🌤 Weather at Becket Hill State Park Reserve by season
| Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31–65 °F | 58–80 °F | 37–74 °F | 23–44 °F |
Each range runs from the coldest monthly average low to the warmest monthly average high in that season (1991-2020 climate normals), measured at Groton New London Airport, 13 mi away, elevation 10 ft. Conditions at the park can differ from the station, especially where elevation differs — check a forecast before you go.
🌿 Walk-in woodland reserve — 260-acre undeveloped DEEP reserve in Lyme, closed to hunting, free
Becket Hill State Park Reserve is an undeveloped, walk-in property of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) in Lyme, in the wooded hills of southeastern Connecticut. DEEP lists it at 260 acres with no parking fee. DEEP’s mapped access point is on Grassy Hill Road, where the reserve meets the road; DEEP’s directions start at the junction of Routes 82 and 156 in East Haddam and lead south on Route 156. Falls Brook and Grassy Hill Brook run through the reserve, which borders Nehantic State Forest and is closed to hunting.
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Access point on Grassy Hill Road, Lyme, New London County, CT |
| Size | 260 acres per DEEP, 262 acres within DEEP’s mapped boundary (as of October 2026) |
| Entry Fee | Free, no parking fee |
| Type | State park scenic reserve, walk-in, undeveloped |
| Hunting | Closed to hunting |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Becket Hill developed?
No. DEEP lists Becket Hill as a walk-in park that is undeveloped, so expect no buildings, restrooms or other facilities, and plan to carry out everything you bring in.
Can I hunt at Becket Hill?
No. DEEP’s hunting data mark Becket Hill State Park Scenic Reserve as closed to hunting (as of October 2026). Hunting is allowed in parts of neighboring Nehantic State Forest, so check DEEP’s Nehantic hunting map if you walk across the boundary in fall.
Can I fish at Becket Hill?
DEEP’s access data list freshwater fishing for the reserve. The brooks on the property are small; the larger water is Uncas Lake at the reserve’s edge, which DEEP stocks with trout (most recently in April 2026). You need a Connecticut fishing license.
About Becket Hill
DEEP’s property data name the reserve Beckett Hill State Park Scenic Reserve and map 262 acres in Lyme. Falls Brook and Grassy Hill Brook flow through it, and the 2024 National Wetlands Inventory maps forested and shrub wetland along them. At its edge the reserve touches Uncas Lake, which DEEP’s natural-community data list as a coastal plain pond with sandy draw-down shores. The reserve lies inside the Lyme Block, a state-priority Important Bird Area recognized by Audubon.
Things to Do
DEEP’s access data list hiking, freshwater fishing and picnicking for Becket Hill. With no developed facilities, this is a place for a quiet woodland walk and for birdwatching in the Lyme Block Important Bird Area.
Insider Tips
Finding the entrance: DEEP’s mapped access point is on Grassy Hill Road. No facilities: bring water and a map. Ticks: blacklegged ticks that spread Lyme disease are common in southern New England woods; follow the CDC’s tick prevention advice and check yourself after the walk.
Best Time to Visit
Spring and fall: cooler hiking weather and fewer insects. Fall: the reserve itself is closed to hunting, but neighboring Nehantic State Forest is open, so wear blaze orange if your walk crosses into it.
Wildlife & Nature
Becket Hill is woodland with brooks and wetlands: Falls Brook and Grassy Hill Brook drain the property, and forested and shrub wetland lines the streams. The reserve sits within the Lyme Block, which Audubon recognizes as an Important Bird Area of state priority covering about 61,700 acres of southeastern Connecticut.
Nearby Attractions
Nehantic State Forest borders the reserve. Eightmile River Wildlife Management Area is about 5 miles away, and Rocky Neck State Park on Long Island Sound and Devil’s Hopyard State Park are 5 to 8 miles away (straight line). Source: Connecticut DEEP property data, checked October 2026.
Nearby parks: If you have extra time, Nehantic State Forest is about 1 mile northwest and Lord’s Cove Wildlife Management Area about 4 miles west (straight line).
🌿 Visit Becket Hill SP Reserve
260 acres in Lyme, free and undeveloped. Access on Grassy Hill Road.
🐾 Dogs & Pets at Becket Hill State Park Reserve
- Pets allowed? statewide rule
- Pets on a leash are permitted in most Connecticut state parks and forests, but not in buildings, swimming areas or state park campgrounds.
- Leash rule statewide rule
- Pets must be leashed and under control at all times; in state forest camping areas the leash may be no longer than 7 feet.
- Beaches & swim areas statewide rule
- Pets are prohibited in swimming areas; Sherwood Island and Squantz Pond State Parks ban pets entirely April 15 - September 30.
- Cabins & lodging statewide rule
- Pets are banned from all state park campgrounds; they are allowed only in the American Legion, Pachaug and Salt Rock state forest campgrounds, but not on rustic cabin sites.
- Statewide exceptions statewide rule
- Pets prohibited year-round at Dinosaur State Park and in the formal gardens and beach at Harkness Memorial State Park.
Are dogs allowed at Becket Hill State Park Reserve?
Pets on a leash are permitted in most Connecticut state parks and forests, but not in buildings, swimming areas or state park campgrounds. Individual parks can post stricter rules — check signage on arrival.
Rules verified July 2026 via portal.ct.gov. More: Connecticut state parks guide · Dog rules in all 50 states compared
Park Map
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