July 2016. I am downgrading the spot to 3 from 4. I have been seeing parasites on the fishes…read morecaught here. Most recent trip m, 4?sun fish & one bass, everyone of them got parasites. Either yellow like grain of rice type or tiny black spots in meat. Do not eat fishes caught at rainbow reservoir! If you like fishing, I am sharing my fishing spot especially because I need to write good & useful Yelp reviews :) My spot is to the left of the rainbow reservoir boat launch. The boat is infrequent but the jet ski is a bit annoying to fishermen. However, the spot is productive if you can cast far enough, there is a steep drop off that goes down about 15-20 feet, all kinds of fish there. I've taken my kids there many times, caught sun fish, bass, carp, catfish etc. all at the same spot. Don't eat the bass!!! High Mercury content. Ok to eat sunfish & carp, but carefully check the fish for parasite as I've seen them last year, they look like little grain of rice but yellow in color, yikes! Other than that, it's really fun spot to take the kids & you can BBQ right there as well!

There is so much potential here for great Kayaking, Stand up paddle boarding, or canoeing given the…read moreconvenient location, decent parking area with a boat ramp and flat water. However: 1, The long straight shape of the reservoir makes it an irresistible place for jet skiers to do full throttle high speed runs and boats towing skiers. 2. Between the warmer waters we're seeing and the summer and all the lawn fertilizer runoff from the adjacent houses, I don't think I've ever seen a more algae-choked lake, especially one that is technically part of a river (see photos). It's really unsightly and there are signs warning against contact with the water. It looks like I photoshopped the pictures, but yes --the water is literally this green. You'll have better luck in the pristine upstream parts of the Farmington river or the Connecticut River itself.

I like this park. What I like about this park is that the geese like to hang out at Union Pond…read more That is cool except for water levels which are lower than I thought but though it's still a great place to relax, wind yourself and either read a book or watch the geese. Also a good place to go out for a walk as well.

This was a great trail though we didn't finish it due to time constraints It was well marked,…read morefollowed the pond shoreline and was relatively easy with a few inclines. Beautiful spots along the way to enjoy the water views. Also found two geocaches off the trail which were awesome. Parking for 4-5 cars but another lot right across the street. There is also a fairly new fitness trail over the footbridge. Not my thing but thought it looked awesome

"Leave your cares behind come with us and find The pleasures…read moreof a journey to the center of the mind" (Ted Nugent and the Amboy Dukes) Center Springs Park is a serene and beautiful park smack in the center of Manchester. During our stroll around the park, we found a nicely maintained walking path cutting through the greenery and up to the park's free Disc Golf course. Just show up and shoot a round, as long as you bring along your own discs. The centerpiece of the park is a six-acre pond with three water fountains shooting streams of water high into the air. There were two long boardwalk bridges over the lake which gave us some nice views of fish and ducks hanging out in the lake. Throw in a playground, a gazebo/pavilion, picnic space, and some public art sculptures, and you have everything you need to spend some relaxing time in a pretty location.

This park should be a hidden gem in Manchester. If it hadn't been riddled with trash I might have…read morecalled it as such. Manchester should do better with it's parks. Taxes are certainly high enough.

Nice fishing and boating area mostly private property surrounding the Lake so you can't walk…read morearound it but is quiet and peaceful Small boats kayaks can be launched from small boat ramp

There is Lower, Middle and Upper Bolton Lake only Lower and Middle have boat launch areas. Upper…read moreBolton isn't very large and not worth kayaking but I would say the fishing should be good because of the aquatic plant life: lily pads Bull Rushes and the like. I couldn't put my kayak in because of the Fire Dept drills that were going on but hope to do it next weekend. Middle Bolton is smaller than Lower but has less houses which makes it nice if you seek a serene spot to nature watch. The Lower and the Upper are both beautiful and a wonderful natural resource for water activities but note motor boats are limited in size so you won't be seeing any water skiing there, just fishing, sailing and kayaking...nice!

