Topsmead State Forest

Beautiful historic estate in pastoral setting. Several meadow trails cross the property. I have liked Golding trail going through some picturesque woods and along the pond. That said, “forest” in a name is somewhat misleading since most of the trails are mowed paths in meadows.

One of my favorite places to go for a nice, long walk. There is plenty of open space to just relax & enjoy nature. Many individuals will come here to take pictures for weddings, senior photos, etc. Any hike you take will not be too strenuous as the trails are not hilly. We can spend an entire day here just putting a blanket down & lay back. Have to go to really appreciate the area.

Amazing place to visit for a walk or just to sit and have a picnic or a seat and watch all the beautiful nature all around you. Quiet, peaceful and lots of great photo possibilities. Some of the trails haven't been kept up lately and it's a shame. But still a lovely walk.

This is one of Litchfield's best kept secrets if you ask me. I go on occasion for walks and to relax & think. There is some gentle slopes, but mainly flat easy walking on sand/gravel paths or mowed fields. There are plenty of resting places (benches) here and there if you are older or have mobility issues. It is peaceful, beautiful, and quiet. I enjoy viewing the gardens around the house and estate. I have taken the tour inside as well. It is a beautiful place to take photographs with gardens, meadows, stone walls etc...

Beautiful trails ranging in difficulty - great for kids or walking dogs. Pick a different path each time which is fun for exploring. Plenty of out-houses as well which is nice. In the parking lot they have a little set up with bags for dog poops as well as a receptacle for dog poop only. There is no pavilion or large covered area. There are a few picnic tables - 1 in a small shed type building near the main house, 1 near the pond, 1 off the trail near the pond, and a few along another trail near the fields. Pack a lovely blanket and lunch and set up on the lush grass for a wonderful morning or afternoon. Be prepared to bring your garbage with you as there aren't any garbage receptacles - most likely to discourage bears. Some trails are where some horses are allowed to walk so you may need to watch out for horse poop. Topsmead is a beautiful and peaceful place to spend some time or go to take some beautiful photos, you won't be sorry you went. They do guided tours for the main house on the weekends.

Oh my, what a lovely place! We came here for the first time and it did not disappoint! If you love meadows and wide open spaces, this is for you! We definitely will be back to explore further...Walking trails are very easy to navigate.

Very nice place for hiking or walking with family and dogs. A lot of good trails with beautiful view and wonderful nature.

Come discover this hidden treasure-a beautiful location and forest nestled in the Litchfield Hills.  This location offers diverse landscapes, including bike and nature trails, formal gardens, unique bird habitats and a English Tudor style cottage.  While visiting, be sure to visit the Orintas Family Butterfly Garden & Viewing Stand, the Edith Morton Chase Ecology Trail with interpretive signage. -CTDEEP

A warm, English-Tudor style cottage built in the 1920s on the top of a meadow surrounded by gardens. Fields filled with birds, butterflies and dragonflies. I wish I could describe it better... I'm not going to, because I'm tired. I guess you can always just look at the photos. Unless you decide to actually go and experience it for yourself. Either way...

Since moving to CT, we discovered a great program that gives a little incentive for visiting a number of CT state parks, the DEEP Sky's The Limit Program. In 2017, Topsmead was among the parks listed, so we decided to go give it a visit. Winter was not the best time to visit, and it's hard to give it a really good/fair rating. The main farmhouse area was closed for the season, and the weather wasn't really great for hiking. It would be a great spot for cross country skiing in the winter, though. The outstanding negative at the time of our visit were the state of the toilets. They're pit toilets, which is fine, but they were not dug at all deeply, and if not for the freezing weather, I can imagine it would be rather unpleasantly fragrant. We'll definitely be visiting again and reevaluating at some point.

Really beautiful grounds and especially enjoyed the butterfly garden. The Chase estate is beautiful inside and outside and I appreciate that they give tours. However, I felt our tour guide was a little long winded. I had an episode where my blood sugar fell from standing too long and had to leave the tour early, but we were an hour in. The house isn't that big and I don't believe the tour should be longer than an hour. This is a great place for a picnic and I noticed someone having a photoshoot there as well. A very peaceful and scenic part of Litchfield that should be checked out.

This park is beautiful, a great place to walk my active dog AND break in my new Vivofit. There's lot of open space for picnics, and although it's a little damp with all the snow melting there were lots of trails to walk on. Even though there was always a person within our sights, it was very quiet and peaceful. My dog, who believes everyone wants to be and will be his friend, wore himself out trying to find them all. We found two porta-potties stocked with toilet paper, and supposedly there's a flush toilet somewhere but I saw no evidence of that. There are tours of the cute little cottage on site beginning in June on the second and fourth weekends of the month, which I am very excited for. It used to be someone's summer home, and it looks straight out of a fairy tale.

This is a hidden treasure in the heart of East Litchfield. Lots of walking traits and cross country skiing paths. Bring the dogs( on leashes) and a picnic for bird watching and stay for a beautiful sunset!