whether you’re looking to picnic by the pond, or in the shade by a stream, there are plenty of great spots to enjoy a meal in nature!

picnic tables under a large tree.

Fort Shantok Park Playground

Another great feature of the park is the playground! When my sister was little, she loved going to this playground to play. It’s a great spot for family fun! There are also bathrooms near the playground, but they’re only open seasonally.

girl playing in the Fort Shantok Park playground.

FAQs

These are the questions often asked about the park. If you have a question not answered here, leave a comment below this post.

What does Fort Shantok Park offer?

Fort Shantok Park is a historical landmark where you can enjoy nature with the whole family. It offers a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, fishing, and bird watching. The park also has a playground and a picnic area.

Are Dogs Allowed at Fort Shantok?

Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed inside the park.

What Is The Cost To Get Into Fort Shantok?

It’s completely free to get into the park!

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