Trails were scenic and lovely. Some downed trees block the way. Orange trail has some vertical areas, and uneven in spots - but that's nature. Waterfall easily accessible from parking lot - short distance, wide trail mostly crushed stone. Vista A lovely overlook of the river valley and mountains. read more

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Superb park! One of my favorites to ride my motorcycle through. It was already a 5/5 experience for me without even getting off my bike. "Where should we ride today?" "How about through Devil's Hopyard?" This was a common discussion between my partner & I. It was only during our last ride that we actually parked our bikes & got off them to explore. So imagine my delight to find waterfalls, creeks, beautiful trails, & a covered bridge! There were quite a few people there, but it didn't feel crowded at all. It was possible to evenly disperse ourselves to not disturb other people. The only con (& this is just Mother Nature at work, so all we can do is prepare better in the future) is the amount of mosquitos. Load up on your favorite deet free bug repellant & you'll be good to go. read more

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Chapman falls are serene. You can walk down right upto the falls and sit on the nearby rocks and watch the water cascade down and flow by peacefully. The sound of the rushing waters makes for a serene experience. Definitely not the best or largest falls in the state but it's beautiful. People were swimming upto the falls to sit behind it as well. It was not overly crowded on the weekday we visited. Waterfall is accessible via a quick walk from the parking lot across the street. read more

Devil's Hopyard State Park - Chapman falls - Parks Near Me - East Haddam, Connecticut

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Devil's Hopyard is a beautiful state park located in East Haddam, CT. My friend and I arrived at the trail head in the morning and found ample parking and clearly marked trail markers from start to finish. The trail we chose was a few miles hike which allowed us to view the beautiful waterfalls and streams, and despite it being a cloudy day, we reached the summit and were rewarded with great views. Chapman Falls and the vista point cliff are the stars of this hike! The trail was not crowded, passing only a few fellow hikers. The state park is located within a short drive to many great farms, restaurants, coffee shops, breweries, which makes it a perfect starting point for a day in the East Haddam area. read more

Devil's Hopyard State Park - Parks Near Me - East Haddam, Connecticut

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The hike to the waterfalls is remarkably short, taking just a few minutes. From the parking lot, the sound of rushing water is noticeable. As a 60ft cascade on the Eight Mile River, it's among Connecticut's most powerful waterfalls and boasts stunning scenery. read more

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It's such a. Cool park I've loved coming here for years and in all seasons. Winter is super quiet not many people, footprints for sure but quiet as ever! And in the summer what a place for fishing and enjoying a picnic read more

Devil's Hopyard State Park - The white "mist" you see is the water flowing under the snow and ice.... - Parks Near Me - East Haddam, Connecticut

This review is for the campground, not the park itself. Camped here on a Friday night in Site 16, yet another campground recommended in "Best Tent Camping: New England." Overall I was not impressed. The campsites are right next to each other and are marked with posts. The sites are so close that the posts are marked with the site number on both sides which tells me that there has been confusion in the past. The sites along the creek mostly have worn paths to walk to it but it's nothing impressive and I wouldn't want to eat fish that came out of it. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring, some have the kind where the top flips over and others have the moveable grate that goes up and down. There is a large dumpster in the campground and several porta-potties. The old outhouses have been permanently closed and locked shut. My campsite had a lot of trash in it, old tent stakes, plastic bottle caps, plastic fork, broken glass, etc. Not good. Some of the people there were camping in a group and were blasting music. I didn't see a single park ranger the entire night so I'm not sure how often they police it. Someone in a pickup truck came into the campground, did a u-turn, and sped out at 30 mph which was really annoying and unsafe. Across the street from the campground is a trail to Chapman Falls, which will take less than 10 minutes to hike to, but it's a pretty waterfall despite all the foam and garbage around it. This is a pretty basic campground and is nothing special. Out of all the sites I think 22 looked the best, it is more isolated and you can hear the waterfalls from it, which would be relaxing. The downside is that it's right next to the entrance and road so you'll get car headlights at night. I woke in the morning to a gray sky and hundreds of birds singing - it was my favorite part of the trip. I delayed getting up to enjoy the moment. I also didn't see any ticks but I'm sure there are plenty based on other reviews. I've always thought that if states were condiments Connecticut would be mayonnaise - relatively unremarkable and bland. This campground fits that description perfectly. read more

