Natchaug River
Encyclopedia
The Natchaug River is a 17.9 miles (28.8 km) river in Windham
and Tolland Counties in Connecticut.
The Natchaug River is formed in Eastford, Connecticut
at the confluence of Bigelow Brook and the Still River. It then flows to the south, paralleling Connecticut Route 198
. The river also runs along (and in a few cases through) the western border of the main Natchaug State Forest
parcel. Where the river briefly passes through Natchaug State Forest, locals can have picnics along the river, and enjoy white-water rafting through the abundant rapids and swimming in the river's clean water. This spot becomes very crowded at certain times of the year. After passing through this area, the Natchaug River begins flowing in a more southwesterly direction, still paralleling Connecticut Route 198
. The river enters the town of Chaplin
, and eventually passes under Route 198. Diana's Pool, another popular swimming hole for locals, lies on the Natchaug River just before this point. The river then continues to flow to the southwest, entering Windham
, and paralleling U.S. Route 6
. It finally flows into the Mansfield Hollow Lake
near the Windham Airport
. The Natchaug River then flows out of the Mansfield Hollow Reservoir through the Mansfield Hollow Dam, now carrying the waters of the Mount Hope River and the Fenton River, which also flow into the Mansfield Hollow Reservoir. After leaving the reservoir, the Natchaug River forms the border between the towns of Mansfield
and Windham
, and also the border between Windham County
and Tolland County. It then flows in and out of the Willimantic Reservoir, which is used for drinking water purposes and not for recreational use, passes under the U.S. Route 6 expressway, and enters Willimantic. The river passes under Connecticut Route 66, and then Connecticut Route 14, before it joins the Willimantic River
, forming the Shetucket River
.
Windham County, Connecticut
Windham County is a county located in the northeastern corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut. As of 2010, the population was 118,428.The entire county is within the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor, as designated by the National Park Service.-History:Windham...
and Tolland Counties in Connecticut.
The Natchaug River is formed in Eastford, Connecticut
Eastford, Connecticut
Eastford is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 1,618 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water....
at the confluence of Bigelow Brook and the Still River. It then flows to the south, paralleling Connecticut Route 198
Connecticut Route 198
Route 198 is a state highway in northeastern Connecticut, running from Chaplin to the Massachusetts state line in Woodstock.-Route description:...
. The river also runs along (and in a few cases through) the western border of the main Natchaug State Forest
Natchaug State Forest
Natchaug State Forest, in Ashford, Connecticut, Chaplin, Connecticut and Eastford, Connecticut is a Connecticut State Forest. It's are part of a larger network of forest lands making up some in all...
parcel. Where the river briefly passes through Natchaug State Forest, locals can have picnics along the river, and enjoy white-water rafting through the abundant rapids and swimming in the river's clean water. This spot becomes very crowded at certain times of the year. After passing through this area, the Natchaug River begins flowing in a more southwesterly direction, still paralleling Connecticut Route 198
Connecticut Route 198
Route 198 is a state highway in northeastern Connecticut, running from Chaplin to the Massachusetts state line in Woodstock.-Route description:...
. The river enters the town of Chaplin
Chaplin, Connecticut
Chaplin is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The town was named for Deacon Benjamin Chaplin, an early settler. The population was 2,305 at the 2010 census.-Points of interest:* The Chaplin Museum is a local historical museum....
, and eventually passes under Route 198. Diana's Pool, another popular swimming hole for locals, lies on the Natchaug River just before this point. The river then continues to flow to the southwest, entering Windham
Windham, Connecticut
Windham is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. It contains the city of Willimantic and the villages of Windham Center, North Windham, and South Windham. The city of Willimantic was consolidated with the town in 1983...
, and paralleling U.S. Route 6
U.S. Route 6
U.S. Route 6 , also called the Grand Army of the Republic Highway, a name that honors an American Civil War veterans association, is a main route of the U.S. Highway system, running east-northeast from Bishop, California to Provincetown, Massachusetts. Until 1964, it continued south from Bishop to...
. It finally flows into the Mansfield Hollow Lake
Mansfield Hollow Lake
Mansfield Hollow Lake is a reservoir resting on the border of Windham County and Tolland County, Connecticut. It was created by the Mansfield Hollow Dam and is entirely contained within Mansfield Hollow State Park. Designed and constructed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, this dam...
near the Windham Airport
Windham Airport
Windham Airport is a public airport located three miles northeast of the central business district of Willimantic, a city in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. It is owned by the Connecticut Department of Transportation ....
. The Natchaug River then flows out of the Mansfield Hollow Reservoir through the Mansfield Hollow Dam, now carrying the waters of the Mount Hope River and the Fenton River, which also flow into the Mansfield Hollow Reservoir. After leaving the reservoir, the Natchaug River forms the border between the towns of Mansfield
Mansfield, Connecticut
Mansfield is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 20,720 at the 2000 census.Mansfield was incorporated in October 1702 from the Town of Windham, in Hartford County. When Windham County was formed on 12 May 1726, Mansfield then became part of that county...
and Windham
Windham, Connecticut
Windham is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. It contains the city of Willimantic and the villages of Windham Center, North Windham, and South Windham. The city of Willimantic was consolidated with the town in 1983...
, and also the border between Windham County
Windham County, Connecticut
Windham County is a county located in the northeastern corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut. As of 2010, the population was 118,428.The entire county is within the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor, as designated by the National Park Service.-History:Windham...
and Tolland County. It then flows in and out of the Willimantic Reservoir, which is used for drinking water purposes and not for recreational use, passes under the U.S. Route 6 expressway, and enters Willimantic. The river passes under Connecticut Route 66, and then Connecticut Route 14, before it joins the Willimantic River
Willimantic River
The Willimantic River is a tributary of the Shetucket River, approximately 25 mi long in northeastern Connecticut in the New England region of the United States....
, forming the Shetucket River
Shetucket River
The Shetucket River is a tributary of the Thames River, long, in eastern Connecticut in the United States.It is formed at Willimantic by the junction of the Willimantic and Natchaug rivers. It flows southeast and south...
.