All are welcome, and it would be great to see
our neighbors from Massachusetts and Rhode Island too!
Current Food List
- ~Marvalus.......Can bring some chips and/or pretzels
- BirdManOfCT.....additional sodas
- BluEyz and Bugsy.........mint brownies & possibly peanut
butter brownies too
- bubba42e.........plates and knives, spoons & forks
- Dale and Jessie.......bring cheese, pepperoni, crackers and
popcorn
- Dosido..........deserts
- FLalaMingo......will bring potato salad
- juliebeans......assorted fresh fruit for the picnic
- kb_trials.......veggie platter and fruit salad (Yummy
Yummy)
- MSTzilla........bringing my homemade salsa and some chips
- Mr_CacheHound........bringing brats & wings
- Nomad64.......donuts
- Skippermark.....will be bringing hamburgers and hot dogs
- Tuckerman6288...I'll bring chips, soda, cups and napkins
- Wing-it.........HB&HD rolls and tomato/basil
salad
This area offers great canoeing and
kayaking, but you do not need a boat to attend.
The posted coordinates are for the picnic area. The
main parking lot, located at: N42° 00.296 W072° 07.731 fills
up fast, so it's a good idea to get there early. If the main
lot happens to be full, you can unload your boat and gear at
the boat launch and then park a short distance away. For in
state residents there is a $7 entrance fee and for out of
state folks, the fee is $10. There is free parking at the
Bigelow Hollow Fishing Area, but it's over a mile walk to the
picnic area.
There are two ways to approach the picnic area from the main
parking lot. The first is by walking about .4 miles along a wooded
path, where you can find geocaches if you desire. The second option
is to paddle directly to the picnic area, which is a little over
half a mile.
The park offers miles of pine-forested hiking trails that are
also great for mountain biking, though some of the riding is quite
technical. There are easier trails if you prefer. The boating and
fishing are excellent, and the picnic area is rustic and surrounded
by towering pines and water.
What to do:
Bigelow Pond is 25 acres and reminiscent of a
remote Canadian lake and offers spectacular trout fishing from
either a boat or shore. Internal combustion engines are
prohibited.
Mashapaug Lake is 287 acres and the center piece of the park,
offering crystal clear waters for SCUBA diving, bass and walleye
fishing. There are secluded coves and inlets that make you feel as
if you're in another state. Internal combustion engines are
allowed, but there is a 10 mile per hour speed limit, which makes
it a perfect area for paddling.
Breakneck pond is 105 acres and could once be accessed by road
but is now available by hiking or biking on a mile-long trail.
Because of this change, Breakneck is rarely visited, which is a
shame because people are really missing out, but it can be a plus
for those who go there because it's very serene.
There are currently several fun caches in the park, and more are
being placed.
What we need to make the event
fun:
Food: If you would like to bring some food, please let
us know when you post your "Will Attend."
Boats: If anyone has any extra canoes or kayaks they'd like to
bring, or even one they'd like to share, that would be greatly
appreciated. There are some caches around the lake that are easier
to access by water.
Dogs: Dogs are allowed as long as they are kept on a leash, so
feel free to bring your your hiking buddy along.
Swim Gear: The water at Mashapaug is some of the clearest of any
fresh water lake in the state, so bring a mask, snorkel and fins if
you have them. SCUBA divers are often seen in the area, so be on
the lookout for their dive flags when boating.
Rain Date: If needed, the event will be moved to Sunday, August
26h at 10 a.m.
Directions: I-84 to Exit 73 or 74, then follow Route 190 north
to Route 171 east to the park entrance.
Please contact
Tuckerman6228 if you'd like to place any caches in the area.
Thanks!
Nancy and I will be supplying charcoal and hamburgers and hot
dogs. We still need others to bring some food such as chips, and
drinks if they could.
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| The boat launch offers
a dock and is wide with plenty of room. |
The picnic area
features pine needle-covered areas with lots of shade and easy
water access. |
The view of the lake
from the picnic area is gorgeous. |
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| The trails are varied,
from pine needles to rocks and roots. |
The exposed rock is a
popular swimming spot. |
Hmmm, looks like a good
place for a geocache. |