Housatonic State Forest

About Housatonic State Forest

It is the only forest in the state of Connecticut that covers more than 1.5 million acres of land. The Housatonic State Forest covers an area of about 3,200 square kilometers and the road leads from Georgia to Maine. More than 3,000 acres of state forest were purchased in 1927 by an iron company and later by the Connecticut State Department of Natural Resources.

The picturesque hills that form the topography of the Housatonic state forest were cut down to meet the coal needs of the iron industry. To give you an idea of the history of land use in the region, the picture below shows an image of an old - growing - forest. This is a testimony to this history, but it also reminds us of its importance to the State of Connecticut.

The rugged hills of the State Forest form the picturesque Housatonic River, which has produced arguably the most beautiful region in Connecticut. Today, the land is state forest for many purposes, but the trees still grow in the forest, with the exception of some old trees - growth trees and a small number of small shrubs.

Housatonic State Forest is managed as part of the Connecticut River Watershed Preserve, an area of aesthetic beauty unparalleled anywhere else in the state. It is also a state forest, and the protected area requires felling and the regulation of fires in order to preserve the unique and valuable property that led to its provision. Natural areas are established to highlight the natural beauty of a particular area, such as river basins, or to shelter rare plant and animal species. They are generally endowed with remarkable examples of natural ecosystems.