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Gay City State Park
Hebron, Connecticut
Pond swim beach inside Gay City State Park, Hebron. Ghost-town mill ruins on the trails.
Swim access
Water condition
At a glance
Crowd level
High
Walk time
60-90 minutes
Trail difficulty
2 / 5 Easy to moderate
Parking ease
Easy
Dog policy
Check posted rules
Access type
Day-use area
Overview
Gay City State Park surrounds the old Gay City mill village in Hebron and Bolton. The park's pond has a small designated swim beach (lifeguarded in season) plus a network of trails to the ghost-town foundations and mill ruins along the Blackledge River.
- County
- Tolland
- Region
- Quiet Corner
- Water type
- Pond
Know before you go
Editorial tags
State parkDesignated swimLifeguardsPondGhost townHartford countyHebronFamily stop
Good for
SwimmingFamily friendlyPicnicHiking short
Land ownership
Public
Watch for
Seasonal lifeguard
Unknown depth
Weekly water testing
Conditions
Conditions snapshot
Check posted signs and official updates before entering.
Getting there
Arrival points
Parking + Trailhead + Attraction
41.72351, -72.44311
Parking: Lot · Easy · Trailhead: 2.5 mi · 60-90 minutes · 2 / 5 Easy to moderate · Mixed surface · Attraction: Pond · Swim viewing only
Arrival directions
Use the posted public access for Gay City State Park. Walk to the shoreline from the lot or pull-off.
2.5 miMixedLot564 ft200 ft gain
Parking notes: Paved day-use lot at the pond. Fills on hot weekends but usually later than front-country parks.
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