Dikes Point Recreation Area

Old Town Road, New Milford, Litchfield County, Connecticut

Directions:

Take Rt. 7 north.  As you leave Brookfield and enter New Milford you'll see New Milford High School on your left hand side. (large brick building)  About a mile later you'll come to a traffic light with a market on your left and gas station on your right.  Take a left at the traffic light onto Sullivan Rd.  A few hundred yards later make a right onto Old Town Park Rd.  Follow the road for 0.7 of a mile.  The road winds its way up a hill going past Hill and Plain School.  Keep going straight as the road continues to twist, turn and climb.  You'll soon come to the dirt entrance to Gerard's Marina on the right.  Turn left into the Dikes Point Recreation Area  parking lot, also a dirt lot, just to the left of Gerard's.  

History:

The Rocky River Pumped Stored Hydroelectric Station in New Milford was completed in 1928.  It's purpose was to generate hydroelectric power for the region by pumping water into Candlewood Lake from the Housatonic River, and then back again to the river to generate the power.  This was done by flooding the Rocky River valley and creating the largest man made lake in New England, Candlewood Lake. (Hundreds of families, most of them involved in farming, were relocated and 4,500 acres were cleared.)  Most people think of jet skis, power boats, town beaches, and swimming when they here "Candlewood Lake."  However, not all of Candlewood Lake is overdeveloped and without character. The northern part of the lake has maintained a natural feel to it and this can be seen by accessing Lakeside Trail.

Lakeside Trail and Dike Point are brought to you by the folks at Northeast Utilities, the owner of the lake and its shores.  They did a really nice job here and created a gem of a trail with an outstanding guide book and self-guided tour that really is quite educational.  

Facilities:

views of the lake, easy strolls, swimming, fishing, picnicking, self guided educational trail.

Trails:

The name of the trail is the Lakeside Trail.  The walk is easy (or perhaps moderate). 

Interesting to note: the trail has a split personality in a sense.  Weekends during the summer are teeming with people and not a great place to hike unless of course you love to people watch.  Summer week days are much better and September to May are the best times for exploring this shoreline trail.  

This 3/4 mile trail is the only trail made available to the public from the 60 miles of lake coastline.  It's a shame that more public land wasn't set aside on Candlewood Lake because it's a beautiful lake and there's no reason why more public parks shouldn't be made available.  The foliage season is an especially good time to walk the trail.

7/05/2005.  Dog Sonar and I stopped at this park.  I did not stay because apparently a group of dog enthusiasts let their dogs run without leashes.  My dog is small and not so friendly with other dogs and it is just too much of a hassle to have to deal with my own and everyone else's dogs.  I decided just to come back another day.  I just noted a few plants in the parking area.  Dr. Patrick L. Cooney.

Source:

http://www.berkshirehiking.com/hikes/lakeside_trail.html