A man-made lake called Candlewood Lake can be found in Western Connecticut's Fairfield and Litchfield counties in the northeastern United States. It is the largest lake in Connecticut and the largest lake within a 60-mile radius of New York City, measuring 8.4 square miles. Five communities encircle the lake: Sherman, Brookfield, Danbury, New Fairfield, and New Fairfield. South of New Milford, where the Rocky River meets the Housatonic River, a hydroelectric dam created Candlewood Lake.

Candlewood Lake is one of the best lakes to visit in Connecticut. This lake in Danbury, which is really a reservoir, was built by Connecticut Light & Power in the late 1920s. To boost the amount of electricity they could generate by pumping water from the Housatonic River into Candlewood Lake, they constructed the hydroelectric Rocky River Dam.

Candlewood Lake is a well-liked tourist attraction, and many New Yorkers own second homes there. The lake is used for recreation all year round, although summer is when most visitors come to swim, fish, boat, and play golf. There are tourist resorts and recreational amenities, including golf courses, beaches, and marinas, all along its about 60-mile (97-km) long coastline.

Location: Danbury, Connecticut

Northeastern Connecticut's Union town is home to Mashapaug Lake, a 1.20 km2 body of water surrounded by Bigelow Hollow State Park and Nipmuck State Forest. The lake's average depth is 4.6 meters, and its maximum depth is 12.0 meters. Its typical elevation above sea level is 706 feet. Fishermen and boaters from the area use the lake, which is also great for swimming.

Mashapaug Lake's bottom is primarily made up of gravel and sand, with a few scatted rocks, trees, and stumps. Fine sand, silt, and biological muck are present in the lake's deep, flat regions. Wells Brook and many little streams feed Mashapaug Lake. When the water level is lowered during the winter, water is pumped north into the Quinebaug River system instead of draining south into Bigelow Brook.

Boating and fishing are both permitted on Mashapaug Lake. Wintertime on the lake is a good time for ice fishing. In the lake, people can go swimming. At its southern extremity, Bigelow Hollow State Park provides access to Mashapaug Lake. At this entry point, there is a boat launch.

Location: Union, Connecticut

A reservoir called Mansfield Hollow Lake is located in Connecticut's Windham and Tolland counties. The reservoir helps manage flooding in the 159-square-mile Thames River watershed and provides drinking water for Willimantic. It was built by the Mansfield Hollow Dam, and the Mansfield Hollow State Park and Wildlife Area completely encloses it.

Even the most anxious of travelers can find peace in the flawless view, which was created when the Army Corps of Engineers blocked the Natchaug River. You'll see why this lake has been called one of the nicest in Connecticut since it is so peaceful. Mansfield Hollow Lake's lovely waters are open to boating and fishing, but swimming is prohibited. The reason is that the lake essentially functions as a reservoir, with a portion of it being used to deliver water to the general population.

Instead of diving in, have a picnic and a trek across the park's many trails, or rent a mountain bike. When it's time for a break, pick a location with the best view to eat outside. Mansfield Hollow Lake is one of the best lakes to visit in Connecticut.

Location: Mansfield & Windham, Connecticut

A man-made lake called Winchester Lake may be found in Lewis County, Idaho, on the southern edge of the town of Winchester. It serves as Winchester Lake State Park's focal point. The lake has a surface area of 40 ha, an average depth of 7.0 m, and a maximum depth of 11 m. When the Craig Mountain Lumber Company built a dam near Lapwai Creek's headwaters in 1910, a mill pond was formed. This mill pond was used until the early 1960s, by which time all of the area's commercially viable timber had been cut down.

Winchester Lake is a stunning hidden gem located in Northwestern Connecticut. And a leisurely pace is the ideal way to appreciate life on this serene lake. Winchester Lake, which covers 246 acres close to the same-named town, attracts many anglers looking to capture a big one.

A necessary dam was built in the area as a result of logging, but tree stumps that are just below the water's surface now pose a threat. Boaters must exercise caution when navigating, especially as they approach the coast. This might contribute to the eight-mile-per-hour speed limit on the lake.

