CTMQ’s Guide to Simsbury

Everything Simsbury

I’ve been exploring and writing about Connecticut since 2006. After a decade, I began compiling CTMQ guides for each town in the state. I plan on “completing” Simsbury CTMQ-style… as well as the other 168 towns, cities, and boroughs in Connecticut. That is the ultimate goal of CTMQ.

If I’ve missed anything in town or if anything has closed or changed, please let me know.

Museums

Simsbury Historical Society Museums

1790 School House
Ellsworth Visitor’s Center & Ensign Bickford Building
Hendrick Cottage & Meeting House
Phelps Tavern Museum & Homestead
Phelps Barn & Carriage House
Probate Building and Ice House

The Ethel Walker School Interactive Museum
The Ethel Walker School Potter Galleries
Flamig Educational Farm
Heublein Tower Museum
Storyteller’s Cottage (Closed)
Stratton Brook State Park Nature Center

Hikes & Bikes

Explore Connecticut’s Simsbury Hiking Guide

Penwood State Park – Intro & Hikes
Stratton Brook State Park – Intro & Hikes
Talcott Mountain State Park – Intro & Hikes
Nod Brook WMA
Simsbury WMA
Massacoe/Great Pond State Forest
CFPA’s East-West Trail – Intro

Section 1: Penwood State Park to TBD (Future trail)

CFPA’s Metacomet Trail – Intro

Section 10: A Towering Achievement
Section 11: You Can’t Pen These Woods

McLean Game Refuge – Intro

Western Region
Eastern Region

Simsbury Land Trust Trails – Intro

Bog Walk
Case
Glover Property
James Property
Ketchin Quarry
Knapp
LaSalette Trail
Owen-Mortimer Trail
Rosedale Farm
Tanager Hill
Tulmeadow Farm & Woodlot
Wagner Woods
West Mountain, Cathles and 60 Westledge

Simsbury’s Town Trails – Intro

Belden Forest
Covenant Presbyterian Church Trails
Darling Wildlife Sanctuary
Ethel Walker Woods and Town Forest
Helen’s Way
Onion Mountain Park
Owens Brook Trail (Gone)
Riverwalk Nature Trail
Simsbury Farms Trail
Simsbury Meadows
Still Brook Open Space
Tariffville/Farmington River

Multi-Use/Rail Trails

Farmington Canal Heritage Trail – Intro

Section 1: Massachusetts State Line, Suffield to Hopmeadow Street
Section 2: Hopmeadow Street to Red Oak Hill Road, Farmington
Farmington River Trail Loop Extension: Red Oak Hill Road to Hopmeadow Street

Food & Drink

CT World Food Tour, Cajun: Roux (Closed)
CT Historic Restaurant Trail: Red Stone Pub
CT Ice Cream Trail: Grassroots Creamery
CT Ice Cream Trail: J. Foster Ice Cream (Closed)
CT Ice Cream Trail: Tulmeadow Farm Ice Cream
CT Beer Trail: Direct Proof Brewing (Potential future distillery)
CT Wine Trail: Rosedale Vineyards
CT Spirits Trail: Powderman Spirits Company (future distillery)

Looking for your favorite restaurant? Here is an explanation as to why it’s not here.

Everything Else

National Natural Landmark: McLean Game Refuge
US First: Lookout tower for public use
US First: Steel mill
US First: Safety fuse
Simsbury’s first house, school, ferry, & Colonial Traineband Field
The Pinchot Sycamore
Cathles Trail Falls
Northgate Falls/Westledge Trail Falls
Tariffville Gorge Cascades
Elephant Rock
Hell Hole
Lake Basile
Heublein Tower
Farmington Canal
Meadowood
Firetown
Stratton Brook Covered Bridge
The Old Drake Hill Flower Bridge
Climax Road

Simsbury Wrap-Up

Completion Celebration: Millwright’s Restaurant & Tavern