Mashamoquet Brook State Park offers a rich history and an even richer natural environment. The networking 4.2 miles of trail is ideal for birdwatching, wildlife viewing, and enjoying your time in nature. This trail offers natural rock formations of the Table Rock and Indian Chair.
The region was once the domain of the Mohegan Chief Uncas. The name Mashamoquet is Indian for "stream of good fishing" and originally was applied to the entire area. Later, Captain John Sabin built a house here to serve as an outpost and the settlement gradually increased in size. In 1723, parish and township privileges were granted and the town became Pomfret, named after Pontefract in Yorkshire, England.
The present park area is actually a combination of three parks: the original Mashamoquet Brook, Wolf Den and Saptree Run. A large portion of the park was public domain even prior to the State Park and Forest Commission's creation in 1914 due to the foresight of the Daughters of the American Revolution who had purchased the Wolf Den parcel in 1899. The State purchased this section from them in 1924 for the original 1899 price and added it to the first Mashamoquet Brook parcel which had been a gift of former Pomfret resident Sarah Fay. These areas, other purchases, and gifts (notably, in 1957, the 148 acre Hotchkins Wolf Den Farm parcel) have been combined to form the present park, which is over 1000 acres.
The most famous feature is the Wolf Den into which, on a night in 1742, Israel Putnam crept and shot a wolf that for years had preyed upon local sheep and poultry. Israel Putnam was later to gain fame as a Major General in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.
Near the Den are the Table Rock and Indian Chair natural stone formations. The Indian Chair is a wide seat-shaped ledge. In the section that is now the entrance to Mashamoquet Brook State Park, there once operated a cider mill, grist mill and wagon shop. The mill dam and pond went out during the flood of 1938. Now only the grist mill is still in existence. It is maintained as a museum by the Pomfret Historical Society. The mill is open on a regular basis and staffed by members of the Historical Society who provide interpretation for all interested visitors.
Current information on swimming water quality.
This park is managed by the following CT DEEP Park Headquarters:
276 Mashamoquet Road Pomfret, CT 06259
Take Route 6 west onto Route 101 west. Go west on Route 101 through Dayville until it ends at Route 44 in Pomfret. Continue straight onto Route 44 west for approximately 1 mile, Mashamoquet Brook State Park is on your left.
Take Route 84 east, Exit 69. At the end of the exit ramp, take a right onto Route 74 east. Go east on Route 74 until it ends. At the end of Route 74, take a left onto Route 44 east for approximately 10.9 miles, Mashamoquet Brook State Park is on your right.
Take Route 290 south onto Route 395 south. Go south on Route 395, take Exit 41. At the end of the exit ramp, take a right onto Route 101 west. Go west on Route 101 until it ends at Route 44. Continue straight ahead onto Route 44 west for approximately 1 mile, Mashamoquet Brook State Park is on your left.
Take Route 395 north, Exit 41. At the end of the exit ramp, take a left onto Route 101 West. Stay on Route 101 until it ends at Route 44. Continue straight ahead on Route 44 west for approximately 1 mile, Mashamoquet Brook State Park is on your left.
Success! A new password has been emailed to you.
