Indian Well State Park has a lakeside picnic area with tables, barbecue grills and a picnic shelter that is available by reservation. Restrooms and ample parking are situated nearby. The beach is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, with lifeguards on duty daily during the summer months. The park also features a boat ramp on Lake Housatonic; parking for vehicles and boat trailers is available. Beach and boat launch parking fees vary depending on the day of the week, and season passes are available. Aside from picnic shelter reservations, all other facilities in the park are available to visitors free of charge.
You can explore four hiking trails in Indian Well State Park. The Paugussett Trail -- just over 3 miles round-trip -- is the longest trail, providing access to three short side trails. Marked with blue trail blazes, this hike begins at the Indian Well Road parking area and ascends about 400 feet through shady forest, making it a moderately difficult hike that offers several scenic views across the lake to the east. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes, bring plenty of water and keep in mind that while dogs are allowed on the trail, they must be kept on a leash at all times.
You can reach Indian Well Falls by following the first side trail that branches off from the Paugussett Trail. From the parking lot, follow the Paugussett Trail and then turn left at the junction. It takes less than 10 minutes to get to the falls from the parking lot. Visitors are rewarded with the sight of foamy water cascading 15 feet down the slopes of a small, rocky gorge. The deep, well-like plunge pool at the bottom of the waterfall gives the park its name. While the clear waters are tempting, swimming is not permitted at the falls, so hikers who want to cool off will have to head to the nearby beach.
In spite of its name, Lake Housatonic is a long and narrow body of water that maintains many of the characteristics of a river, including a current that can be deceptively strong at times. The calm waters make the lake ideal for canoeing -- the 7-mile section of the the Housatonic River from Stevenson Dam downstream to Indian Well State Park is a popular day trip for canoeists -- and kayaking, but visitors are advised to engage in these activities with a degree of caution. Fishing can be excellent in the lake, and visitors armed with a valid Connecticut fishing license can cast a line for a variety of species. Lake Houstatonic is primarily a bass lake -- both largemouth and smallmouth bass -- but it also harbors populations of walleye, pike, bluegill and sunfish. In addition to boat-based fishing, Indian Well State Park also offers ample shoreline from which to catch fish.
