CTMQ’s Guide to Simsbury

Everything Simsbury

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” Simsbury 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

Simsbury Historical Society Museums

Ellsworth Visitor’s Center & Ensign Bickford Building
1790 School House, Hendrick Cottage, Probate Court, & Blacksmith Shop
Meeting House, Phelps Barn, Carriage House & Ice House
Phelps Tavern Museum & Homestead

The Ethel Walker School Interactive Museum (Private)
The Ethel Walker Middle School Museum of Curiosities (Private)
The Ethel Walker School Potter Galleries (Private)
Flamig Educational Farm
Heublein Tower Museum
Simsbury Free Library
Storyteller’s Cottage (Closed)
Stratton Brook State Park Nature Center
The Westminster School Baxter Art Gallery (Private)

Hikes & Bikes

Explore Connecticut’s Simsbury Outdoor Guide

Penwood State Park – Intro & Hikes
Stratton Brook State Park – Intro & Hikes
Talcott Mountain State Park – Intro & Hikes
Nod Brook WMA
Simsbury WMA
Massacoe/Great Pond State Forest
CFPA’s East-West Trail – Intro

Section 1: Penwood State Park to TBD (Future trail)

CFPA’s Metacomet Trail – Intro

Section 10: Route 44 to Penwood State Park
Section 11: Penwood State Park to the Farmington River

McLean Game Refuge – Intro

Western Region
Eastern Region

Simsbury Land Trust Trails – Intro

Bog Walk
Case
Glover Property
James Property
Ketchin Quarry
Knapp
LaSalette Trail
Owen-Mortimer Trail
Rosedale Farm
Tanager Hill
Tulmeadow Farm & Woodlot
Wagner Woods & Hall farm
West Mountain, Cathles and 60 Westledge

Simsbury’s Town Trails – Intro

Belden Forest
Darling Wildlife Sanctuary
Ethel Walker Woods and Town Forest
Helen’s Way
Old Canal Way Trail
Onion Mountain Park
Owens Brook Trail
Riverwalk Nature Trail at Simsbury Meadows
Simsbury Farms Fitness Trail
Still Brook Open Space
Tariffville/Farmington River

Multi-Use/Rail Trails

Farmington Canal Heritage Trail – Intro

Section 1: Massachusetts State Line, Suffield to Hopmeadow Street
Section 2: Hopmeadow Street to Red Oak Hill Road, Farmington
Farmington River Trail Loop Extension: Red Oak Hill Road to Hopmeadow Street

Bloomfield Greenway: Day Hill Road to Tariffville

Food & Drink

CT World Food Tour, Cajun: Roux (Closed)
CT Historic Restaurant Trail: Red Stone Pub
CT Ice Cream Trail: Grassroots Creamery
CT Ice Cream Trail: J. Foster Ice Cream (Closed location)
CT Ice Cream Trail: Tulmeadow Farm Ice Cream
CT Wine Trail: Rosedale Vineyards
CT Spirits Trail: Powdermen Spirits Company

Looking for your favorite restaurant? Here is an explanation as to why it’s not here.

Everything Else

National Natural Landmark: McLean Game Refuge
US First: Steel mill
US First: Safety fuse
US First: Emergency phone call
Simsbury’s first house, school, ferry, & Colonial Traineband Field
Great Blue Heron Rookery
The Pinchot Sycamore
Cathles Trail Falls
Northgate Falls/Westledge Trail Falls
Tariffville Gorge Cascades
King Philip’s Caves
Hell Hole
Elephant Rock
Lake Basile
Heublein Tower
CT Cool Library Tour: Simsbury Free Library
Farmington Canal
Meadowood
Firetown
Stratton Brook Covered Bridge
The Old Drake Hill Flower Bridge
Climax Road

Simsbury: Complete!

I “completed” Simsbury in 2024 but new and/or previously unknown-to-me CTMQ-worthy places and things open all the time, so a town is never really “complete.” I will, of course, continue to visit and write about these new places and things.

Wrap-Up and Completion Celebration Meal at Millwright’s Restaurant & Tavern