Location: Winchester, Connecticut

In Kent, Litchfield County, Connecticut, on the northwest bank of Lake Waramaug, there is a 38 ha public recreation area known as Lake Waramaug State Park. The state acquired the first 30 acres of the state park in 1920. Swimming, fishing, picnicking, camping, and a launch for canoeing and car-top boats are all available in the park.

Visit in the fall to see the trees' vibrant fall colors reflected on the quiet lake. Your breath will truly be taken away by the breathtaking splendor.

Camping, boating, fishing, and swimming are among the most popular activities in Lake Waramaug in the summer. Twenty motorized boats from non-residents are the limit allowed (residents can pay a small fee to launch their boats as long as they pass an environmental inspection). The boats must also adhere to the "slow-no-wake" guideline, which prohibits them from traveling faster than six miles per hour or creating any wake at all. As you sit by the lake and take in the stunning scenery while listening to the pleasant voices of birds singing in the neighboring forests, you won't be able to help but be grateful for this regulation.

Location: Kent, Connecticut

In the American state of Connecticut, there is a reservoir called Lake Zoar on the Housatonic River. It was created after the Stevenson Dam was finished, flooding the Pleasantvale or Pleasant Vale neighborhood in Oxford and Stevenson. "The Lakes of Connecticut Reflect Our Past and Present". The 4/2018 retrieved Lake Zoar is bordered by the communities of Monroe, Newtown, Oxford, and Southbury. The Zoar neighborhood was formerly known as Zoar and took its name from the biblical city of Zoara near the Dead Sea. It is located on the corner of Newtown and Monroe.

Each of them has a boat launch, making it simple to launch a boat and set off for a day of swimming, windsurfing, water skiing, or fishing on this enjoyable reservoir. Bass, catfish, trout, perch, and other fish are abundantly stocked at Lake Zoar, which lies close to the Housatonic River in Connecticut. Therefore, avid fishermen shouldn't be dissatisfied with their catch. Others can take advantage of the many hiking trails that wind their way down the shore if they'd rather take in the picturesque water vistas from above while on dry land.

Location: Fairfield and New Haven counties, Connecticut

In three different towns in New Haven County, Connecticut, there is a lake called Hop Brook Lake. Naugatuck, Middlebury, and Waterbury are these places. Hop Brook Lake was formed in Naugatuck as a result of building a dam across Hop Brook. It bustles with tourists in the summer who come to enjoy the sunshine and cool down in the crystal-clear waves.

A recreation pool with an area of 85,000 m2 and a maximum depth of 5.5 m can be found at Hop Brook Lake. Panfish and largemouth bass can be found at Hop Brook Lake. This lake is one of the best lakes to visit in Connecticut.

Kids and adults will both enjoy the sandy beach in the lake's recreation area. Additionally, it makes it simple to participate in water sports like sailing, kayaking, canoeing, and fishing. You won't be able to water ski because motorboats aren't allowed on the lake, but there are so many other things to do that you won't feel like you're missing out. The State has stocked trout in the lake and its feeder streams. In the winter, cross-country skiing is popular.

Location: New Haven County, Connecticut

In Tolland County, Connecticut, United States, Crystal Lake is a village with a census-designated place (CDP) and a location inside the town of Ellington. In 2010, there were 1,945 people living there. The CDP has a lake with the same name.

Crystal Lake, a 76 ha lake in the CDP that is on the line separating Ellington and Stafford, is located there. Private homes make up the majority of the lakeshore, however, on the south side of the lake, there is a small public beach named Sandy Beach. The lake's highest depth is 15 meters, and its average depth is 6.1 meters.

This gorgeous lake's name has changed several times since the Nipumuc Indians first dubbed it lake Wabbaquasset (including Ruby Lake after the gems were located in nearby hills). The name Crystal Lake was finally adopted in 1889.

At present, Sandy Beach is the only strand in the region, and the shores are surrounded by lovely homes. This beach, a favorite spot to spend away on a summer day, may get crowded, so it's best to get there early. Additionally, keep in mind that there won't be many facilities or a snack stand nearby, so take the necessary.

Location: Ellington, Tolland, Connecticut

A man-made lake called Lake Lillinonah can be found in Western Connecticut's Fairfield, Litchfield, and New Haven counties, about 97 kilometers northeast of New York City. Only Candlewood Lake is smaller than it, making it Connecticut's second-largest lake. Six communities encircle the lake: Roxbury, Southbury, Newtown, Bridgewater, and Newtown.

