Bigelow Hollow State Park and bordering Nipmuck State Forest are located just south of the MA/CT border in Union, CT. It's a popular spot for hiking, camping, and swimming. The area contains several ponds and many hiking trails on more than 9,000 acres of public land. Meet at Bigelow Pond picnic area in trailhead parking lot. This is not the first parking lot at Park entrance on Rte. 171. Drive past entrance lot and past Bigelow Hollow boat launch to the picnic area at the Northern tip of Bigelow Pond. We will hike from Bigelow Pond to Mashapaug Pond via the Mashapaug Pond View Trail (blue-white bar trail). We will hike along the southern shore of Mashapaug Pond to a small peninsula into the pond. We'll find a nice spot for ashort snack and swim in Mashapaug Pond. Depending on consensus of group, we can either backtrack on trail to Bigelow Hollow Pond or hike to Mashapaug Pond boat launch and return to Bigelow Hollow Pond on the road.

The park is easily accessible from Interstate 84. From I 84 East take exit 73. Turn right at at end of exit ramp on to Rte. 190 North. Follow 190 North to 171 East on right. The park entrance is on left. The address of the park is Rte 171 (Bigelow Hollow Road), Union, CT 06076. Meet at Parking lot at picnic area on northern tip of Bigelow Hollow Pond.