Squantz Pond State Park

Pristine freshwater swimming & kayaking in the hills

📍 New Fairfield, CT

4.3(130 Google)

📍178 Short Woods Rd, New Fairfield, CT

📞(860) 354-3452

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Squantz Pond offers a gorgeous, clean freshwater beach in the hills of New Fairfield — a welcome alternative to saltwater for grandkids who prefer calmer, gentler swimming. The park has a designated swim area with lifeguards, kayak rentals, fishing, and hiking trails that loop the scenic pond through forest. Free for Connecticut-registered vehicles, it's an easy drive from the southern part of the county.

Grandparent-Friendly Details

Walk-in

Walk-ins welcome

Accessibility

Wheelchair & stroller accessible

Parking

Easy parking

Noise level

Moderate noise

Outdoor seating

Covered / shaded

Typical visit

~3 hours

Best age range

Ages 2–14

Fun Things to Do Here

Ideas to make the most of your visit to Squantz Pond State Park

Beach Olympics

3-legged race, longest seaglass find, best sandcastle, who finds the prettiest shell — make up the events as you go.

Wave Counting

Pick a spot and count waves for 2 minutes. First to 30 wins. More competitive than it sounds.

Message in the Sand

Each person writes or draws something in wet sand before the tide takes it. Take a photo before it goes.

Shell Sorting

Collect 10 shells. Sort by color, then size, then texture. Decide together which one gets to come home.

Tide Pool Bingo

Spot a crab, something with spots, something that moves, a tiny fish, and one thing you can't identify.

Free printable: Beach Day Scavenger Hunt

Download

Budget & Insider Tips

Grandparent Money Tips

•Most public beaches are free — the parking fee is the real cost. Arrive before 9am to beat both the crowds and the lot attendant at many state beaches.
•Pack everything: sunscreen, snacks, water, towels. Beach vendor prices are 2–3x normal. A soda on the sand shouldn't cost $6.
•Connecticut and New York both have state beaches open to all visitors — often cheaper than town beaches that require a resident sticker.

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