Visit a sugar house in Litchfield County! Maple syrup is produced from the sap of maple trees, which is collected from late winter through early spring and processed in sugar houses located throughout Litchfield County.
Maple syrup is produced from the sap of maple trees, which is collected from late winter through early spring and processed in sugar houses located throughout Litchfield County. Many sugar houses are open to the public. You can view their boiling process and buy their maple syrup and products. To be sure sugar houses are in operation, always phone ahead. Some years are better than others. Looking for more fun winter activities for you and the family? Check out 30 Things to do in Litchfield County this Winter!
Anstett’s Sugar Farm The Anstett family welcomes you to tour their farm specializing in maple syrup for the past 30 years. Check the web site for hours and boiling times during the months of January through April. Hours are by appointment only during the off season, please call to schedule a time.
542 East Greenwoods Road Norfolk 860.542.5013
Brookside Farm II
Open for visits mid-February through March. Maple syrup sold year round. Please call ahead.
79 East Chestnut Hill Road Litchfield 860.567.3890
Brothers and Sons Sugarhouse
Open year round. Watch syrup being made during February and March. Free tours. Sugarhouse is accessible to the handicapped. Groups welcome. Call ahead.
998 Saw Mill Road Torrington 860.489.2719
Dutton’s Sugarhouse
Visitors may watch sap collection and syrup being made during February and March. Groups always welcome. Call ahead.
28 Sunny Ridge Road Washington 860.868.0345
Flanders Nature Center Maple Sugar House
Each year Flanders taps and collects sap from dozens of trees at the nature center and around town. They have a lovely sugar house which is open for tours.
Sugar House at Flanders Nature Center and Land Trust 5 Church Hill Road Woodbury 203.263.3711, ext. 12 www.flandersnaturecenter.org
Great Brook Sugarhouse
Operated by The Youth Agency, the Sugarhouse is open to the public and syrup is sold year round. Educational tours of the sugaring operation are available. Call for info and availability. Open house weekends, which include displays of early sugaring techniques, are held during March. Call ahead for dates and time.
140 Park Lane (Route 202) New Milford 860.354.0047
Hilljack Sugar Shack
Open 7 days a week 8:00am- 6:00pm. There are extended hours for sugaring season. Visitors are encouraged to stop by anytime. Free tours of facilities. School groups welcome. For tours larger than 7, please call ahead to schedule.
Open 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sunday. See syrup being made in mid-February to the end of March. Phone ahead. Maple syrup sold year round.
390 Norfolk Road (at Route 44) East Canaan 860.824.7529
Sullivan Farm
For the next 5 weeks, through the end of March, the staff and students will be tapping over 1600 trees and producing some of Connecticut’s finest Maple Syrup. Check out their Maple Fest March 14th-15th and March 21st-22nd.
140 Park Lane New Milford 860.354.0047
West Hill Sugarhouse
Maple syrup for sale year round. Sugarhouse open during the season. Small groups welcome. Call ahead.
525 West Hill Road New Hartford 860.379.9672
Woodbury Sugarshed
Sugarhouse open to the public. Saturdays and Sundays March only for maple syrup demonstration hours 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Open daily year round. Phone ahead.
In February 2026, Salisbury will mark a remarkable milestone, as Jumpfest celebrates its 100th
anniversary, honoring a century of ski jumping tradition at historic Satre Hill.
In February 2026, Salisbury will mark a remarkable milestone, as Jumpfest celebrates its 100th anniversary, honoring a century of ski jumping tradition at historic Satre Hill. Hosted by the Salisbury Winter Sports Association, Jumpfest is one of the oldest continuously running ski jumping competitions in the United States, and a cornerstone of winter life in the Northwest Corner.
The centennial Jumpfest weekend, scheduled for February 6 to 8, will feature the thrilling ski jumping competitions that spectators have come to love, along with longtime crowd favorites such as the Human Dog Sled Race and family-friendly festivities throughout the weekend. Athletes of all ages and abilities will take flight, continuing a legacy that began in 1926. Looking ahead, Jumpfest’s 100th year also signals meaningful investment in the future of the sport. Significant improvements are underway at Satre Hill, including the construction of a new K36 intermediate jump, upgrades to snowmaking capabilities, and enhanced lighting. These improvements will strengthen training opportunities for young athletes, improve safety, and elevate the overall spectator experience during events.\ Proceeds from Jumpfest support youth ski jumping and Nordic programs, ensuring the next generation can carry this tradition forward. As Salisbury celebrates 100 years of winter sports history, Jumpfest remains both a tribute to the past and a bold leap into the future.
—jumpfest.org
Bundle up in layers and head outdoors to enjoy all the fun outdoor activities that Litchfield County has to offer.
