MIDDLEBURY, Conn. -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood risk management and recreation area at Hop Brook Lake in Middlebury, Connecticut, will reopen on Aug. 15. The site has been closed since Aug. 4 as a result of high wind damage that happened from Tropical Storm Isaias.
While the majority of the damage that occurred in the main recreation area has been removed, trail areas remain heavily impacted. Numerous trees remain down across trails. There are overhead hazards, such as hanging limbs, across the trails too. Trail access is very limited and any trail use should be done by using extreme caution. Visitors should take note of their surroundings, including ground and overhead, to avoid any hazards. Visitors should refrain from using areas that are blocked off.
One waterborne restroom at the beach area is open for use from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. All other restrooms will remain closed due to continued loss of power at the site. Visitors needing to use a restroom should plan to use the bathroom located at the beach or one of the two portable toilets located in the Upper End parking area just below the entrance.
The Off Season parking lot will remain open for visitors use during and after Park hours. Park hours continue to be 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily.
Please note park facilities such as water fountains, beach swimming area and group picnic shelter areas continue to be closed. These COVID-19 restrictions are still in place as part of the re-opening phases in accordance with the Corps, state of Connecticut, and Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) policies and procedures.
For any questions please contact the Hop Brook Lake Project Office (203) 729-8840.
For further details and up-to-the-minute news before visiting the dam, please visit either our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/HopBrookLake/ or website at https://www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/Hop-Brook-Lake/.
Release no. 20-068