Mount Tom Pond (Mount Tom State Park) in Connecticut

Trip Overview

An easy lake, with not very many coves or nooks. Surrounded by private property, so not as easy to get close to the banks to see the plant and animal life (I've been told courtesy dictates a 100 ft space around private property shores).

The actual put-in is farther right of the beach (if you're looking at the water) though it looks like a kayak rental place. The beach itself is graded well enough for you to put in to the right or left of the swimming area.

Get there early. It gets crowded on hot summer weekends, and parking can be a challenge, and portaging kayaks down isn't so convenient across the rocky switch-backed park roads / grass.

There was a little bit of wind, but nothing that gets in the way of a leisurely paddle. No combustion engines makes for a more relaxed, quiet environment - the sounds of nature and humanity (again, go early if the sound of kids having fun in the water isn't your thing)

Accommodations:

Full beach, restroom, kayak rentals, paved parking.

Fees:

State park entrance fee: CT residents (as of July 2010) - $9

Directions:

From the south, Rt 8 North to 109, to 209 to 202. This will take you by a few other small (Black Rock) and large (Bantam) lakes.