Burr Pond State Park is a very beautiful and peaceful park. The pond is the showstopper here, hence…read morethe name. Driving up to the park was enjoyable; there's a big hill with a small waterfall you can see from the street. The parking area was a decent size but I can see it being packed in the summer and on weekends. The park is on 438-acres and the man-made pond is 85-acres. Popular recreational activities in this park are hiking, fishing, swimming, and boating. The pond was created in 1851 to help produce power buy building dams. There are two trails within the park; 2.5-mile blue blazed Walcott Trail which goes around the pond and 2-mile John Muir trail which goes through multiple parks. The beach is quaint but does the job on a hot day rather than driving an hour or so to the beach. There were so many picnic tables throughout; definitely a nice area for picnics. There is a seasonal boat rental and concession stand. If you want to go boating, there is a boat launch. We went in the winter for an event, the parking lot was packed so they were offering shuttles. The park was beautiful in the winter with the pond being frozen. There were people ice fishing and playing on the ice. I went recently on a spring weekday, temperature was perfect and the place was quiet. We walked on the trail and it was lovely with the view of the pond. Overall, a great park and will be there as often as we can.

"Don't say a word Don't say anything…read moreDon't say a word I'm not even listening You better watch your step" (Elvis Costello) Trust the Mayor. You'd better watch your step as you're walking the three mile trail that circles Burr Pond, or you'll end up face first on the dirt trail with a broken ankle. The dirt trail sure has its share of dangerous tree roots and rocks, followed by relatively hazard free stretches to walk. You sure get some gorgeous views of the water! We saw people fishing, swimming by the small beach, a big group hanging out by picnic tables playing salsa music, and two dog owners whose well behaved dogs were swimming in the pond. The trail itself is flat with just a handful of inclines, but most of those inclines are tree trunk related. It really is a lovely park.

As someone born and raised in Hartford, I can say this is one of the nicer parks we have. They have…read morean indoor and outdoor pool; separate hours for adults and kids; a gym and basketball court; plenty of outdoor open space to play; walking paths, and ample parking. Additionally, the staff are super sweet and friendly. I'm kinda bummed I haven't made the effort to come here in years past. I only recently started coming because hubby wanted somewhere to swim once it got cold that didn't cost too much. We found free! I will admit that the outside park can sometimes be a little dirty with litter. The city only does but so much. However, I think it's still a worthwhile place to spend time in Hartford!

For a small park, Pope Park has a lot to offer for locals…read more Despite the media painting it as a haven of thugs and bad guys, it really ain't that bad. In either March or April, there has been a carnival taking place for a number of years. And in the springtime volunteers from non-profit environmental groups in Hartford come out in force for an annual spring cleaning. Must we not forget the the number of amenities that the park offers as well: indoor/outdoor pools, a basketball court, little league baseball field and soccer field. There are picnic tables strewn about and also a playscape for the little ones. During the summer there are also musical performances too!

5 stars for the magnificent beauty. I had to deduct a star because the paved trail was closed. It…read morelooks like an awesome trail but I think it's closed due to hazardous water conditions based on the sign. There are three parking lots total. However, there are no sidewalks across the dam. You can walk on the grassy part of the dam, it is high and there are no railings; you can either fall into the street or down the dam face, which would probably hurt a little lol. If you bring small children, hold onto their hands. So many people are there on a nice day to gaze at the wonderful views of the reservoir and hills. Now please open up the trails, it would be an awesome place to take a walk in nature.

Picturesque, bucolic atmosphere. Limited parking areas on both sides. Today, with full sun and…read morecloudless skies, absolutely beautiful. I imagine during any type of weather, it's beautiful. Makes me want to take up painting.

The Best Lake Water in Connecticut! This is our favorite place to kayak. It's relaxing loop to…read morepaddle, approximately three and a half miles hunting the shore. There's a small island with a old fireplace & chimney; no camping or fires are allowed. However, it's a nice spot to stop, go for a shallow swim, and a have a snack just take your trash with you. The CT DEEP maintains the boat ramp and motors are restricted on the lake to 8 HP. A welcome rule to Green Powered Craft. Springtime the lake is stocked, but please catch and release for other enthusiasts to enjoy. The gravel parking area is across the quiet road. Pot-O-Potty's are available is the parking area - should have a need. The Lake is lined with cottages, a couple of Town beaches, a private Lake club, two scout camps. So there's plenty to see along your loop.