Quinebaug Highlands Explained

The Quinebaug Highlands are a 172,000 acre region^[1] of mountains surrounding the Connecticut/Massachusetts border near Ashford, Eastford, Union, and Woodstock in Connecticut and Southbridge and Sturbridge in Massachusetts.^[2] It includes over 40000acres acres of protected forest.^[3] The highlands are the source for several rivers, including the Quinebaug River,^{[4] [5]} and are part of the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor.^[6]

The highest elevation is 1315feet Burley Hill in Union, CT.^[7]

Recreational Opportunities

The highlands many protected area offer opportunities for hiking, canoeing, kayaking, hunting and fishing.^[8] It is one of the few areas in Connecticut that offers back country camping.^[9]

Mountains and protected areas of the Quinebaug Highlands

• Bigelow Hollow State Park
• Brimfield State Forest
• Burley Hill
• East Brimfield Lake
• Natchaug State Forest
• Nipmuck State Forest
• Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary
• Snow Hill
• Streeter Point Recreation Area
• Wells State Park
• Westville Lake
• Yale-Myers Forest

Notes and References

1. Web site: Highlands Preservation Moves Forward. 2013-09-28. 2013-10-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20131003135123/http://articles.courant.com/2002-01-08/news/0201081456_1_nature-conservancy-preserve-forest-land. dead.
2. Web site: Quinebaug Highlands - The Nature Conservancy. www.nature.org. 2013-09-28. 2013-10-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20131004110840/http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/connecticut/placesweprotect/quinebaug-highlands.xml. dead.
3. Total of all forest and reserved land in the area
4. Web site: Watershed of Quinebaug River . February 23, 1944 . www.dickwhitney.net .
5. Web site: Mount Hope River, Quinebaug Highlands (Alden Warner). | Connecticut Land Conservation Council . 2013-09-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140407081349/http://www.ctconservation.org/mounthoperiverquinebaughighlandsaldenwarner . 2014-04-07 . dead .
6. Web site: Quinebaug Highlands - The Nature Conservancy. stage.nature.org. 2013-09-28. 2013-10-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20131003004435/http://stage.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/connecticut/placesweprotect/quinebaug-highlands.xml. dead.
7. Web site: Wales Quadrangle . USGS . 2009-06-05 . 2011-05-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110514174350/http://docs.unh.edu/MA/wale52sw.jpg . dead .
8. Web site: AMC - Worcester Chapter. www.amcworcester.org.
9. Web site: DEEP: Backpack Camping - CT State Parks and Forests. Department of Environmental. Protection. www.ct.gov.