Mansfield Hollow Lake is a 500 acre lake created by the Corps of Engineers Dam Project in the area, with 2472 acres of natural space owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2300 acres of which is leased by the State of Connecticut. The Mansfield Hollow State Park occupies 251 acres adjacent to the lake, and more than 2000 acres is designated as the Mansfield Hollow Wildlife Area. The dam is designed for flood control, but also creates a reservoir for the local town's water supply, and a beautiful recreation area. The Mansfield Hollow Dam is located in Mansfield Hollow Road spanning the Natchaug River and a paved footpath runs along the dam with picnic sites on the grassy area downstream and on the lake side.
The recreation area at the state park is situated on a bluff overlooking the lake and treed with large pines and has picnic tables, a shelter, and fire pits available for individuals and small family groups as well as larger group sites that can be reserved. Open areas with sports fields that can be utilized on group outings sit adjacent to the picnic area. A walking trail meanders through the open areas which were once farms and homesteads, and still contain the remaining stone foundations of previous settlements. The Nipmuc tribe once inhabited the area, and traces of this indigenous people group may still be found for those who look closely at the landscape.
During the winter, the walking trail is becomes a popular cross country ski trail. Other amenities and facilities located at the recreation area, next to the COE lake, include a boat ramp, water supply, restrooms, parking lots, and waste disposal. Because the reservoir is used for drinking water, swimming is not permitted, however sailboats, small motor boats, canoes, and kayaks use the local boat ramp to access the water. The scenic views from the trails and the dam site are polar with local and visiting hikers, picnickers, and photographers and the park is open from 8 AM to sunset daily. Pets are permitted but must be kept on a leash.
There is no overnight camping in Mansfield Hollow Lake, however, RVers will find accommodating campsites at nearby Mashamoquet Brook State Park Campground and Salt Rock Campground, both within a 30 minute drive of the Corps of Engineers, Mansfield Hollow Dam and Lake. Looking for an RV to partake of the recreational and camping activities in the area? Check out RV Rentals Connecticut for available units nearby.
To reach Mansfield Hollow Lake recreational area from Hartford, Connecticut, take Route 84 east to exit 68 then take Route 195 south to the Bassetts Bridge Road turnoff, which is past the University of Connecticut campus and just past the junction for Route 89. Turn left onto Bassetts Bridge Road, the park is on the left side of this access road.
RV trailers from Willimantic can take route 195 north to Bassetts Bridge Road and turn right onto the access road. Mansfield Hollow Lake Park is on the left side.
There are small paved parking lots for the state park and near the dam along Bassets Bridge Road that are appropriate for single family vehicles and will not accommodate larger RVs or trailers, however, the naturally surfaced, larger parking lot near the boat ramp has more room for RVs and trailers.
Overnight campgrounds at Mashamoquet Brook State Park and Salt Rock State Park can be reached with just under a ½ hour drive from Mansfield Hollow Lake. Mashamoquet Brook State Park is located to the north near Pomfret, Connecticut and is just 5 miles southwest of the town of Purnam on Route 44. The access road is gravel but is wide and can accommodate RVs and tow vehicles.
Salt Rock Campground is located south of Mansfield Hollow Lake, two miles north of Baltic on Route 97, just past Salt Rock Road.
During the winter, road’s in the Mansfield Hollow Lake region may become snow and ice covered. Slippery conditions can pose a hazard for RV travelers or for those with tow vehicles and require extra precautions. Avoid recreational vehicle travel in poor road conditions if possible. Using winter tires and reducing speed can mitigate icy road conditions in the area when travel is necessary.
This state run campground is located less than a 30 minute drive south of Mansfield Hollow Lake. The Salt Rock State Forest and campground occupies 150 acres of open and treed landscape near Sprague, Connecticut. This campground has some unique amenities including two in-ground swimming pools open to registered campers, a volleyball court, and horseshoe pits, so there is plenty to entertain! There are 71 sites at the campground, many with views of the waterfront, where the Shetucket River winds through the park. Sites can accommodate RVs up to 35 feet in length, and there are electric, sewer, and water hookups available. Other amenities at the campground include a dump station, flush toilets, showers, and drinking water.
