The Tiniest Connecticut Park Was Once Home To Massive Dinosaurs

Located on the rural Powder Ridge Road in Middlefield, this small park is often overlooked. Park in the small pull-off that has room for a handful of vehicles. Powder Hill Dinosaur Park, itself is a tiny fenced in area of large rocks and trees and while it may not look like much at first, you'll be glad you stopped.

This spot was originally on the site of Wesley Coe's summer home. Permission was given back in 1846 for stone to be taken from his property to create the Beseck Dam. During the quarrying, dinosaur footprints were discovered.

Wesley Coe later was employed as a professor at Yale and went on to become the Curator of Zoology at the Peabody Museum in New Haven. After his death, the part of his land with traces of dinosaurs was given to the museum. Back then it was called the Peabody Museum Outdoor Exhibit.

Discover three different types of dinosaur footprints in the large rocks. Just think, you can stand where these prehistoric creatures once also stood themselves. It's believed that the prints were made at what was once a lake that dried up. You can see impressions of waves causing ripples in some of the rocks.

Powder Hill Dinosaur Park is now owned by the town of Middlefield. Since it was transferred to the town in 1976, it has been an Eagle Scouts Project for Troop 33 Boy Scouts. While visiting the Rocky Hill site may be more impressive, this small park is its own little archaeological wonder and it's totally free.

Visit Powder Hill Dinosaur Park by putting the junction of Powder Hill Road and South Street into your GPS. After your brief visit (we warned you, the park is small), stop by Lyman Orchards right down the road for one of their famous apple cider donuts.