Some of our favorite summer activities involve swimming/wading and playing in the sand. I’ve discovered that spending a morning or afternoon at the lake perfectly combines the positives of a pool (swimming with floaties and pool toys/water guns) with the pluses of a beach (sand!) without the salt water and the waves/tides. In our experience, aquatic lake life is generally limited to small fish, snails and water bugs (still so fun to catch!), the rocks are less mossy and there’s no seaweed to navigate with baby feet. It’s like a natural zero entry pool that allows my little guy (20 months) to ease into the water without dealing with large concrete steps. Having spent a few summers at local pools and beaches, I can confidently say that I, as a parent, feel much more relaxed at the lake. Here’s a run down of all you need to know in order to visit some of the lakes here in Fairfield County!
Brookfield (link), 100 Pocono Road (Access to Candlewood Lake)
Hours: 10:30-6:30 weekdays, 11-6:30 Saturdays, 12-6 Sundays
“Guests may enter the Town Beach when accompanied by a Brookfield resident. The daily fee is $5.00 per guest. Brookfield residents may also pay the daily fee of $5.00 per person at the gate in lieu of purchasing season passes.”
Fairfield
Lake Mohegan, 960 Morehouse Highway (link)
Hours: 10-6
Season pass: $10, Non-resident pass $20 (Per resident above age 2). May be purchased at the Recreation office, 75 Mill Plain Road, between 8:30-4:30. Or, you can purchase a daily pass at the lake gate. Fees:
| Lake Mohegan Daily Rates Adult Weekday (ages 18 +) Child Weekday (ages 3-17) Adult Weekend & Holiday Child Weekend & Holiday Infants – 2 yrs |
Resident $8.00 $4.00 $10.00 $6.00 No Charge |
Non-Resident $15.00 $8.00 $18.00 $12.00 No Charge |
Monroe
Great Hollow Lake (link), Purdy Hill Road
Summer Hours: 7am-sunset (lake side)/10pm (poolside)
Day pass per vehicle: $5 (resident) and $10 (non-resident)
Bonus: Concession stand that takes credit cards.
New Fairfield
Squantz Pond (part of Candlewood Lake) (link) [DEEP State Park]
Summer Hours: Lifeguarded 10-6.
Daily Parking Fee: $9 (weekday), $13 (weekend). You can also purchase a pass for $67 that allows you to enter other state parks and recreation sites.
For more info about Squantz Pond as well as Lake Waramug (Kent/Litchfield County) see Jessica’s post from last summer.
New Canaan
Kiwanis Park, Old Norwalk Road (link)
Summer Hours: 11-7 weekends, 9-7 weekdays.
Seasonal Resident pass: $50
Daily Guest pass: $5/person must be accompanied by a resident pass holder
Redding
Topstone Park/Steichens Pond, 72 Topstone Road (link)
Summer Hours: 10-8 (through 7/31), 10-7:30 (through 8/14), 10-7 (through 8/31)
Season passes purchased at Rec Center: Family – $120 (resident), $240 (non-resident)
Daily gate passes: Adult $5 (resident), $10 (non-resident) and $2/$5 after 5:00pm.
Bonuses: FREE boat rentals (kayak, canoe, etc.) with entry. There’s also hiking trails (no entry fee required) and a small dog park with sloped access to the lake (just bring a towel!).
Ridgefield
Martin Park, 19 Great Pond Road (link)
Summer Hours: 10-7
Family Season Pass: $168 (resident) / $250 (non-resident)
Daily Pass: $15/pp (resident)/$20/pp (non-resident)
Bonuses: Inflatable waterslide for 3-5 year olds and a large zoom flume for those 42″ tall who are able to swim without a flotation device and a water mat that is open certain hours. (Schedule)
Wilton
Merwin Meadows, 180 School Road
Hours: 9-7
Family Season Pass: $60 (resident)/$120 (non-resident)
Daily Pass: $5 (resident adult), $2 (resident child), $10 (non-resident adult), $5 (non-resident child)
What’s your favorite Fairfield County lake?
