This trail offers a wide variety of activities from boat camping, hiking, mountain biking, bird watching, and cross country skiing in the winter.
This trail offers the opportunity to see small wildlife, birds, and to take in a scenic view of the Connecticut River from the cliffside vista on the red blazed trail. The Hurd Brook runs through the park and is visible from the blue and red trails.
In 1914, only one year after the establishment of a State Park Commission, the state purchased 150 acres of the present Hurd Park as part of an initiative to obtain land for public use along the Connecticut River. Situated in the town of East Hampton on the east bank of the river, the park has grown to almost 1000 acres and is especially popular with small boat owners. Many of these boaters recognize the park by its landmark "split rock" towering above the trees.
In the granite ledges of the split rock are veins of feldspar which was once mined extensively in Connecticut. Shortly after its acquisition, Hurd became the focus of legal action to determine the ownership of mining privileges at the park. The resulting court decision, fortunately, favored the State and averted the possible desolation of some 130 acres of land.
The park is named after the Hurd family, which came to the Middle Haddam region from Massachusetts in 1710 and settled on the level bench of land high above the river.
This park is managed by the following CT DEEP Park Headquarters:
I-91 south. Take Exit 22 (left exit) onto Route 9. Take a right onto Route 66 and follow Route 66. Take a right onto Route 151. Hurd State Park is on the right.
I-95 north. Take Exit 69 onto Route 9 north. Take Exit 7 and proceed on Route 82 across the East Haddam Bridge. Continue on Route 82 and take a left onto Route 151. Follow Route 151. Hurd State Park is on the left.
I-395 South to Route 2. Follow Route 2 west to Route 16. Follow Route 16 west to Cobalt. Take a left onto Route 151. Follow Route 151. Hurd State Park is on the right.
I-84 east. Take Exit 27 onto I-691. Follow I-691, which becomes Route 66. From Route 66 take a right onto Route 151. Hurd State Park is on the right.
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