Everything Deep River
I’ve been exploring and writing about Connecticut since 2006. After a decade, I began compiling CTMQ guides for each town in the state. I plan on “completing” Deep River CTMQ-style… as well as the other 168 towns, cities, and boroughs in Connecticut. That is the ultimate goal of CTMQ.
If I’ve missed anything in town or if anything has closed or changed, please let me know.
Museums
Deep River Historical Society at Stone House
Nautical Arts Workshop Gallery
Hikes
Explore Connecticut’s Deep River Outdoor Guide
Cockaponset State Forest – Intro
- Spruce Ledge -Tower Hill Section
Weber Woods Parcel
Deep River Land Trust Trails – Intro
- Florence Bidwell Sanctuary
George C. Lyon Nature Preserve
Guetliweg Preserve
Rattling Valley Ridge Preserve
Smyth Sanctuary
Union Street Trail
Deep River’s Town Trails – Intro
- Bushy Hill Nature Center
Canfield Woods Nature Preserve (Essex Land Trust)
Food & Drink
Calamari Tavern
CT Beer Trail: High Nine Brewing
Looking for your favorite restaurant? Here is an explanation as to why it’s not here.
Everything Else
World’s Oldest: Deep River Ancient Muster
US Only: Ivory Bleach House
US Oldest: Incarnation Camp
Underground Railroad Trail: William Winters Neighborhood
Olson’s Bridge
Devil’s Wharf
The Grave of XYZ
Elephant Statue and Plaque
Ashleigh’s Garden
Wee Hoose of Supplies
Scandinavian United Society’s Dick Rankin Room
Becky Thatcher Riverboat Ride!
Essex Steam Train Ride!
Deep River Wrap-Up
Completion Celebration Meal at TBD
Deep River Landing
Marshall says
December 6, 2024 at 2:37 pmI’m pretty sure the town was called Saybrook before becoming Deep River. Inhabitants of the shoreline Saybrook ventured north, thus that area becoming ‘Old Saybrook’
Caleb says
February 28, 2026 at 12:18 pmYou are mostly right Marshall. Deep River was officially the town of Saybrook until 1947, but that’s because it was essentially the surviving official “rump” of the original colony of Saybrook that was incorporated into the State of Connecticut on its establishment. All of the surrounding towns–Chester, Essex, Old Saybrook, etc.–split off from the original town of Saybrook over the intervening centuries, leaving Deep River as the original remnant of the town. The downtown area was always colloquially called Deep River and the western rural section of town was always known as Winthrop, but the town’s official name was Saybrook until after the Second World War.
I could be wrong but I believe that due to this, the town’s (very beautiful) town hall is home to some of the original 17th c. colony documents.
(As sort of an interesting aside, the eponym Deep River comes from a local brook that route 154 passes over, right past Winter Avenue, and isn’t at all related to the Connecticut River that flows through town.)