Burr Pond State Park / Paugnut State Forest Bouldering

Burr Pond State Park in Torrington is completely littered with several hundred huge boulders of world-class pink granitic gneiss. The abutting Paugnut State Forest and Sunnybrook State Park combine into over 2,400 acres to explore.  The rock is bullet solid, well featured, and fine-to-medium grain that has great friction but won’t excessively shred your skin.  The highest quality boulders are towards the southwestern end of Paugnut SF.

Slim to zero information available on historical beta (pre-2018, if it exists). Climbing is on State Forest and State Park land with no specific prohibitions against climbing, and has been confirmed as legal with Torrington Police.  There are multiple parking and access routes, see individual zones for access details.

Burr Pond State park itself has ample parking, bathrooms, small beach area, picnic areas, canoe and kayak rentals, boat ramp.  The pond and beach can get crowded in the summer, but the crowds tend to stay closer to the pond.  There is a water fountain in the picnic area closest to the main parking area.

Some areas of these woods, and especially some of the steep slopes, are closer in character to the wilderness in rural NH than what you’ll see in the rest of CT, and trails are poorly marked or nonexistent.  Bring orienteering skills, GPS and/or paper map & compass.  Very active during hunting season, wear orange and use caution.