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Off I-84: take Exit 5. Take Route 53 south for 3.4 miles, at Route 53 and Route 302 follow Route 302 east for 1.6 miles. At Route 58 and Route 302, follow Route 58 south for 4.6 miles then take a left onto Sunset Hill Road. Collis P. Huntington is 0.8 miles on the right. Off Merritt Parkway: take Exit 42. Take Route 136 north for 5.2 miles, at the intersection of Route 136 and Route 58, follow Route 58 for 7 miles then take a right onto Sunset Hill Road. Collis P. Huntington is 0.8 miles on the right.
General Description: 878 acre Collis P. Huntington State Park may be a small, undeveloped park that offers little in the way of amenities, but approximately 10 miles of well-maintained, secluded doubletrack and a good network of multi-use singletrack trails are available for mountain biking, hiking and horseback riding. The trails wind through tranquil open fields, dense woodlands and skirt around five ponds. Take note of the life-like sculptures of bears and wolves created by the world-renowned sculptress, Anna Hyatt Huntington at the park entrance on Sunset Hill Road. (This was formerly the Estate of the Huntington family. See historical note below).
The Trails: Trails are closed to motorized vehicles and wind around scenic ponds, over causeways, bridle paths and fire roads. Most of the trails are considered moderate. There are some tricky sections with logs, rocks, roots, teeter-totters, some hills and short drops. This is the ideal place for beginners looking to take their mountain bike skills to the next level. If something seems too hard, there is always the option to "hike a bike" over, down, around or under. The shorter, easier mountain bike rides can be found on the relatively flat, well worn double track loop trails which circle around the ponds. For more experienced riders, more challenging trails can be found away from the ponds in the secluded areas of the park. New boardwalks were recently constructed to provide drier, less muddy access to a series of loops in the northern section of the park. You can connect different loops to make longer rides over a variety of terrain. Colis P. Hunting State Park is not well-mapped and many of the trails are un-marked, however it's hard to get lost as this beautiful suburban park, bordering the towns of Bethel, Newtown, and Redding, CT is surrounded by roads and houses. At any given time you'll be about 1 mile from help. You can find a map at the entrance to Huntington State Park or at the Connecticut State Park website (see link below). Note: Ride responsibly and respect the trails, park regulations and "posted" private property signs. Stay off trails when wet and slow down or stop and yield to the hoofed and foot trail users.
Aspetuck Valley Trail : 6 miles The new six-mile Aspetuck Valley Trail was officially dedicated June 2, 2007. The scenic trail connects with existing trails in Collis P. Huntington State Park in Newtown and Redding. The Trail is designated for foot hiking only (except where the trail joins town roads). Trail use rules and other information can be found at newly installed kiosks at trail access points.
Historical Note: Collis P. Huntington State Park, named after the railroad tycoon who completed the first transcontinental railroad, was willed to the State by his son, Archer M. Huntington, a noted poet, Spanish scholar and art patron. It was there that his wife, Anna Hyatt Huntington, the world-renowned sculptress worked with clay and scaffolding in her studio. Her sculptures of bear and wolves still welcome visitors at the Park entrance. Her interest in animals and natural history, was sparked as a young girl by her father, who was a zoologist and paleontologist. The Park was opened to the public in 1973 after her death.
For More Information: Collis P. Huntington State Park Phone: (203) 938-2285
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Directions & Trail Description