Topsmead State Forest

Topsmead State Forest
Litchfield

What a lovely area. Truly. No matter the season or the reason of your visit, it’s just such a beautiful spot.

Topsmead State Forest is the former summer estate of Miss Edith Morton Chase, daughter of Henry Sabin Chase, one of the leaders in the brass industry, and Alice Morton Chase. Yes, the Chases whose name is all over everything in the Waterbury area. Upon her death in 1972, Edith Chase left her beloved country estate to the people of Connecticut and requested the property “be kept in a state of natural beauty”. To ensure that Topsmead would remain undisturbed, Miss Chase left an endowment to be used toward maintaining and operating the buildings and grounds as they were upon her death.

It truly is a “hidden gem” because there really aren’t signs pointing the way; apparently part of Edith’s wishes. There’s a museum at her “cottage” as well as trails here to explore. So let’s get to it.