Silver Sands State Park by adavyd / CC BY-SA 3.0
Connecticut offers photographers opportunities to photograph the coast, lighthouses, mountains, woods, and waterfalls. On this page we’ll showcase some of the best locations in Connecticut for landscape photographers. The interactive map below shows the location of each spot mentioned on this page.
This page will continue to be a work in progress, so please feel free to leave a comment with your own suggestions of great places to photograph.
The Best Places to Photograph in Connecticut
This page provides information on the following locations (scroll down to see all of them):
- Wadsworth Falls State Park
- Westfield Falls
- Castle Craig
- Sleeping Giant State Park
- Devil’s Hopyard State Park
- Kent Falls State Park
- Lover’s Leap State Park
- Mianus River Park
- Silver Sands State Park
- Barkhamsted Reservoir
- Dean’s Ravine
- Rocky Neck State Park
- Lighthouse Point Park
- Saybrook Breakwater Lighthouse
- Mystic Seaport Lighthouse
Wadsworth Falls State Park
Wadsworth Falls State Park is located about 20 miles south of Hartford. The main feature of the park is the main waterfall, which falls about 30 feet. The park provides hiking opportunities, and the falls can be reached with about a one mile hike, or from the waterfall parking at the southwest edge of the park.
Wadsworth Falls by Justin G. Coleman / CC BY-SA 3.0
Westfield Falls
Westfield Falls is located only about 5 miles from Wadsworth Falls State Park. The falls are very close to Interstate 91, and you can take exit 20 to get to the falls. There are actually two different drops of about 20 – 30 feet.
Westfield Falls by Alec / CC BY 2.0
Castle Craig
Castle Craig is located near Meriden, which is about 15 miles west of Wadsworth Falls State Park. It is part of Hubbard Park and sits atop East Peak. Castle Craig can be reached by car May through October, and hiking trails are open year round. The structure itself can be an interesting subject for photos, and just as appealing is the view that you can get from the observation tower.
Castle Craig by Kenneth Casper / CC BY 2.0
Castle Craig by Lisa Jacobs / CC BY-ND 2.0
Sleeping Giant State Park
Sleeping Giant State Park is located about 30 miles southwest of Hartford, and about 20 miles from Wadsworth Falls State Park. The park is home to Sleeping Giant, also known as Mount Carmel. The rugged mountain landscape provides plenty of great views and photographic opportunities.
Sleeping Giant State Park by Bob P.B. / CC BY 2.0
Sleeping Giant State Park by Bob P.B. / CC BY 2.0
Sleeping Giant State Park by Bob P.B. / CC BY 2.0
Devil’s Hopyard State Park
Devil’s hopyard State Park is about a 30 mile drive east of Wadsworth Falls. The Eightmile River runs through the park, and the main feature of the park is Chapman Falls. The beautiful 60-foot falls can be reach very easily from a parking lot at the north end of the park. The park includes other trails worth exploring, including the blue trail that leads to Vista Point.
Chapman Falls at Devil’s Hopyard State Park by David Smith / CC BY 2.0
Chapman Pond at Devil’s Hopyard State Park by Tom Henthorn / CC BY 2.0
Kent Falls State Park
Kent Falls State Park in western Connecticut is an excellent location for photographing waterfalls. It features a series of waterfalls on Kent Falls Brook, a tributary of the Housatonic River. The falls drop a total of 250 feet, with the largest cascade being 70 feet. With an easy walk you can see the most significant parts of the falls.
Kent Falls State Park by Jaine / CC BY-ND 2.0
Lovers Leap State Park
Lovers Leap State Park is located in western Connecticut, about 60 miles southwest of Hartford, and about 20 miles south of Kent Falls. The park features hiking trails and scenic vistas about the Housatonic River.
Lovers Leap State Park by Doug Kerr / CC BY-SA 2.0
Mianus River Park
Mianus River Park, also known as Treetops, is a great location for hiking and viewing wildlife, especially birds. There is a 2.5 mile nature trail as well as several other trails. It is located in southwestern Connecticut, about 50 miles south of Lovers Leap State Park.
Treetops State Park by Morrowlong / CC BY-SA 3.0
Silver Sands State Park
Silver Sands State Park is located in southern Connecticut between Bridgeport and New Haven. The park is nearly 300 acres and includes beach on the Long Island Sound, woods, and Charles Island. During low tide you can walk across the tombolo to Charles Island.
Silver Sands State Park by adavyd / CC BY-SA 3.0
Southford Falls State Park
Southford Falls State Park is located in southwestern Connecticut about 30 miles north of Silver Sands State Park. The covered bridge and waterfalls are the main features of this park.
Southford Falls State Park by Andrew K. / CC BY 2.0
Barkhamsted Reservoir
The Barkhamsted Reservoir of northwestern Connecticut, and particularly the Saville Dam, is another excellent subject for photographs.
Barkhamsted Reservoir / CC0
Dean’s Ravine
Dean’s Ravine is located in northwestern Connecticut, about 30 miles west of the Saville Dam. Here you can hike the Mohawk Trail along Reed Brook (starting near the intersection of Cream Hill Road and Music Mountain Road in Canaan. From trail you will be able to take in the beauty of the Ravine and the waterfalls.
Dean’s Ravine by Doug Kerr / CC BY-SA 2.0
Rocky Neck State Park
Rocky Neck State Park is located in southern Connecticut, about 50 miles east of Silver Sands State Park. The park features trails, beaches, water views, salt marshes, and wildlife (mostly waterfowl).
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Rocky Neck State Park by Bjturon / CC BY-SA 4.0
Rocky Neck State Park by Carole j. Buckwalter / CC BY-SA 4.0
Lighthouse Point Park
Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven is the home to Five Mile Point Lighthouse. The park is located on the Long Island Sound, about 2o miles from Silver Sands State Park. The 80-foot lighthouse and the beautiful coast make an excellent photograph.
Lighthouse Point by versageek / CC BY-SA 2.0
Saybrook Breakwater Lighthouse
The Saybrook Breakwater Lighthouse is located at the mouth of the Connecticut River, about 35 miles east of Lighthouse Point Park.
Saybrook Breakwater Light by Wilson Bilkovich / CC BY 2.0
Saybrook Breakwater Light by Wilson Bilkovich / CC BY 2.0
Mystic Seaport Lighthouse
The Mystic Seaport Lighthouse is a replica of the Brant Point Lighthouse. It is located on the Mystic River in the town of Mystic, about 30 miles east of the Saybrook Breakwater Lighthouse.
Mystic Seaport Lighthouse by heipei / CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo license links: CC0, CC BY 2.0, CC BY-SA 2.0, CC BY-SA 3.0, CC BY-SA 4.0, CC BY-ND 2.0
Great River Park, East Hartford, CT is another great location for photography. Great River Park gives an open view of the Hartford skyline and the historic Colt Building, all with the Connecticut River as a foreground element. It is especially good for night photography of the skyline because the long exposure will flatten the waves of the river and give great reflections in your photos.
Fort Griswold, Groton, CT.
You can photograph not only our coast but also photograph and also learn about the state’s history and involvement in being one of the original 13 colonies that eventually would declare itself independent and free State known forever more as the United States of America. As well as it’s involvement in fighting in and eventually winning the Civil War and everything in between then and being now known for housing the WORLD’S LARGEST Naval Base.