🐾 Kids at the Dog Park: Real Stories, Safety Risks & Smarter Solutions
If you’ve spent time at an off-leash park, you’ve probably seen it:A parent strolls in with a stroller 🚼 or […]
Macedonia Brook State Park in Kent, Connecticut, offers an inviting escape for dog owners looking to explore scenic, pet-friendly trails and immerse themselves in nature. Known for its stunning brookside campsites, peaceful woodlands, and rustic atmosphere, this park is a favorite among those seeking a dog-friendly hiking destination or a quiet camping getaway. With spacious, evenly spaced sites and an abundance of natural beauty, this locale is perfect for outdoor adventurers who love to bring their pets along.
The park features accessible entrances and parking, picnic tables, barbecue grills, and public restrooms. Hiking trails wind through varied terrain—including ridge lines and wooded paths—providing a great opportunity for on-leash dog walks. Families with children can also enjoy picnic amenities and gentle kid-friendly hikes. Though facilities are basic with no showers or flush toilets, the serene setting, wildlife, and sound of the brook make for a truly relaxing experience. If you’re searching for a dog park in Kent, Connecticut, Macedonia Brook State Park delivers a rustic, pet-friendly outing.
Camped during the week in Sept, no one there, very quiet, huge camping spots. Came again in June 2025 and had a spot by the brook. So peaceful and still not a lot of people around. Very rustic though so be prepared.
Nice campground if you like more primitive places. No showers, flush toilets, etc. I wish I’m it was much cheaper to stay here because for a campground with no such facilities it’s about the same cost as others.
No cell service at all, no playgrounds, no laundry, showers, sinks, etc. and no alcohol allowed, the way it should be in my opinion. Ok maybe minus the alcohol restriction but whatever.
Gorgeous trails, scenery, rivers and streams, bugs…. Bring bug spray, bug nets, bug zappers and secure small children cuz the skeeters will fly away with your smallest kid.
Some sites are tent only (the ones with T at the end) but the walk isn’t that far. One such site it 27T, which sits RIGHT on the water and is absolutely gorgeous.
Site 26 looks like it was recently redone. There are a few spots that are very……. Squishy. But it did rain for 2 days when I stayed there.
I spent this past weekend at Macedonia Brook State park.
26 through the 28th site 43.
It was very peaceful and pretty clean. The babbling brook running next to the campsite offered a soothing sound to relax by.
One other fact i would mention is the abundent mouse population.
Soon after dark you can expect a raiding party of little furries to run all over camp. Imagine my suprise to have one perch atop my foot while i was roasting a marshmellow over the fire. The little furries mostly avoided the campfire light but i could see them near my woodpile and under the picnic table.
My 4 season northface tent did a proper job of keeping the bugs and the little furries with tails outside of the yellow nylon walls.
I had an outhouse about 20 yards away but at night with all the activity , I was happy that i had remembered my pee jug. Thankfully no 2 am forays to an even scarier place to get relief from a ful bladder.
Mornings at site 43 you can expect the sun to peek through the trees around 8 am. If you look carefully you might see the silouette of giant millipedes on the tent wall. For those unfamilier Giant millipedes are a black and red bug about 2 inches long and about the thickness of a cigarette. I think they might be poisonis but that may just be a rumor. The brook is a fun place to fish and if you are so inclined i would recomend casting down stream to the deep holes after the manyrock drop offs. Remeber to get your fishing licence online. Follow all the park rules keep a clean camp and respect the other campers.
Best to do ridge line trail counter clockwise. Good for camping. Less traffic than trails in Kent and views are solid. Be prepared for some steeper descents and drops if you embark on the blue trail.
Beautiful camp site. We booked #38 or #19 I forgot. It’s one of those carry in one and the well doesn’t work. We had to drive to another well to get water. It’s not that bad.
Surprising there isn’t much mosquito but a lot of inch worm. Spending two night the max I would do since there isn’t a shower or decent toilet.
It’s peaceful and the campsites are evenly spaced out. I would suggest to dress long pants and shirt.