Seth Low Pierrepont State Park Reserve facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Seth Low Pierrepont State Park Reserve
Seth Low Pierrepont State Park Reserve Location in Connecticut
Location	Ridgefield, Connecticut, United States
Area	305 acres (123 ha)
Elevation	958 ft (292 m)
Designation	Connecticut state park
Established	1956
Administrator	Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Website	Seth Low Pierrepont State Park Reserve

Seth Low Pierrepont State Park Reserve, also known as Pierrepont State Park, is a cool place in Ridgefield, Connecticut. It's a big park, about 305 acres, where you can have fun outdoors. You can go hiking on trails, try fishing in the lake, or even go boating! It's a great spot to explore nature in Connecticut.

Park History

This park has a long and interesting history! During the American Revolutionary War, a brave soldier named General Wooster led his troops right through this area. They marched down a path called Old Barlow Mountain Road.

There was once a blacksmith shop here, owned by John Barlow. Blacksmiths were people who worked with metal, making tools and other important items. You can still see old stone walls and enclosures in the park. The Scott family built these when they used the land for farming a long time ago.

If you visit the boat launch area, you might spot an old foundation. This is what's left of the Scott House, which was built way back in the 1720s!

Later, in the 1930s, a man named Seth Low Pierrepont bought the land from the Scott family. He was a diplomat, which means he worked for the government to help countries get along. Seth Low Pierrepont made the park even better. He had a dam built in a swampy area, which created the beautiful Lake Naraneka.

When he passed away in 1956, he left a part of his land, including the south and east sides of the lake, to the state of Connecticut. This is how the park was created for everyone to enjoy!

Fun Things to Do

Seth Low Pierrepont State Park Reserve is packed with fun activities for you to try!

Hiking and Exploring

The park has five different trails, each marked with a special color. One trail goes all the way around the south end of Lake Naraneka, which is also called Pierrepont Pond.

The main trail in the park is the white trail. It starts near the parking lot and follows along Pierrepont Lake. This trail then climbs up to the highest point in the park, giving you amazing views! After that, it goes back down to another entrance.

Hiking around the lake is pretty easy, but other parts of the park have moderate trails with some steep sections. So, be ready for a bit of a climb!

Amazing Views

When you reach the top of Barlow Mountain, you'll get fantastic views! You can see Pierrepont Lake sparkling below and the rolling hills of Redding, Connecticut. On very clear days, you might even be able to see all the way to Long Island Sound!

Lake Activities

Lake Naraneka is about 38 acres and is a great spot for water fun. You can launch non-motorized boats here, like kayaks or canoes. This means boats that don't use an engine.

The park also has picnic areas, so you can bring your lunch and enjoy it outdoors. And if you like fishing, Lake Naraneka is a popular spot to cast a line!