Millers Pond State Park CT
Take a trip to Millers Pond State Park in Durham, CT, for a place to hike with some nice water views. This Connecticut State Park features a beautiful pond and great wooded areas for hiking!
About Millers Pond State Park
The State Park and Forest Commission acquired Millers Pond in 1955 from the heirs of Thomas Macdonough Russel with the money provided in the trust fund of George Dudley Seymour. When the park was purchased, the park only contained 30 acres of pond and 170 acres of wooded land.
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In the following years, the state purchased additional property surrounding the land they had originally purchased to add to the park. In 1972, they completed the acquisition of all of the land that the park consists of in present day.
One thing that makes Millers Pond unique is that its main source of water comes from large springs that create a body of unpolluted water. This makes the water excellent for small mouth bass and trout. This makes the pond a great spot for fishing!
Getting To Millers Pond State Park
The best way to get to this Connecticut State Park is by taking Route 9. Take exit 11 on to 155 going westbound. Then, you’ll take a left on to Millerbrook Road. Then you’ll take a slight left turn on to Foothills Road and the parking area will be on your right.
Things To Do at Millers Pond State Park
There’s plenty to do at this Connecticut State Park if you’re into outdoor activities!
Hiking
Millers Pond State Park is a very popular spot to go hiking! There are various trails in the park, making it easy to make your hike as long or as short as you want. The most popular trail is the Millers Pond Trail. There are plenty of spots along this trail with stunning views of the pond!
A favorite feature of mine on the Millers Pond Trail is the metal bridge. But, I always enjoy a good bridge! The bridge offers some great views of the pond.
It’s important to note that the trails around the pond can be very rocky in spots. Additionally, there are some spots along the path that have a lot of roots. Be sure to wear proper shoes for your hike and watch your step!
Mountain Biking
Not only are the trails great for hiking, but they also make for great mountain biking trails! The best trail for mountain biking is the Millers Pond Red Loop Trail. This trail features freeride type drops, jumps, and stunts.
The stunts are mostly intermediate to advanced level. But, there are chicken lines around almost all of the stunts. If you’re an average rider, it should take you about an hour to complete the red trail. You can also make the ride longer if you incorporate the White Trail.
Fishing
At Millers Pond, you can also go fishing! The fishing areas are along the banks of the pond. While fishing, you can expect to catch pumpkinseed, small mouth bass, largemouth bass, yellow perch, brown trout, rainbow trout, black crappie, and bluegill.
Hunting
Millers Pond State Park also allows hunting. The wooded land makes for a great hunting spot. You can expect to find turkeys, deer, waterfowl, and small game. To find where you can hunt in the park, view the hunting map.
Since hunting is allowed here, be sure to wear safety orange if you’re going for a hike during hunting season!
Reasons to Visit Millers Pond State Park
There’s plenty to do at this state park in Durham, CT. With a beautiful pond, and over 5 miles of trails within the park, there’s no shortage of things to do while there.
FAQs
Yes, there are several beach areas along the pond. The pond’s unpolluted water makes it a great spot for swimming. However, note that there are no lifeguards on duty. They do have life lifesaver rings by the swimming areas for emergencies.
Yes! Just keep in mind that your dog must be on a leash at all times.
No! There’s no parking fee to get into the park and the gate to the parking lot is open year-round.
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