Litchfield County is your go-to for winter fun—ski, skate, sled, or sleigh!
The winters in Litchfield County may be cold but they can also be fun. Make the most of it! Bundle up in layers and head outdoors to enjoy all the fun outdoor activities that Litchfield County has to offer. From downhill skiing and snowboarding, to ice skating and sledding, from taking a sleigh ride, to tasting the naturally sweet goodness of maple sugar, we’ve made a list of outdoor activities for you to enjoy this winter. And for more winter fun, make sure to check out our list of 30 Things to do in Litchfield County this Winter.
Down-Hill Skiing, Snowboarding, and Tubing
Mohawk Mountain
Mohawk Mountain is the state’s oldest and largest ski area. The family owned and operated resort offers down-hill skiing and snow boarding, with 19 open ski trails, 5 ski lifts and snowmaking coverage on 95 percent of the mountain. Daily night skiing (except on Sundays).
Ski Sundown
Fifteen trails serviced by 5 lifts with one hundred percent snowmaking coverage offering varied terrain choices for skiers and snowboarders of all abilities. Day and night skiing and snowboarding from early December through late March. Full service rental and repair shop, snowsports shop, modern and spacious lodge with two self-service food courts, apres ski lounge and mountain view decks. Showsports School offers group and private lessons for ages 4 and up.
Black Rock Park
439-acre Black Rock offers a variety of outdoor activities. Steep, wooded ledges covered with pine, hemlock and oak provide the setting for Black Rock Pond. Winter activities include cross-country skiing and ice skating.
Route 6 Thomaston 860.677.1819
Burr Pond State Park
Burr Pond is the 343-acre site of Borden’s first condensed milk factory in the U.S. A scenic path encircles the 88-acre pond contained in the Park. Winter activities include cross-country skiing and ice skating.
Route 8 Torrington 860.482.1817
Dennis Hill
Dennis Hill, a 240 acre estate. A unique summit pavilion, located at an elevation of 1627 feet, is a popular attraction. Winter activities include cross-country skiing.
Route 272 south Norfolk
Drady Rink
Open weekday mornings for skating: Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesdays from 9 to 10:15 a.m., and Fridays from 9 to 11:15 a.m. through February. The fee is $5 per skater per session.
Canterbury School 101 Aspetuck Avenue New Milford
Hotchkiss School Rinks
Ice skating.
11 Interlaken Road Lakeville
Housatonic Meadows State Park
Located in the rock-strewn valley of the Housatonic River amid the rugged hills of the Northwestern uplands, the 451-acre Housatonic Meadows is an ideal setting. Limited cross-country skiing.
Route 7 Sharon 860.927.3238
John A. Minetto State Park
This 678-acre Park was once the location of the first house constructed in the Town of Winsted. The rolling, open land was formerly known as Hall Meadow after the adjacent Hall Brook. Winter activities include cross-country skiing and ice skating.
Route 272 Torrington
Linen Rink
Ice skating. Open to the public for family skates on Sundays from 4:45 to 7 p.m.
Gunnery School 99 Green Hill Road Washington
Macedonia Brook State Park
Macedonia Brook became the property of the State in 1918 through a gift from the White Memorial Foundation in Litchfield. Two peaks within the Park are near 1,400 feet in elevation and offer outstanding views of the Catskills and Taconic mountains. Winter activities include cross-country skiing.
159 Macedonia Brook Road Kent 860.927.3238
Mohawk Mountain State Forest
With rugged hills, deep forests, panoramic vistas and 30 miles of trails, Mohawk Mountain State Forest in Cornwall is the ideal place for snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. Explore the Mohawk Trail, once part of the Appalachian Trail. The trail leads to Mohawk Tower, which offers a breathtaking view of the rolling Litchfield Hills. The cross-country skiing trail is another option that offers a sampling of the mountain’s diverse landscape. Those in need of snowshoes can rent them at the nearby Housatonic River Outfitters, Inc. in Cornwall Bridge.
Mt. Tom State Park
Mt. Tom is one of the oldest parks in the state park system; it is named for the mountain within its boundaries. There is a stone tower on top of the mountain which is a favored destination among hikers. The summit of Mt. Tom is 1325 feet above sea level, 125 feet higher than its Massachusetts counterpart. The tower trail is about a mile long and rises some 500 feet. Winter activities include ice skating.
Rte. 202 Litchfield 860.424.3200
Nadal Rink
Ice skating.
Kent School Macedonia Road Kent
Norfolk Ice Skating Rink
Ice Skating.
