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Stoddard Hill State Park Scenic Reserve
4.3 ★★★★☆ 142 Google reviews · Running trail in Gales Ferry, Connecticut · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Stoddard Hill State Park Scenic Reserve's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Park with hiking trails, fishing, and a boat launch, plus scenic views.
What runners say about Stoddard Hill State Park Scenic Reserve
“Beautiful quiet hidden Jem A lot of crabs 🦀 in the water tk catch Good fishing spot And found a secret spot with a ton of sea glass 🤫”
“The only cons are that there is no trail map on site, and the trails are not clearly marked.”
“Beautiful quiet hidden Jem A lot of crabs 🦀 in the water tk catch Good fishing spot And found a secret spot with a ton of sea glass 🤫”
Driving by on the way to another hike we saw this boat launch and decided that it would be a good place to have lunch and look at the water. As we pulled in we saw that there looked like a little trail heading off into the woods. We started to follow the trail and found that someone had marked a trail with red ribbons.
I thought this was a great place for fishing and short hikes. There were interesting things to see while hiking including rock formations, views of the river, the old Stoddard family cemetery, and some picture worthy flora(mostly fungi as we were hiking after heavy rainfall).
This place is great, take the left trail along side the cliff and then follow the blue trail all the way back around, down a huge hill (find a walking stick, there’s a pile at the bottom) to where the 1700’s cemetery is and back to the parking lot. A nice hike
I have been coming here for decades. I find it very relaxing. The roadway leading in is in deplorable condition. There is a handicapped access dock for wheelchair access to fishing. There are some trails and a small boat launch for your kayak. Good place for crabbing and for when the lottle snapper blues start running.
Trail conditions & character
“Beautiful quiet hidden Jem A lot of crabs 🦀 in the water tk catch Good fishing spot And found a secret spot with a ton of sea glass 🤫”
“Beautiful quiet hidden Jem A lot of crabs 🦀 in the water tk catch Good fishing spot And found a secret spot with a ton of sea glass 🤫”
Plan your run at Stoddard Hill State Park Scenic Reserve
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- Websitect.gov
Hours
| Monday | 7 AM–8 PM |
| Tuesday | 7 AM–8 PM |
| Wednesday | 7 AM–8 PM |
| Thursday | 7 AM–8 PM |
| Friday | 7 AM–8 PM |
| Saturday | 7 AM–8 PM |
| Sunday | 7 AM–8 PM |
Running trails near Gales Ferry
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Kettle Hole Trail
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Preston Community Park
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Dog-friendly park and playground with basketball and tennis courts, plus a covered picnic pavilion.
Colonel Ledyard Park Trail
3 ★★★☆☆ 3 reviews