Bigelow Hollow State Park is public recreation area in the town of Union, Connecticut, in the Quinebaug Highlands. The state park's 516 acre border Nipmuck State Forest on the east and west and Mashapaug Lake on the north. The park and forest are located in a large hollow or depression approximately 700' below the surrounding ridgelines. They are managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

Surroundings

The state park is a significant feature of the Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor and is part of one of the largest unbroken forest tracts in Connecticut, which includes 9000 acre in the Nipmuck State Forest, 7800 acre in the Yale-Myers Forest, 13000 acre in the Natchaug State Forest, 8000 acre of the Norcross Wildlife Refuge, and the 7000 acre of forest held by Hull Foresters. The state park was carved out of Nipmuck State Forest by the State Park and Forest Commission in 1949.

Activities and amenities

The park has been described as "[r]emote by Connecticut standards," where a map and orienteering skills may be useful as the park is mostly evergreen at lower elevations and trails can be lost in the thick forest density. The park and forest have over 35 mi of trails, including several around 92 acre Breakneck Pond, a secluded lake only accessible by foot. A boat launch and picnicking facilities are located on 25 acre Bigelow Pond at the entrance to the park and on 287 acre Mashapaug Lake, which is found near the end of the park's main road. Fishing is offered in summer and winter (ice fishing). The streams, ponds and lakes feature stocked as well as native trout, small and large mouth bass and pickerel. Backcountry camping is allowed in Nipmuck State Forest. Snowmobiling trails begin in the state park and continue into the state forest.