Black Rock State Park

Black Rock State Park sits in Litchfield County, Connecticut, roughly midway between Torrington and Watertown, covering about 1.8 km² of mixed woodland centered on two dark-watered lakes. The park takes its name from striking black rock outcroppings formed by graphite deposits that were mined here as early as 1657, making this one of colonial New England's earliest extraction sites. Archaeological surveys have uncovered arrowheads and stone tools left by the Mohegan, Paugussett, and Tunxis peoples, pointing to the area's long pre-colonial history. Opened in 1926, the park connects southward to Mattatuck State Forest via the Mattatuck Trail, extending the hikeable terrain considerably. A swimming beach on Black Rock Lake and on-site camping make it a dependable family weekend destination throughout the warmer months.