The 1,900-acre Lake Lillinonah is the second-largest lake in the area after Candlewood Lake. This stunning lake, which borders the Housatonic River, was built in 1955 as part of the construction of the Shepaug Dam. It is simple to ride or trek your way to the cool sea because two state parks flank its shoreline.

Lover's Leap State Park in New Milford is quite beautiful; it has 127 acres of property and a variety of trails to select from. With a quick, easy ascent, Lover's Leap Trail offers one of Lake Lillinonah's most stunning views. Six Connecticut towns encircle the lake, and 43 miles of its shores are covered in trees. Lake Lillinonah is one of the best lakes to visit in Connecticut.

Location: Fairfield, Litchfield, and New Haven counties, Connecticut

The municipalities of Morris and Litchfield contain 383 acres of Bantam Lake, the state's largest natural lake. The White Memorial Foundation protects a large portion of the land at the lake's northern edge, including the peninsula of Marsh Point, which is home to numerous bird species. It includes facilities for a variety of water activities and is bordered by campgrounds and youth camps. The lake also features Sandy Beach and Morris Town Beach, two public beaches.

Every season is gorgeous at Bantam Lake. There are a variety of activities available at this well-liked lake, including hiking along its shores in the spring, floating on its cooling waves in the summer, viewing the fall foliage from a canoe, and skating on the thick ice in the winter.

Bantam Lake, Connecticut's largest natural lake, is a great area to spend quality time with your family. Everyone will enjoy playing on the shore at its two beaches, Sandy Beach in Litchfield and Morris Town Beach in Morris. There is a ton of fauna, including a wide variety of birds, in the northern end. The White Memorial Foundation looks out for this area. The sports of rowing, swimming, water skiing, fishing, and camping are all very popular.

Location: Torrington, Connecticut

The Saugatuck Reservoir is a body of water that spans the dividing line between the towns of Redding, Weston, and Easton in Fairfield County, Connecticut, the United States. The Samuel P. Senior dam on the Saugatuck River, which supplies water to numerous of the local communities, was built in January 1942 to mark its completion. The Trout Brook Valley State Park Reserve is located on the southeast end of the reservoir, and the Centennial Watershed State Forest surrounds it on all sides. The maximum water level of the Saugatuck Reservoir is effectively constrained by an uncontrolled spillway next to the Samuel P. Senior dam. A concrete levee that is situated on the reservoir's southeast side keeps water from flooding Trout Brook Valley.

The reservoir's size is just over 820 acres, and there are trout, smallmouth bass, sunfish, chain pickerel, and bluegill living there. A fishing license from the Aquarion Water Company is required before setting out for any fishing. Hike into the neighboring Devil's Den Preserve to get a better view of its wonderfully shimmering expanse. Although the routes are clearly designated and very simple, be careful of slick rocks and roots. Additionally, keep a watch out for some amazing wildlife. This region is protected, so you can observe hawks, bobcats, deer, and beavers there.

Location: Fairfield County, Connecticut

In the Connecticut town of Torrington, there is a 177 ha public recreation area called Burr Pond State Park that is close to Paugnut State Forest. Burr Pond, a 34 ha man-made body of water with amenities for swimming, boating, and fishing, is surrounded by the state park. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection oversees its management.

Although it is more than 85 acres in size, this vast watercourse is essentially a large pond. It is a beautiful area in Torrington's Burr Pond State Park and a well-liked spot to cool off on a hot summer day. Burr Pond is a great place for sailing, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, and boating. Therefore, we're using the term "lake" here.

There are picnic spots with tables, canoe rentals, long circular pathways, a designated swimming area, and restrooms available, so you have everything you need for a wonderful day by the water. The Blue (B) John Muir & Walcott Trail connects to the tip of the Peninsula Trail, which provides the best vantage point.

The best sights in the fall can be found when visiting on a sunny day. The "water" transforms into a mirror when the air is quiet, reflecting a rainbow of autumn's most vivid hues. There is one launch available if you want to go boating, but be aware that waterskiing is not allowed and the speed restriction is eight miles per hour.

Location: Torrington, Connecticut