Swim in lakes this summer

Kristina Dorsey, The Day, New London, Conn.
·1 min read

May 31—Is this the time of year when the Great Outdoors is at its most enjoyable? I'd say that the answer is yes — and that one of the best ways to enjoy nature during the summer is to go for a swim in a state forest or park.

At Nehantic State Park, off Route 156 in Lyme, you can take any number of amazing hikes and then dip into the 69-acre Uncas Lake or the 30-acre Norwich Pond. It feels like a world away from the hustle and bustle of regular life. The park consists of more than 5,000 acres that are part of the towns of Lyme, East Lyme and Salem.

Go north, and you can enjoy Hopeville Pond State Park in Griswold, where you can camp, fish, boat, hike and bike. And, of course, you can swim as well, in the 137-acre Hopeville Pond. Talk about bucolic.

Gardner Lake State Park in Salem is a particularly popular boating spot, so stick to the designated swimming areas. Gardner Lake covers more than 500 acres and located where Salem, Montville and Bozrah meet.

Visit portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks for more info.