Turkey-less Turkey Paddle at Hopeville Pond State Park – November 7, 2020

Hopeville Pond

Traditionally, the end of the scheduled RICKA paddling season is the Turkey Paddle at Wallum Lake. This year the trip got moved to Hopeville Pond State Park in CT where the COVID restrictions are a little less onerous.

Hopeville Pond State Park is located on the Pachaug River – a 16-mile river arising in the Pachaug State Forest and emptying into the Quinebaug River. Pachaug State Forest is the largest state forest in the CT with over 27,000 acres on the CT/RI border.

Pachaug River

The forest was founded in 1928 and was originally managed by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Evidence of their work can still be seen in the pine groves, forest roads, and fire control ponds around the park. In 1938 the area around Hopeville Pond was designated as a state park.

We put in at the Hopeville Pond Boat Ramp and paddled up Hopeville Pond into the Pachaug River to the Pachaug Pond Dam before turning around.  Above the dam, Pachaug Pond is another nice place for a trip.

Pachaug Pond Dam

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My Pictures

Hopeville Pond State Park

Pachaup Pond Boat Ramp