Pets are permitted at this campground, and there are also many ADA accessible sites, ADA accessible restrooms, and even some of sections of area hiking trails that are ADA friendly. Hiking and exploring the campground and state forest are popular pastimes, as is fishing from the riverbank, or on a canoe or kayak, and tubing down the river. Reservations can be made at Salt Rock Campground. While staying at Salt Rock, a visit to nearby Mystic, Connecticut where an aquarium is available to tour makes a great day trip. Please do not bring in firewood as it is not permitted to prevent the spread of disease. Firewood is available on site.
This State park occupies 900 acres of grassy and treed areas, and has two campground loops, the Mashamoquet Loop with 18 sites, and the Wolf Den Loop with 35 sites, that provides many amenities and features for RV campers to enjoy during their stay. The Mashamoquet Loop is well treed and has plenty of shade and privacy for campers. The Wolf Den Loop is more open and grassy. All campsites have a picnic table and fire ring. Amenities at these campgrounds include a dishwashing station, paved site pads, a dump station, firewood supply, flush toilets, vault toilets, drinking water, ranger station, recycling station, and showers. Sites can accommodate RVs up to 35 feet in length, and there is one site with an electric hookup. Other features include a beach, cycling trail, hiking trails, museums, and sports fields. Please note that pets are not permitted at this campground. Reservations can be made at Reservations Mashamoquet Brook Campground.
Enjoy a meal alfresco on the Mansfield Hollow Lake during the warm summer months. The COE park has a reservable group picnic shelter that is perfect for larger groups. Individual family picnic sites are also abundant, and the picnic sites overlook the beautiful lake. Fire pits can be used for cooking a fine outdoor meal, or just to enjoy an evening fire and roast some marshmallows or hot dogs with friends and family. Sports field nearby give picnickers the opportunity to enjoy some team sports during their stay, and nearby restrooms and waste disposals facilities are available for the convenience of day users and picnic goers.
The 500 acre lake with its boat launch and large parking lot, provides an excellent opportunity for boaters to get out on the water. Swimming is not permitted at the lake as it is a designated water supply for local towns, however, small powerboats are permitted. Sailboating, canoeing, and kayaking are also popular pastimes, and a great way to get out, enjoy the beautiful scenery, and do some wildlife spotting from the water. The boat ramp is located just south of Bassett Bridge on the Bassett Bridge Road.
Fishing on Mansfield Hollow Lake is excellent, with many species stocked and preserved in the lake. The most common species in the lake are largemouth bass, chain pickerel and northern pike, which can get up to 10 pounds and 20 inches long in the region. There are also black crappie, smallmouth bass, horned pout, bluegill sunfish, pumpkinseed, yellow perch, brown bullhead, white sucker, golden shiner, carp, and rainbow, brook and brown trout. The boat launch allows access to the lake for small motorized and non- motorized fishing boats. A Connecticut state fishing license is required.
The Nipmuc Trail is popular with cross country skiers during the winter season. There is a yellow-blazed trail situated on the northern part of Mansfield Hollow Lake and red and white trails that are each about one mile in length within the park. The trails interconnect and make an excellent way to get out and tour the park during the cooler months when the frost and snow covered trees provide a winter wonderland waiting to be discovered. Bring your own cross country ski gear, dress in layers, and bring drinking water which is not available at the park during the winter months.
Several hiking trails in the Mansfield Hollow Lake recreation area and surrounding region make excellent hiking, especially in the off season when autumn leaves provide colors reflected in the lake water, insects are less prevalent and there is less trail traffic in the area. The Mansfield Hollow Lake trail is 6.8 miles in length, and is a loop trail appropriate for all ability levels. The trail can be muddy in lower spots, and has a total elevation gain of 505 feet. Dogs are permitted on the trail if leashed. The Nipmuck Trail is eight miles in length and extends from the north to the south end of the recreation area. Equestrians also use the trail so keep an eye out for horseback riders and cyclists.
A 19th century industrial village that is a designated historical site is located at Mansfield Hollow Ridge in the town of Mansfield. The remnant of a stone mill built in 1882 remains on the site, and there are several houses nearby dating to the same period. The site has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1979, and is well worth a visit while RV camping and sightseeing in the district. Also the remains of farm sites in the area can be discovered along the hiking trails, and artifacts of the Nipmuc Tribe, which once inhabited the area, may also be discovered on natural trails in the region. Touring these historical sites is a special treat in the fall when the leaves change color and create a spectacular backdrop for sightseeing.
