Things to Do in Old Furnace State Park And Ross Pond State Park

Old Furnace State Park And Ross Pond State Park offers opportunities for hiking and road cycling. The parks feature interconnected trail systems and varied terrain suitable for exploration. Ross Pond also allows for small boats without internal combustion engines and is stocked for trout fishing.

A prominent trail is the blue-blazed Old Furnace Trail, which connects both parks. This trail ascends Half Hill to a scenic cliff overlook. A popular 2.5-mile (4 km) loop at Old Furnace State Park is considered a moderate hike with ascents and descents, leading to excellent viewing areas. For more details, refer to the Hiking in Old Furnace State Park And Ross Pond State Park guide.

The parks offer varied terrain, and some trails may be suitable for families. While specific easy routes are not detailed, the interconnected trail system provides options for different skill levels. Information on family-friendly options can be found in the Family-friendly hikes in Old Furnace State Park And Ross Pond State Park guide.

Half Hill in Old Furnace State Park offers a 0.75-mile (1.2 km) trail leading to a viewpoint with panoramic ten-mile (16 km) views, extending into Rhode Island. The cliffs at Half Hill tower 200 feet (61 meters) over Half Hill Pond. Ross Pond State Park also features the Ross Cliffs overlook along the blue-blazed Old Furnace Trail.

The area around Old Furnace State Park and Ross Pond State Park offers opportunities for road cycling. Several routes are available for cyclists to explore the local area. For route suggestions, consult the Road Cycling Routes in Old Furnace State Park And Ross Pond State Park guide.

The Old Furnace Trail is a blue-blazed trail that connects Old Furnace State Park and Ross Pond State Park. In Old Furnace State Park, it is about 3 miles (4.8 km) long and ascends Half Hill 200 feet (61 meters) to a scenic cliff overlook. In Ross Pond State Park, it runs along the western edge of the ponds and climbs to the Ross Cliffs overlook.

Old Furnace State Park was the site of an 18th-century iron foundry. This foundry supplied horseshoes to the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. While the industrial structures are largely gone, stone walls and other relics from this past are visible within the forest.

Ross Pond is suitable for small boats without internal combustion engines, making it an easy spot for paddling. The pond is also frequently stocked for trout fishing. This provides opportunities for both recreational boating and angling.

Old Furnace State Park offers a three-quarter mile (1.2 km) trail to a viewpoint. A longer four-mile (6.4 km) loop trail is also available. The blue-blazed trail in Old Furnace State Park is approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) long.

Komoot offers several guides for the area, including Hiking in Old Furnace State Park And Ross Pond State Park and Road Cycling Routes in Old Furnace State Park And Ross Pond State Park. There are also guides for Family-friendly hikes and Traffic-free bike rides.

The routes in Old Furnace State Park And Ross Pond State Park currently do not have an average rating on komoot. However, more than 100 visitors have shared their experiences in the area. There are 2 routes available across hiking and road cycling.

The parks feature a blend of deciduous and evergreen trees, including Canadian (Eastern) hemlock, eastern white pine, oak, birch, beech, maple, and hickory. Wetlands and streams support native plants such as skunk cabbage, cattails, and waterlilies.

For Old Furnace State Park, the phone number is (860) 928-6121. For Ross Pond State Park, the phone number is (860) 424-3200, though (860) 928-6121 is also listed, suggesting shared administration. Information is also available via the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) website.