Gillette Castle State Park is one of the jewels of the Connecticut park system. Its perch above the Connecticut River offers breathtaking scenery while a real stone castle beckons visitors to explore. While it’s easy to get wrapped up in the history, architecture, and stunning views, the park also has a lesser-known attraction to offer its visitors. An abandoned miniature railroad trail winds through the woods and is the perfect spot to take a hike.
Straddling the towns of East Haddam and Lyme is one of Connecticut's most popular state parks. William Gillette, an American actor, who portrayed Sherlock Holmes on stage, built a 24-room mansion reminiscent of a medieval castle in the early 1900s.
The estate became a state park in 1943 after William Gillette's death. During his lifetime, the actor loved entertaining guests at his castle and giving them rides on his miniature train around the property.
The miniature railroad trail winds through the woodland setting. Some of the guests who once rode the train on this same route include Charlie Chaplin and Albert Einstein.
The grounds of Gillette Castle State Park are open from 8 a.m. to sunset year-round. The Castle is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day and then Friday through Sunday through Columbus weekend. For more information visit the Connecticut DEEP website.
Address: 67 River Road, East Haddam, CT 06423
For more opportunities to do some easy hiking in Connecticut, check out these scenic rail trails.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
