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State Park Link: Wadsworth Falls State Park
Nearby Parks: Durman Meadows State Wildlife Area Cockaponset State Forest Black Pond State Wildlife Area Cromwell Meadow State Wildlife Area Connecticut River State Wildlife Area Millers Pond State Park Lamentation Mountain State Park Trimountain State Park Dinosaur State Park Dart Island State Park Hurd State Park Kensington Atlantic State Fishing Hatchery George Dudley Seymour State Park Glastonbury Meadows State Wildlife Area Higganum Reservoir State Park West Peak State Park Haddam Island State Park Reeves Lookout State Wildlife Area Haddam Meadows State Park Keeney Cove Marsh State Wildlife Area Meshomasic State Forest Wharton Brook State Park Chatfield Hollow State Park Quinnipiac River State Park Brainard Homestead State Park Sleeping Giant State Park Sunset Rock State Park Shade Swamp State Wildlife Area Gillette Castle State Park Salmon River State Forest Naugatuck State Forest Selden Neck State Park Gay City State Park Nassahegan State Forest
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| State Park Overview: |
 | Spend a summer day cooling off in the mist of the waterfall or an autumn day hiking or biking the varied trails of the park. |
| Reviews By Park Visitors: |
 | Be the 1st to Review Wadsworth Falls State Park. You can rate it, post a comment on it, or do both. |
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| History of the Area: |
| Clarence C. Wadsworth, noted scholar and linguist, had held the rank of Colonel in the New York National Guard before marrying and settling in Middletown. There he became involved in a forty-year effort to preserve the natural beauty of Wadsworth Falls for all people. By his will which established The Rockfall Corporation, a non-profit organization to administer his plans for the land, the 267 acres were given to the State in 1942.
The Coginchaug River, flowing north along the western fringe of the park has been an important stream providing industrial waterpower. Only the sluiceway of a textile mill remains by Wadsworth Falls in the southwest corner of the park. Nearby, one of the first pistol factories in Connecticut was operated during the 1800's by Simeon North, developer of the interchangeable parts system for firearms used in the Civil War.
Gunpowder was made at the factory established by Jehosophat Starr at Powder Mill Pond in 1794, until the business literally blew up in 1892. Today, the waters of this pond are used as a reserve to replenish the Bone Mill Pond below.
The swimming pool, a saucer-shaped basin hollowed out of the level plain south of Route 157, is paved with a soil cement to prevent water from leaching out. Water pumped from a series of inter-connected wells located near the river is directed into the pool creating a circulating effect.
There is a level walk from the parking area on Cherry Hill Road, off Route 157, to the brink of the falls. A trail system connects the falls with the main swimming/picnicking area and other scenic areas of the park. From a stone bridge used by the Colonel, the trail passes through densely wooded areas, the Little Falls and several meandering streams.
Others may wish to explore or fish the cold waters of the Coginchaug River. Here, beneath great hemlocks and noble oaks, nature provides her own air-conditioning. |
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| Area Accommodations |
|  | Copper Beech Inn - Ivoryton, CT Selected by Connecticut Magazine as 'BEST COUNTRY INN' for 3 consecutive years, the Inn is a Beautiful Restored Turn-of-the-Century Inn with 22-Rooms and two top rated AAA Four-Diamond Restaurant. Price Range: $150 - $375 Web Site: http://www.copperbeechinn.com |
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|  | Advertise your park related business on stateparks.com
...vacation cabin, weekend getaway, log cabin rental, romantic cottage, vacation home, resort, hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, country inn, campground, RV park, horseback riding stable, canoe livery, river rafting, outfitting, sporting goods store, guide service, RV rental, etc read more.... |
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| Related Links: |
 | Wadsworth Falls State Park Information - Wadsworth State Park is located in Middlefield, Connecticut. ... in picnic areas and on hiking trails. Wadsworth Falls State Park Middlefield Parks Home Search Fees Activities Facilities Directions ... |  | 07-03-03 Wadsworth Falls State Park - Wadsworth Falls State Park, the first in the "Park Wonders" series is made up of 267 acres of land and water in the ... Park Wonders" Series: Wadsworth Falls State Park In an effort to ... |  | Wadsworth 2002 Results - Wadsworth Falls Wadsworth Falls State Park Middletown/Middlefield, CT Sunday, September 15 Event Director: Kevin Burnham Assistant Course Setters: Jared DiMarco and Cleo Burnham Helpers: Lee ... |  | Event Results - ... 6, 2002 Prospect Hills Park Oct. 6, 2002 Troll Cup Sept. 28-29, 2002 Wadsworth Falls State Park Sept. 15, 2002 Breakhart Reservation June 9, 2002 Rocky Woods June 8, 2002 Canoe-O Championships ... |  | Quinnipiac University Law School - Nathan L. Jacobson & Associates, Inc. is a civil and environmental engineering firm providing bridge ... Besides being adjacent to Wadsworth Falls State Park, the project site was determined to ... |  | Eastern Waterfall Guide - Falls of the Month, March 2000 - A guide to more than 200 waterfalls and waterfall hikes in the eastern United States. The site ... Ease of Access - Location : Wadsworth Falls State Park, Middletown, central Connecticut Height ... | | Area Campgrounds | | |
| Directions: |
| From Hartford area: take I-91 south onto Route 9 south. Follow Route 9 south to Middletown. Take Middletown ? Meriden Exit 15 onto Route 66. Stay on Route 66 through Middletown for 6-7 traffic lights ? look for the signs Wadsworth Falls State Park and Route 157 at a traffic light near a Walgreen?s Pharmacy. Take a left onto Route 157. Stay on Route 157. Wadsworth Falls State Park will be on the left.
From New Haven area: take I-91 north onto Route 66 (Middletown ? Meriden Exit 15). Follow Route 66 towards Middletown. Look for the signs Wadsworth Falls State Park and Route 157 on the right. Follow Route 157 to Wadsworth Falls State Park.
From Westbrook/Shoreline areas: take Route 9 north onto Route 66 (Middletown ? Meriden Exit 15). Follow Route 66 through Middletown for 6-7 traffic lights. Take Route 157 off Route 66 near a Walgreen?s Pharmacy. Stay on Route 157 to Wadsworth Falls State Park. |
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