Lake Chamberlain is a Regional Water Authority (RWA) reservoir and Recreation Area along the Sargeant River in Bethany and Woodbridge. The West River and its tributary, the Sargent River, flow through the valley west of West Rock Ridge. Five reservoirs were created between 1889 and 1925 on these rivers to form the West River water supply system. Originally constructed in 1890, Lake Chamberlain was enlarged in 1958 to over five times its original size. There are approximately 7.5 miles of hiking trails and hiking on the trails requires a permit from RWA. Additional Information about trails, parking, and permits for accessing the hiking trails can be obtained by visiting the RWA website: https://www.rwater.com/about-us/in-the-community/recreation/
Trails:
The trails at Lake Chamberlain include those that are close to or encircle the reservoir and some that connect to the Spykman Easement to the north and the Woodbridge Greenway to the south.
- The Eric Stone Trail (easy; 2.32 miles) offers some beautiful views of Lake Chamberlain. In the spring and summer look for bluebirds that nest in this area.
- The Sargent River Loop trail (moderate; 1.16 miles) below the dam is named for the Sargent River that feeds into and emerges from the Lake Chamberlain reservoir. The trail passes through a wide range of forest types, including a larch plantation, hardwood swamp, and transition hardwoods.
- The Old Field Trail (easy; 0.56 miles) offers sightings of small animals, like chipmunks and red squirrels, that make their homes in the stone walls once used for farming.
- The Cabin Trail (easy; 0.39 miles) skirts along the eastern side of the reservoir.
- The Stony Loam Trail (moderate; 0.52 miles) starts at the west end of the Lake Chamberlain Dam and connects Chamberlain’s trail system to the Woodbridge Greenway. The trail is named for the dominant soil type in the area.
- Other trails connect Chamberlain’s trail system to entrances along Old Mill Road and Sperry Road.
Area: > 500 acres in Bethany and Woodbridge
Address: Sperry Road, Woodbridge, CT
Parking: Lake Chamberlain’s gated entrance and parking area is off Sperry Road.
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