Lake Zoar, Connecticut, USA

Also known as:  Zoar Lake

With more than 900 acres of boating and fishing waters bordered by shoreline vistas, southwestern Connecticut’s Lake Zoar is a great outdoor destination. Lake Zoar provides recreation areas with boat ramps, kayaking, swimming, canoeing, wildlife viewing, hiking trails, and picnic areas. The lake is long and narrow, stretching some 10 river-like miles with steep forested banks along most of its length. Rocky Glen is located at the…
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    • All About Lake Zoar, CT

    Lake Locations: USA - US New England Region - Connecticut - Litchfield Hills Region, CT -

    With more than 900 acres of boating and fishing waters bordered by shoreline vistas, southwestern Connecticut’s Lake Zoar is a great outdoor destination. Lake Zoar provides recreation areas with boat ramps, kayaking, swimming, canoeing, wildlife viewing, hiking trails, and picnic areas. The lake is long and narrow, stretching some 10 river-like miles with steep forested banks along most of its length. Rocky Glen is located at the northern end, and the Stevenson Dam defines the southern end. The roadbed across the top of the dam was originally used by horse and buggy, Model T’s, and now by 18 wheelers – a long lasting testament to the construction.

    Connecticut Light and Power created Lake Zoar by building Stevenson Dam to impound the Housatonic River below Shepaug Dam. The resulting reservoir was designed to generate hydroelectric power; FirstLight Power Resources now operates the dam. Construction of the dam and powerhouse was completed in 1919. At that point in time the dam was the epitome of the utility’s construction and, even today, it is a Connecticut marvel. The four units produce an output of 28,900 kilowatts for the operator. In 1919, Lake Zoar was Connecticut’s largest lake.

    Anglers enjoy Lake Zoar’s populations of largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, black crappie, yellow perch, chain pickerel, sunfish, and large bullhead catfish. Four boat launch ramps provide access. The State of Connecticut operates the Southbury boat launch ramp. The towns of Monroe, Newtown, and Oxford maintain fee-operated boat ramps. Two parks, Kettletown State Park and Jackson Cove Park, provide camping,fishing, hiking and picnicking. Jackson Cove Park offers a sandy swim beach.

    Lake Zoar is a popular destination for paddling, kayaking, and canoeing. The Housatonic Valley River Trail has been established to capitalize on that popularity (see link below). The area has an abundance of birdlife. For the geocachers among us, there are more than 200 caches within reach. Combine your birding, hiking and paddling with your geocaching for a great outing. The picturesque lake environs make for ideal conditions for nature enthusiasts and camera bugs.

    The Zoar Trail is a 7-mile Blue-Blazed hiking trail in Paugussett State Forest that follows the shore of Lake Zoar. One of four side trails follows Prydden Brook to Prydden Falls which cascades over moss-covered rocks into Lake Zoar.

    For those interested in touring the area in their auto, there is the Valley Heritage Driving Tour (see the link below). With pictures and descriptions of historical landmarks, the Tour makes for a very interesting and educational trip.

    Visitors to southwestern Connecticut should make Lake Zoar one of the top places to stop, relax and enjoy the outdoors.

    Reference: A Fisheries Guide to Lakes and Ponds of Connecticut, published by the Department of Environmental Protection, Hartford, Connecticut, 2002

    Things to Do at Lake Zoar

    These are some activities in the Lake Zoar, CT area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Boating
    • Swimming
    • Beach
    • Canoeing
    • Kayaking
    • Camping
    • Picnicking
    • Hiking
    • Horseback Riding
    • Wildlife Viewing
    • Birding
    • State Park
    • State Forest

    What Kind of Fish Are in Lake Zoar?

    Lake Zoar has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Bass
    • Black Bass
    • Black Crappie
    • Bullhead Catfish
    • Catfish
    • Chain Pickerel
    • Crappie
    • Largemouth Bass
    • Perch
    • Pickerel
    • Pike
    • Smallmouth Bass
    • Sunfish
    • Yellow Perch
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    Find Places to Stay at Lake Zoar

    If you’re considering a Lake Zoar lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

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    More Sites to Book a Lake Zoar Vacation

    Our interactive Lake Zoar lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Lake Zoar Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Artificial Reservoir, Dammed

    Water Level Control: FirstLight Power Resources

    Surface Area: 909 acres

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 189 feet

    Average Depth: 29 feet

    Maximum Depth: 72 feet

    Water Volume: 26,361 acre-feet

    Completion Year: 1919

    Drainage Area: 1,541 sq. miles

    Trophic State: Eutrophic

    Lake Zoar Map
    Local Weather Forecast
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