Meshomasic State Forest became the first of 32 state forests established in Connecticut and the first established in New England. The forest is located in Middlesex and Hartford counties, and has been divided into two large forest blocks separated by CT-2. The southwestern section is known as the Mountain Block. The northeastern section is known as the Diamond Lake Block and is located northeast of Route 2 in Glastonbury, Connecticut. The forest has 8 miles of gravel forest roads seasonally open to the public. 

Existing Access to the forest may be obtained via Clark Hill Road to Woodchopper Road in East Hampton, Clark Hill Road to North Mulford Road in Glastonbury, or Mott Hill Road to Del Reeves Road in Glastonbury. Access can also be obtained by taking Cox Road to South Mulford Road in Portland. Access has been lost from White Birch Road, Dickenson Road, Mott Hill Road, Isinglass Hill
Road, and Portland Reservoir Road due to lack of funding for road surface material, and unauthorized road use by ATV’s, motorcycles and Jeeps that have destroyed erosion control measures installed by the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection.

There are also numerous woods roads and trails in the forest which people use for recreation. However, these trails are not maintained for recreation, and much of this use is illegal forest use including motorcycles, and all terrain vehicle (ATVs). Motorcycles are not permitted in the state forest unless registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles and then only permitted on forest roads open to all motor vehicles. Off road riding and ATV’s are not permitted in the forest.

The AllTrails website has a map and description of a hike at Meshomasic State Forest.