Hidden Gems Of Hartford And Tolland Counties

VERNON/TOLLAND/ELLINGTON, CT — The latest trek to a Hidden Gem takes us to a three-town area in Tolland County near a massive reservoir.

Welcome to the Shenipsit Trail.

The trail is 3.5-mile out-and-back hike that runs adjacent to the Shenipsit Lake Reservoir. The trail, which runs along an old railroad bed, is part of the Blue-Blazed Shenipsit Trail.

Located in parts of Ellington, Vernon and Tolland, the Shenipsit Lake Reservoir is a public drinking water supply source that has an approved Department of Public Health recreation program. It has been open since 1994.

The program includes the year-round hiking trail around the lake in cooperation with the Connecticut Forest and Park Association, and fishing from designated shoreline areas and program-registered electric and oar-powered boats from the second Saturday in April through October.

Connecticut Water oversees the reservoir.

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The Hidden Gems series features out-of-the-way mom and pop restaurants, small specialty stores you may have never heard of, little-known historical markers or beautiful nature spots that may be a bit off the beaten path, all located within Hartford and Tolland counties. Do you have a favorite "hidden gem" in the area that you wish to see featured in this column? Email your ideas to Chris.dehnel@patch.com.

Other Hidden Gems in this series:

2024

• A Civil War POW's Story
• Becker Conservation Area
• Monument to a Great Sculptor
• The Attack of the Pink Flamingos
• Eagle Rock
• The Cirque Mural
• The Amerbelle Spillway
• Merlot on the Water
• Millpond Country Store
• Bobby Sands/Hunger Strike Memorial
• Farwell Barn
• Cornerstone's Prom Boutique
• The Wizard of Oz Sculpture
• Gardiner Hall Jr. History Museum
• Community Needs Board at Silk City Coffee
• The John P. Webster Library at First Church, West Hartford
• Sledding Hills, Hartford/Tolland Counties
• The Tankerhoosen Bench
• Marino's Ski Bites

2023

• Rough Cut Cider at The Farm Stand at Lemek Farm
• Manchester Tailor Shop
• The Colossal Santa
• Riverside Reptiles Education Center
• By The Pond
• The Lugg Family Plot
• Most Excellent Cards & Collectibles
• The Richard Hubbard statue
• The Doughboy
• The WaltWhitman Stone
• Hometown Kitchen
• Elisabeth Bennet Statue
• Lafayette rides to Hartford
• Craft Bird Food Truck
• Collins Creamery at Powder Hill
• Rockville Equipment Message Board
• Dickson's
• Pickle Jar Deli
• Hilltop Creamery
• Palisado Avenue Historic District
• Tom's Place
• Vinnie's Little Acre
• The Peeking Cow
• The Bridge Over Trout Brook
• Middle Bolton Lake Boat Launch
• Fill-er-up soft serve
• Bryan's Landing
• Stafford Cidery
• La Notte Waterside Grille & Lounge
• Two Hopewell
• Manchester Cricket Ground
• Agent Orange Monument
• Dover Saddlery
• Booth 220, Mansfield Drive-in Flea Market
• Marlborough Barn
• Farley Mac's
• The Chapel at Grove Hill Cemetery
• The Big Pink Chair
• Hale vs. Webster
• Ken's Cards & Collectibles
• Union Bee Company
• Talcott Ravine
• New School Pizza Co. Pizza Bus
• Smyth's Trinity Farm
• Chic's Restaurant
• Shenipsit State Forest
• Gay City Ruins

2022

• The Bissell Ferry
• Bidwell Tavern
• Tree Farms In Hartford/Tolland Counties
• Henry Park Holiday Lights
• The Vintage Shops
• The Schofield Spring Water Dispenser
• Harry Lugg Memorial Field
• Alfred E Pope Horse Trough and Fountain
• The CT Heavy Artillery Regiment Mortar
• The Ancient Burying Ground
• The Wolf Pack Bobblehead
• The Tolland Inn
• The Gathering Ground Restaurant
• Poke Don Hawaiian Restaurant
• The Husky Olympic Monument
• The Mazz Pizza Company Truck
• The "Keyhole" Tunnel
• ANTIQ'S
• Broad Brook Opera House
• Bart's Luncheonette
• McCann Family Farm
• Banquet Hall at Grassmere Country Club
• Willington Common Bell
• Chez Ben Canadian Diner
• Farmington Canal Aqueduct
• Grave of Gettysburg Casualty William Whitney Goodell
• Riverfront Park Boathouse
• Connecticut Freedom Trail
• The David Smith Bridge
• Wadsworth Antheneum
• Southwest Cemetery
• The Polish Plate
• Ferry Grill & Chill
• The Print Hub
• Lacrosse Unlimited
• Ellington Agway
• Jefferson Fry Co.
• Hartford History Center Suffragist Sculpture
• Windsor Locks Canal Irish Workers Monument
• Utsav Indian Cuisine
• Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route
• Madeline Regan Preserve
• Frontier Airlines at Bradley
• Munson's Chocolates Factory Shoppe
• Connecticut River Valley Wildlife Museum
• Lobster Craft
• Center Springs Park
• MLK Monuments
• The Connecticut Historical Society