23 Mountain Road Norfolk
Peoples State Forest
Along the Farmington River, this forest features hiking and cross-country ski trails. There are several tranquil trails here, including the Agnes Bowen Trail (Orange) which is a traditional 1930’s ski trail. Distance – 2.5 miles.
East River Road Barkhamsted 860.379.2469
Pratt Nature Center
A year-round resource where you can spend time enjoying the joys of nature in a carefully maintained environment. Miles of trails for snowshoeing are perfect for a family outing.
163 Papermill Road New Milford 860.355.3137
Lufkin Rink
They offer three family skates to the public each year. They also offer lessons to students and their siblings who wish to learn to glide across the ice.
Rumsey Hall 201 Romford Road Washington
Salisbury School Rink
Ice skating.
251 Canaan Road Salisbury
Topsmead
Topsmead is an English tudor mansion set on 511 acres. During the summer the house is open for tours. The grounds are open year-round and feature hiking, sledding, and cross country skiing.
Buell Road Litchfield 860.567.5694
White Memorial Foundation
The White Memorial has miles of trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. It is located in Litchfield on 4,000 acres, free and open to the public.
Yes, Ice boating. There are ice yachts and people who race around them when it’s safe on Bantam Lake. Read more about it here.
You will also find many people ice fishing on Bantam Lake. Before dropping your line into the icy waters, you must get a permit. Permits may be purchased at local town halls, tackle shops, or through the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s store.
Bantam Lake
At 947 acres, Bantam Lake sits as the largest natural body of water in the State of Connecticut. It is fed by Bantam River and Whittlesey Brook in the western part of the state. Fishing is excellent and there are more than an average of 20 annual bass fishing tournaments per year. Ice fishing is very popular here.
Bantam Lake, Morris
Lake Waramaug
Bass enthusiasts can head to Lake Waramaug in Kent, rated one of the state’s “Top Winter Bass Lakes” by New England Game & Fish magazine. Covering more than 656 acres, it is Connecticut’s second-largest natural lake. During the winter season, anglers can pursue largemouth and smallmouth bass, brown trout, chain pickerel and yellow perch.
Lake Waramaug, New Preston
The 25-acre property—like a Currier and Ives scene, with two ponds—has been in his family for five generations. Ken, a farrier, began running sleigh rides in 1972; they do more than 200 in a good season.
Loon Meadow Farm
Offerings include a two-passenger antique surrey sleigh (for couples) and the larger 10-passenger sleigh pulled by two horses. Winter sleigh rides are offered in antique sleighs complete with cozy lap robes, jingling sleigh bells and hot, mulled cider. Special accommodations for groups can be arranged.
Interlaken Inn
Interlaken Inn’s “Sleigh Ride Package” is available through most of the winter, and includes the sleigh ride, dinner, an overnight room and breakfast the next morning.
Interlaken Inn Resort and Conference Center 860.435.9878 800.222.2909 www.interlakeninn.com
Here in the Northwest Corner we are fortunate to have a myriad of things to do year-round. Even during the cold, dark days of winter Litchfield County offers up plenty of activities for everyone. Whether you’re a winter sport enthusiast or prefer to stay indoors on blustery days, check out this list for inspiration.
Even during the cold, dark days of winter Litchfield County offers up plenty of activities for everyone. Whether you’re a winter sport enthusiast or prefer to stay indoors on blustery days, check out this list of things to do for inspiration. And for more fun check out our list of sugar houses to visit for some home-made local maple syrup.
3. Go ice fishing at one of the many lakes or ponds. (Bantam Lake, Mount Tom Pond, Burr Pond and Saltwater Pond, Mohawk Pond, East Twin Lake, etc.) But please read about ice safety before you go.
5. Visit the Sharon Audubon Society in Sharon where you can explore their visitor’s center, learn about their wildlife rehabilitation clinic, and participate in programs and events.
9. Sample some delicious hard cider and purchase some local food stuffs at Hogan’s Cider Mill in Harwinton, which has been making cider since 1912. The second floor of their barn is also filled with quirky antiques to explore (not for purchase), including a phone booth from the 1800s.
15. Learn about Native American life in the Washington area during the 16th century at The Institute for American Indian Studies where you can visit a life-size replica of an Algonquin village with wigwams and longhouses constructed using traditional techniques. Try out their award-winning Wigwam Escape room.
20. As soon as Bantam Lake freezes with ice thick enough for sailing, enjoy the ice yachts flying across the surface on weekends and also some weekdays.
Photo by Philip Dutton
21. Check out your local library to find out what programs, events, and talks they are offering this winter.
25. Peruse Whiting Mills in Winsted. These old former mill buildings now house an eclectic mix of artists, craftspeople, retail shops, and small manufacturing companies who all offer their wares for sale.
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