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My daughter camped for a night with her friends for her 18th birthday and even though the sites are very close and the campground had no running water, she and her friends enjoyed their stay. They felt safe and had no complaints. They were on site 17. read more

Devils Hopyard is indeed a wonderful park. There are quite a few trails that you can view from the waterfall entrance or the entrance near the bridge. The bridge has been recently be done. And as of the date of this review in October 2023 there's been lots of rainfall, making the waterfall in the river views absolutely serene and amazing. You can hike with the children, friends and pets on trails that you can chose by difficulty level. If hiking is not your thing there are picnic tables and a pavilion to sit outdoors and enjoy a meal. The trails and grounds are kept fairly clean. Portatoilets are available spring through fall, nothing during the winter. Prepare accordingly. A wonderful place for viewing native animals, sitting by the river, hanging out with people you love to just get away from the daily grind. read more

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COVID-19 era review: we didn't get to camp here like we do each Spring, but finally the state opened up campgrounds. Yes please! Please don't confuse five stars with full amenities--here, you have campsites, latrines, fire rings, and trash/recycling bins...and that's it. Bring your water (the only well is contaminated), bring firewood, bring everything. No dump site for RVs, no electricity, no water. The state has at least added additional portolets if you're tent camping. No amenities, but in Spring, there is a concert of peepers each night. You can go for a hike right out your tent or camper. You're a ten minute drive from awesome beer and pizza. You can creek stomp or skip rocks by the covered bridge...and you can spend hours admiring glorious Chapman Falls, especially after the rain. Enjoy bird songs at your campsite, bats at twilight, and stars at night. Drive here in winter and enjoy hiking the crystal-y trails, surrounded by icicle cliffs. In short, almost no amenities, but the perfect place to get away. (Exhales) read more

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So as I've mentioned before I'm pretty obsessed with waterfall hikes and write a modest blog about them. Chapman Falls (alternative name Devil's Hopyard due to its legend) are right up there among the best falls of CT in my opinion. There is approximately a 60 foot drop and hiking in negligible. The falls are right across the street from the parking lot and fueled by the Eight Mile River. The legend is that Satan once walking along the River and was infuriated when his tail got wet and stomped his feet on the boulders of the falls leaving these marks in the boulders which look like pot holes. Hence, the alternative name Devil's Hopyard. These falls are great and not far from Gillette Castle if you are looking for other nearby things to do. read more

Devil's Hopyard State Park - Parks Near Me - East Haddam, Connecticut

Beautiful place to go been going here for years !! Beautiful views a must go and see !! Worth the drive luckily I live local !! Waterfall absolutely beautiful!! Nice hike in forest!! read more

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Came here with my girlfriend after searching for new hikes reasonably close to Providence and we were pleasantly surprised. Went right after it snowed and there were so few people there, it was great. It seemed only a few people had taken the trail we decided to take so the snow was fresh. We mainly stayed on the orange trail, which boasts a fairly nice vista midway around (probably beautiful in the fall). It also takes you past the waterfall area which is nice and I'm sure is great during the summer too. Might be biased by the fact it was nearly empty and beautifully covered in snow but I think it's worth the trip if you're looking for an easy-med difficulty hike. read more

Devil's Hopyard State Park - Parks Near Me - East Haddam, Connecticut

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I began my day at the covered bridge, on the orange trail, thinking this would be less of a hike and more of a pleasant walk in the woods. I was soon proven wrong. Hugging the stream, the orange trail proved to be quite rugged, with a rocky terrain that was dominated roots from the hardy flora that grows along the trail. It's well worth the effort; whereas, this was easily proving to be one of the more beautiful hikes I've made recently. Once you pass the Devil's Oven (a very clearly marked side scramble will lead you to the oven) the trail begins to ascend in earnest. Another side trail will lead you to a rather pleasant vista, where you can catch your breath before again joining the orange trail proper. Eventually, the orange trail intercepts the white, which will lengthen the overall loop that brings you back to the covered bridge. Bear in mind, my objective was to make a day of it; so, finding myself back where I began caused me to backtrack to the intersection of orange and white, intent on finding the elusive blue trail in order to extend my hike. Keep in mind there are many unmarked trails branching off the two main trails (orange and white). At the covered bridge there's notice advising of changes and improvements being made. I couldn't help but feel these improvements included allowing certain trails to be reforrested. Such was the case when I located the remnants of the blue trail ( directly off the orange). A single, faded, blue marker pointed the way down a narrow, very overgrown trail, that widened in time; but, was scantily marked thereafter. When the markers ended, I eventually found myself on the blue/white trail (I noted only a single blue/white marker where the trail met the white trail proper). I emerged at the white trail shortly before the orange intersection. My takeaway is this: the hike was challenging, but short; and packed with everything you would go hiking for. The green and red trails run on the opposite side of the road leading to the park's entrance. I fully expect to try them out next. read more

