Pachaug State Forest
| Pachaug State Forest | |
| Connecticut State Forest | |
 The Rhododendron Sanctuary Trail
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| Country |  United States |
|---|---|
| State |  Connecticut |
| County | New London |
| Towns | Voluntown, Griswold, Plainfield, Sterling, North Stonington, Preston |
| Elevation | 459 ft (140 m) |
| Coordinates | 41°36′05″N 71°53′09″W / 41.60139°N 71.88583°WCoordinates: 41°36′05″N 71°53′09″W / 41.60139°N 71.88583°W |
| Area | 28,804 acres (11,657 ha) |
| Established | 1928 |
| Management | Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection |
  Location in Connecticut
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| Website: Pachaug State Forest | |
| Designated | 1973 |
Pachaug State Forest is the largest forest in the Connecticut state forest system, encompassing over 27,000 acres (110 km²) of land. It is located on the Rhode Island border in New London County, and parcels of the forest lie in the towns of Voluntown, Griswold, Plainfield, Sterling, North Stonington, and Preston. The forest was founded in 1928, but most of the land came from purchases made later during the Great Depression. It is named after the Pachaug River, which runs through the center of the forest. The forest is part of the Northeastern coastal forests ecoregion.
The Pachaug-Great Meadow Swamp portion of the park was declared a National Natural Landmark in May 1973 due to its Atlantic white cedar swamp. This type of forest is at risk of being succeeded by hemlock.
There are four popular hiking trails, maintained by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association, that run through Pachaug State Forest.
The handicap (wheelchair) accessible Rhododendron Sanctuary Trail (which includes a planked wooden boardwalk section) in the Pachaug State Forest's Herman Haupt Chapman Management Area is spectacularly scenic when the Rhododendron are in bloom (June and July).
There are several dirt and gravel road trails that cross Pachaug State Forest; Trail 1, Trail 2, the Main Drive, and Stonehill Road. In combination with dozens of unmarked side trails, this makes for easy mountain biking terrain that has become popular among locals.
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Wikipedia