Paddling at Lover's Leap State Park

There's a rumor going around that spring is going to start any day now, and as soon as it does I'll be heading for one of my favorite paddling spots in Connecticut, Lover's Leap State Park in New Milford.

Situated at the northern end of Lake Lillanona the park occupies the land on either side of a spectacular Housatonic River gorge. The park itself is chock full of things to see and history to investigate, and it deserves its own story in a future installment, but today, I would like to tell you about the great paddling to be had in the lake, the gorge, and mostly, in the mouth of the Still River.

If you look at the park on a map you will notice that there is a boat launch in its south eastern corner, at the end of Lover's Leap road. Launch your canoe or kayak at the bottom of the dirt road, but be sure to drive your car back to the top of the road to park so that others can access the launch too.

Once you are finished with the business of launching the boat and you're out on the water you will notice the beauty that surrounds. To the south is Goodyear Island and Lake Lillanona stretching for several miles down to the Shepaug dam at Sandy Hook, to the north (hidden around the corner) is the gorge and the Housatonic River flowing down from Massachusetts.

Across the cove that you are in is a beautiful farm at the base of a picturesque hill. If you are facing that farm you may want to paddle to the left and investigate the innermost part of the cove. A culvert under Clatter Valley Road is often host to a family of beaver and if you're lucky you may catch a glimpse of them. If you venture too close they will try to draw you away from their lodge by slapping their tails on the water next to your boat, quite a display! When you're finished checking out the cove head upstream towards the rock outcropping a few hundred yards to the north.

As you approach the rock you will notice that it is actually the entrance to the gorge. With its rock walls soaring 60 to 80 feet above you the gorge is an impressive sight from the water.

As you travel northward up the gorge you will soon notice a curious little stone building perched quite precariously on the top of the cliffs to the left (west), these are the remains of the Indian Spring House on the park grounds. Looming just ahead, the orange steel of the Falls Bridge spans the gorge high above.

The bridge was originally built in 1895 and is no longer open to motor vehicle traffic. Instead, it serves as a foot bridge to connect the two halves of the park and to provide great views of the river below.

Just beyond the Falls Bridge is the more modern Grove St. bridge that you probably drove over on the way to the boat launch site. As you pass under the bridges a gaze to the left will reveal the stone remains of an old paint factory that thrived in the days before the river was tamed by dams.

Beyond the factory ruins you will notice a railroad overpass, this is the entrance to the Still River. Once you paddle under the tracks, the Still River delta is revealed.

Although it's in the middle of a rural community, most of the area looks wild and there is an incredible variety of creatures that call it home.

For fear of spoiling all the surprises you will discover on this adventure, I won't further describe the navigation and layout, and just advise you to explore every nook and cranny of the place. Here are some photos I've taken over the years, I hope you enjoy!