Camping & Hiking Around Middlebury & Woodbury

This article was written by Kathleen Reilly, with contributions from Jaimie Cura.

The simple life: Camping, with no television, no computers, no cellphones.

Well, maybe a cellphone.

While you might think throwing a sleeping bag in your yard counts as a campout, perhaps it’s time to consider a more adventurous exploit. Experiencing a night or two outdoors doesn’t necessarily warrant a lengthy car ride. It doesn’t even have to be an overnighter.

Campgrounds

Litchfield County

• Branch Brook Campgrounds & Trailer Sales
• Cozy Hills Campground
• Gentile’s Campground
• Hemlock Hill Camp Resort
• Lone Oak Campsites
• Valley in the Pines
• White Pines Campsites
• Black Rock Campground

New Haven County

• Totoket Valley RV Park
• Hammonasset Beach Campground

Visit the Connecticut Campground website to see all the camping locations in the state.

Hiking Trails

Nearby wilderness areas, nature preserves and hiking trails can supply your camping comrades with a full day of outdoor exploration.

Bristol Park in Middlebury

Flanders Nature Center in Woodbury

Orenaug Park in Woodbury

Southford Falls in Southbury

White Memorial in Litchfield

Suggested Camping Food

50 things to grill in foil

On-the-go camping recipes

S'mores (a different take on the sweet, campfire treat)

Granola trail mix recipe

Things to Do While Camping

Brushing up on some scary ghost stories can add a dash of unexpected excitement to the evening. Even bad weather shouldn’t hamper the fun. Listen to the quiet fall of rain, a sound substantially more agreeable than local traffic. To avoid tent flooding, you can dig a trench (call it a moat, if you prefer) to divert any deluge. Zip the tent and play cards.

Don’t feel like purchasing the camping gear or even packing it? Rent a cabin in the woods or near a lake.

While a wooded excursion may deliver a varied fauna and flora experience, the lakeside or ocean retreat provides an aquatic equivalent, with the opportunity for some fishing and boating.

Lakes

Bantam Lake in Bantam

Candlewood Lake (bordered by five towns: Brookfield, Danbury, New Fairfield, New Milford, and Sherman)

Lake Quassapaug in Middlebury

Lake Zoar in Southbury

Ocean

Hammonasset Beach

Silver Sands in Milford

Visit this list of beaches in Connecticut for more options.

Glamping, Anyone?

If the idea of roughing it outdoors is truly unpleasant, you can always try camping’s more luxurious cousin, “glamping”—also known as glamorous camping.  Glamping provides the high-maintenance explorer with a combination of indulgent comforts in or near a pastoral setting.

Visit the Homeaway site for cabin rental options in Connecticut.

Practical Tips

If camping is in your near future, make sure to pack enough water to douse your fire before your departure. And consider establishing your camp spot before nightfall. It’s easier to pitch a tent during daylight.