I came here for a Saturday morning hike with my boyfriend and we were both excited to see how large it was! There are multiple trails, some easy and others moderate, so good for anyone! There was some construction going on which seemed to make the trail markers a bit off, but still a solid visit. read more

Devil's Hopyard State Park - Parks Near Me - East Haddam, Connecticut

I have been visiting and hiking Devil's Hopyard for 20 years. I have gone in all four seasons. After a huge flood. After a fire which devastated a large portion of the fire. I have gone for picnics. I have taken groups hiking. I have hiked solo. When my daughter was a baby I would load her into the baby backpack and hike around the park. I have many great memories associated with this park. There is group camping for scouts. There was and may be again, camping for families. There is a picnic pavilion available to rent and many picnic tables and charcoal grills about the park to use. There are parts where almost no one ever goes. There are parts where you are in a crowd on a sunny Sunday. There are a couple solar outhouses for the less adventurous. There is a covered bridge. There is a waterfall. This jewel of the state park system has plenty to offer nearly any outdoor enthusiast. Bring a picnic. Bring a friend. Next sunny Sunday afternoon I hope to see you out exploring. read more

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What a gorgeous place! I stopped to check it out because I was driving near one day but I definitely will be back to go hiking! The waterfall was beautiful and so relaxing to just sit there for a while! read more

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We've gone camping at Devil's Hopyard every year for the last three or four years, and it's really one of the state's hidden treasures, as the previous reviewer wrote. It's absolutely beautiful and nestled in a place pretty far away from where most things happen in Connecticut, which makes it the perfect place to spend a few days every year. There are scenic hiking trails along a stream that end at beautiful vistas, and there are pretty amazing waterfalls. The Hopyard campground is very clean, and there are plenty of sites, clean outhouses (with sensor lights added this year) and easy access to dumpsters (garbage and recycling). No showers or running water other than a pump near the entrance, but it's camping. The campsites are walking distance to the big waterfall, which we walked to a lot because it was so close by. It's also very inexpensive - just $14 a night for Connecticut residents this year. Even if you're not staying for a night, it's a great place to just spend the day. read more

Devil's Hopyard State Park - Awesome waterfalls just a short walk away from the campsites. - Parks Near Me - East Haddam, Connecticut

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We thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon hike at this park! The falls were gorgeous and did not disappoint. There were many trails near and away form the falls to check out. The bridge at the entrance was cute and a great place to take pics. There are several tables at the entrance to picnic at or stop for an afternoon snack. Just note the falls are near the entrance so you don't have to walk far to see them. read more

Devil's Hopyard State Park - Parks Near Me - East Haddam, Connecticut

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Devil's Hopyard is a beautiful state park with miles of trails and acres to walk and picnic. Devil's Hopyard is great for fishing, photography, hiking, and sight seeing. When here, Chapman Falls and the Vista are absolute musts! read more

Devil's Hopyard State Park - Chapman Falls. - Parks Near Me - East Haddam, Connecticut

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The campground offered a quiet respite from the city, with easy access to nearby picnic grounds, the famous waterfall, and a variety of hiking trails. Though all the sites were occupied, other campers respected the rules and this made for a successful weekend getaway. I was surprised to find there was no potable water source, and the map of the campsite did not show the portable toilets that have been added. The familiar plastic blue portapotties may be unsightly to some, but I was glad to see them. Other welcome sights included a solid fire ring with a grill, a picnic table at each site, abundant woods, and a babbling brook. read more

This is such a beautiful spot to explore on a hot summer day! I love putting my feet in the running water of the waterfall

I don't mind the lack of amenities, but this park suffers from lack of any kind of ranger or staff. Our picnic table was busted, the site had a lot of trash, bathrooms not stocked with toilet paper. Worst of all, seems to attract the kind of clientele that is looking for mom-existent rule enforcement. Not a good place for families, just a party place. Two sites down had 10 cars, 8 tents, and was rowdy drunk keeping us up all night. Another site had a drunken domestic dispute and arguing over who stole whose drugs. At other parks we visit, there's a patrol to make sure quiet hours are respected and a number for a ranger on the off hours. Here there's no sign of anyone. What a waste of money. And it's a shame, because the hiking is good. read more