2021 and earlier

• The Bridge At Bolton Notch
• Civil War Drum
• Civil War Powder Keg
• Mile 4, Manchester Road Race
• The West Hartford Armory
• The Capitol's Nooks and Crannies
• Wickham Park Aviary
• 55 West Main, New Britain
• Bottle and Can Redemption Centers
• The Dodd Center for Human Rights at UConn
• Manchester Ropes Challenge Course
• 4-H Education Center at Auerfarm
• Fuego Picante Food Truck
• The Amistad
• The 9/11 memorials
• Club Champion Golf Fitters
• Golden Irene Restaurant
• Avery's Soda
• Petersen Flower Farm
• R Dee Winery
• Golden Gavel Auction House
• The Cogswell Temperance Fountain
• The Old State House
• BouNom Bakery
• Union Pond Park/Jay Howroyd Fitness Trail
• Cedar Knob Restaurant & Banquets
• UConn Dairy Bar
• Topstone Golf Course
• Backwoods Smokin' BBQ
• The Ranch House
• Foster Hill Farm
• Emma Hart Willard Birthplace
• Connecticut Parachutists Skydiving Club
• Just Be Salon
• Tail Winds Ice Cream Shop
• The MLK Mural
• The Hilltop Restaurant and Bar
• Francesco's Ristorante
• The Modern Milkman
• Cotton Hollow Kitchen
• Fearless Cards, Toys and Collectibles
• Fork & Fire
• Southwood Antiques & Marketplace
• Swank Pearce
• Vernon Depot Historic Park
• Farr's Sporting Goods
• Robs Drivin Diner
• Powder Mill Barn
• At the Dam
• Lena's Restaurant
• The Genius of Connecticut
• The Notch
• LuAnn's Bakery
• Ecker Hill Disc Golf Course
• The Kona Ice Truck
• Olympia Diner
• Mountain Dairy
• Anthony Jacks Wood-Fired Grill
• Pabs African Restaurant
• Henry's Pizzeria
• South Windsor Wildlife Sanctuary
• The Country Butcher
• Aby's Bakery
• Liberty Street Market & Deli
• Wilderness Lake Campground and Resort
• Time Machine toy and hobby store
• Paul Gregory's Bistro Cafe
• The Scoop
• Cheney Brothers National Historic Landmark District
• Faddy's Donuts and Ice Cream
• Riverfront Miniature Golf & Ice Cream
• The Historic Babcock Tavern
• High Grade Finishing
• Craig's Kitchen
• Sikorsky S-16 Bi-Plane Fighter
• Navy ZNP-K Airship Control Car
• Rosedale Farms & Vineyards
• Nathan Hale Homestead
• Burke Ridge Farms
• Necker's Toyland
• Civil War Monument at Mt. Hope Cemetery
• Gene Pitney Memorial Benches
• Joe McCluskey/Manchester Road Race Statue
• Samuel Field Knight Historic Marker
• Carol's Lunchbox
• Country Casuals
• Country Cobbler
• Beau's Burger Shack
• Daniel Glazier Tavern
• Mount Southington Ski School
• Awards & More
• Marquis de Lafayette Monument
• The Little Red Store
• River Bend Bookshop
• Gerry's Donuts
• Traveler Restaurant
• First Decorated Christmas Tree
• The Stanley-Whitman House
• Vernon's Santa House
• Vintage Radio and Communications Museum of Connecticut
• Old Country Banquet Hall
• Brazilian Gula Grill
• Thomas' Smokey Pit Stop
• Congregational Church of Burlington labyrinth
• Noah Webster House
• The Bushnell's Green Room Wall
• Belding Wildlife Management Area
• The Aborn Castle
• Heublein Tower
• Birthplace of Jonathan Edwards
• Grave of Revolutionary War Soldier Heman Baker
• Jessica's Garden, Lobster and Ice Cream Shack
• Shade Swamp Sanctuary
• Ken's Corner Breakfast & Lunch
• Tolland Red and White
• Cold Harbor Seafood
• Nye Holman State Forest/Heron Cove Park
• Hosmer Mountain Soda Shack
• Connecticut Trolley Museum
• Matterhorn Mini Golf
• Wood Memorial Library & Museum
• Hastings Farm
• Liquid Nirvana
• Iwo Jima Survivors Memorial Park
• Academy Hall
• Southington Drive-In
• Little Theatre of Manchester at Cheney Hall
• Somersvillage Gifts & Gourmet Baskets
• New England Civil War Museum
• The Pinchot Sycamore
• Stafford Palace Theater
• Mansfield Hollow State Park
• Old Tolland County Jail and Museum
• Hill-Stead Museum
• Mark's Restaurant