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LAKE McDONOUGH
Located less than 30 miles from Hartford, 446-acre Lake McDonough
is one of Connecticut's gems. A scenic, unspoiled public recreation area
offering numerous ways to enjoy the beauty of New England - every
season of the year. With wheelchair accessibility to beaches,
bathhouses, the boathouse and picnic areas - as well as a fully
accessible nature trail for the disabled and the blind - Lake
McDonough is truly for everyone.
Public safety is a high priority at Lake McDonough. Lifeguards
are Red Cross trained; first aid is available at the office adjacent
to the boathouse, and the area is patrolled by uniformed MDC police. To have
a safe and enjoyable time please abide by the
Rules and Regulations.
Cross-country skiing is allowed on the roadways near West Beach and Goose Green Beach. Visit the Saville Dam. No matter what the season, look out on scenic Barkhamsted Reservoir from the top of Saville Dam on Route 318 (just ¼ mile from its intersection with Route 219). Enjoy a great view of Connecticut's largest water supply reservoir - a truly spectacular site when autumn's leaves are at their peak (usually in mid-October). Or take a hike along the Tunxis Trail, or on the network of trails within the Peoples, Nepaug and Tunxis State Forests. Swimming is allowed daily at East Beach and on weekends and holidays at Goose Green Beach and West Beach from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day (unless the season is extended).
MDC row boats are available for rent at the Lake McDonough boathouse. Private boat launching is also allowed for a small fee. Motor boat speed is limited to 10 miles per hour. Picnic sites, with wheelchair accessible picnic tables and on-site fireplaces, are open from the third Saturday in April through September.
The Lake McDonough recreation area is located
on the west side of Route 219 in Barkhamsted, Connecticut, just
over three miles northeast of the Route 44 intersection in New
Hartford Center. Parking is available for cars and buses. Detailed driving directions and a printable map are available.
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The Braille Trail, a fully accessible, self-guided nature trail, complete
with Braille signage and a system of ramps and railings for the blind and
physically impaired, is located on the west side of Lake McDonough just a few
hundred yards from Goose Green Beach. The blacktop trail, which is more than a
quarter-mile long and in full compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA) regulations, features more than 30 natural landmarks where visitors can
read about - and touch - many of the trees and rocks that are indigenous to
Southern New England. It's educational and fun! Parking and admission are free,
however reservations are required. For information call (860) 379-3036 or
(860) 379-0938.
Fishing by boat and from the shore is allowed from the
third Saturday in April through Labor Day weekend. Fishing from
shore is permitted through November 30. Each spring the MDC and
Connecticut DEP stock Lake McDonough with brown trout, rainbows
and, on occasion, golden trout. For some added excitement, many
extra-large breeders are stocked each year. A wheelchair accessible
fishing pier is located at the south end of Lake McDonough on
Route 219, approximately two miles from the intersection of Route
44 in New Hartford Center.