Devil's Hopyard State Park - Nice picnic table on our site - Parks Near Me - East Haddam, Connecticut

Ever since I was in high school, I would escape to the waterfalls at Devil's Hopyard and sit by the waterfall for some solitude, smoke, and self-reflection. This is where I fell in love with my ex boyfriend. Hiking paths, ponds, waterfalls, history, picnicing, and camping... Devil's Hopyard is truly one of Connecticuts hidden treasures. There is plenty of parking, and plenty of opportunities to get in touch with nature. During the winter, Devil's Hopyard maintains its true beauty... waterfalls echo the sound of running water beyond a facade of ominously sculptured ice... seeming to eternally flow into a pool scattered with puzzle peices of frozen water... Absolutely one of the most serene spots in the CT. read more

This is a nice place to hike in the Eastern CT area. I've been a handful of times over the past 20 years or so. It's more expansive than it seems at first and I've gone on a few different trails. I typically bring a lunch and grab a picnic table near the water to relax. I can't comment on the camping I keep hearing about....can't say I've even noticed campsites so much while hiking! I recommend this hike from early spring-late fall. It's definitely an easier, more manageable hike, so the whole family can enjoy it. And yes, the big waterfall is nice. I like the smaller ones and just the water in general--it's a very peaceful, serene place. Last time I went with a close friend and we actually got all confused in parts and felt lost...which was actually refreshing since I thought I was super familiar with the trails! read more

Be sure to check out my YouTube channel for videos of some of the trips I've been on in addition to reading these reviews! You can find it at: Josh the Travel Guy. Thanks! Pros: Falls were nice, close to road and easy to find Cons: Camping area was an open field, with no real distinction in sites, no flush toilets/showers I ended up coming to Devils Hopyard for a camping trip. I should have spent a little more time looking into things before deciding to camp here. Although the falls are beautiful, the lack of even basic campground necessities were disappointing. When I arrived, I attempted to find a ranger station, or at least a reception desk, but was unable to locate anyone. I decided to at least go and set up my tent and then venture out again to try and find something. When I arrived at my spot (which was reserved online) I was surprised to find that another group had already set up camp. When I talked to them about it, they said they set up on the wrong site and the ranger said to allow me to have their spot. Not a big deal (I actually became good friends with them in the 2 days I was there). The campground was $26 (If I remember correctly) for campers out of state. This is quite a bit since there was no running water, just an outhouse, and no staff that I saw for my entire 2 day stay. Conclusion: Its a great little trip outside Hartford for anyone to make. The falls are a good height with lots of water. Crowds were limited and there were lots of hiking. If you plan on staying the night make sure you have all the supplies you need as you won't be able to get anything on site. https://www.tripadvisor.ca/ShowUserReviews-g33764-d2167054-r190603841-Devil_s_Hopyard_State_Park-East_Haddam_Connecticut.html# read more

The camping: I mean the camping is nice, some fire pits, space for the cars, nice grill thing (put aluminum in top of it it's rusty). But I'll let you in on a secret...if you hate being close to other people keep driving! You'll find a place called youth campground (ITS NOT CHECKED BY TROOPERS!) and you get 8 times the space as another plot! Trust me if you come people won't ask questions they won't check if you have a group camping permit or anything you'll just end up with like a huge campground! Hope this helped read more

It was a little bit of a drive from where I live but let me just say it was totally worth it. You could do everything from swimming to bike riding to going hiking and camping. Everybody that goes is very friendly they keep the park very clean the water is crystal clear and the beautiful waterfall makes the entire experience. The campgrounds are nice and big and spacious and there's beautiful places to go hiking and exploring and to go off trail and go for a swim. It's not really a place for a little children but it's great for a first date or night with your friends. If you are looking for something simple but also very fun adventurous I would recommend here. I will be coming back. read more

