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

(Future trail)

CFPA’s Metacomet Trail – Intro

Route 44 to Penwood State Park

Penwood State Park to the Farmington River

McLean Game Refuge – Intro

Western Region

Eastern Region

Simsbury Land Trust Trails – Intro

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

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

Massachusetts State Line, Suffield to Hopmeadow Street

Hopmeadow Street to Red Oak Hill Road, Farmington

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