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Easy, interesting and gorgeous park to visit. My husband and I went after Tropical Storm Andrea and Chapman Falls was roaring. The rest of the park was very muddy - be careful! There were plenty of steams to cross over but you have to go over logs that become very slippery. There was a fire there in March 2012 so we saw a bunch of burned logs. On the vista we saw a hawk (bring binoculars!) and on the way back we saw the very elusive Scarlet Tanager. I do recommend going in the morning or in the off-season because when we went around 3 pm there was one parking spot left and it was mobbed with screaming kids, picnics and hikers. But it's an excellent place for birding. read more

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Beautiful waterfall and great hiking. The only complaint I have is the trails are poorly marked. It would be very easy to get lost. read more

Devil's Hopyard State Park - Waterfall in the fall - Parks Near Me - East Haddam, Connecticut

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Beautiful camping site in CT-- equidistant to both Boston and NYC, which is important for our group of friends. The tent sites are pretty close to one another, but being friendly social campers, we didn't really mind. Beware-- do not just assume they will have firewood for you to purchase. You have to bring your own, which is forbidden at most sites. Luckily, we were able to make some trades with our neighbors and got through the night with just enough wood. Also, reserve, reserve, reserve your site! We would not have gotten one without our advance reservation, and we saw some disappointed campers get turned away. The best part is that Devil's Hopyard is also home to some beautiful and majestic waterfalls, which are great for swimming, and just a short hike away. Stunning! read more

#ThisIsNewEngland visited this park December 27, 2014 with knowing nothing except that there were awesome waterfalls. There was much much more. This is an outstanding park for individuals, couples and families. It offers nearly endless trails of many skill levels and they are all well marked. Even in December, that natural beauty takes your breath away. We reviewed our trip at http://thisisnewengland.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-devils-hopyard-east-haddam.html If you like camping, picnics, hiking or even fishing, this is a must do. read more

This place is amazing. Gorgeous waterfall and for all the riders out there, the roads are great for riding. Highly recommend the vista hike. Great view. read more

My favorite trail in CT. My family and I always go there. It is a nice place to go and bbq. read more

Devil's Hopyard State Park - Devils Hopyard - Parks Near Me - East Haddam, Connecticut

Wonderful. Used to come here as a child and even as an adult, a great place to hike. I do not make use of the park for anything else, so I can not comment on that. But this is a great showcase of just how beautiful the state can be. I have fond memories of this place. read more

Only real complaint is that we reserved a campsite online and arrived late afternoon. There's a sign when you enter the campground that says "sites are first come first serve, ranger will be by to collect fee" yet all of the sites had reserved signs except ours. Someone had just started setting up on our site!! Awkward, we explained that we did pay in advance. They were so cool about it! ( thank you strangers ) The sites are all very close to one another. But it's totally worth it for the falls and trails, we hiked up to Devils Oven. Spooky, yet beautiful!!! PS We never saw a ranger the next day to collect any fees. My fiance reserved 2 nights so we didn't have to leave at noon the next day although we couldn't stay that night. read more

Another park with another waterfall so of course we were going to check it out. We parked, got out of the car and could already hear the falls already. Another short jaunt down a trail and we were at the falls and it was gorgeous! It was relatively easy to climb down a closer to the falls without getting wet, but if you do climb down closer, be careful. We hiked a little further on the trail to go to an old covered bridge, like something out of Sleepy Hollow and the Legend of Ichabod Crane. The waterfall was pretty and the trail as far as we walked in was beautiful. I would have liked to explore the park further, but we did not have time, so if you are in the area, I highly suggest you take the time and explore here. read more

Nice park. Not too challenging. Lots of families. Got to try out my new trekking poles. We'll come back when we're in the area.

Honest Review here: Beautiful place. Big place. The hiking trails are of decent length and steepness. Fit people can do the longest trail walk and hike. The other trails are for everyone that loves to walk or hike that doesn't want to be too exhausted. Scenery, sights and sounds are great while walking. The waterfalls before the hiking trails are of decent size and peaceful and beautiful. One issue: people that bring their music to listen to while others are around are absolutely morons to put it nicely. No one wants to listen to obnoxious loud music rapping about gettin money and plowing big booty hoes. And then they wonder why they get looked at funny or other people passing by shaking their head. Be courteous. Don't be an asshole. Come on now. Other then that, a beautiful state park. I don't camp there but from what I see and read it has little to no public features. Bring your own camping survival items. That's it! read more

This is one of my favorites parks. Be sure to wear hiking shoes as much of the best places are rugged. Great photo opportunity at the covered bridge! I would recommend this for families with children at least 6 or 7 years old. read more