Top 15 Fun Activities in Watertown, CT

In the rolling hills of the Western Highlands, Watertown is a north-western suburb of the city of Waterbury.

Watertown’s appeal lies in its abundant open space, culminating in elevated rocky ledges that provide views reminiscent of 19th-century landscape art.

Within the two state forests situated in Watertown, visitors will find Blue-Blazed walking trails, ponds, public swimming areas, caves, and waterfalls.

Additionally, this undulating countryside hosts the public Crestbrook Golf Course, which features elevation changes that challenge even skilled professionals.

Downtown Waterbury is easily accessible from Watertown and offers a variety of restaurants, an elegant Renaissance Revival theater, and the culturally rich Mattatuck Museum.

1. Hawk Ridge Winery

Source: Hawk Ridge Winery / facebook

The vineyards at this winery were established in the 2010s, yet they are already producing grapes for several notable wines.

Hawk Ridge is positioned on elevated ground, providing romantic vistas of the Litchfield Hills, with its name derived from the hawks that soar above.

During my visit, a considerable selection of wines was available, including reds, whites, rosés, ports/dessert wines, sparkling wines, and delightful wine slushies.

The spacious tasting room, featuring a Douglas fir post and beam ceiling along with a black walnut bar, was constructed in 2017 and welcomes visitors seven days a week.

Tastings are priced at $15 per individual and include six wines of your selecting, in addition to a commemorative wine glass to take home.

The dining establishment at Hawk Ridge offers a tempting Italian-inspired menu featuring small plates and shareable options. Furthermore, live music is a staple on weekends.

2. Black Rock State Park

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This expansive 444-acre park, located in the northern part of Watertown, showcases extraordinary natural beauty and is the former site of a graphite mine that was first operated in the mid-17th century.

The park’s centerpiece is Black Rock Pond, which serves as a venue for swimming and fishing during the summer months, bordered by towering rocky ledges adorned with hemlock pines and oaks.

The name “Black Rock” originates from the dark contour of one such cliff. From this vantage point, one can enjoy stunning views over the Naugatuck Valley toward Thomaston, in addition to expansive sights of Watertown and the city of Waterbury to the southeast.

Visitors can explore the park via the lengthy Mattatuck Trail, which will be detailed further below, and there is a campground with 78 sites available during the summer season.

3. Waterbury

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Brass City, located on the doorstep of Waterbury, offers a cultural experience one would expect from one of the ten largest urban centers in New England.

The Mattatuck Museum is a must-visit, showcasing over 300 years of European history particular to the Waterbury area. The museum houses an impressive collection of artworks by renowned artists such as Alexander Calder, John Frederick Kensett, Erastus Salisbury Field, and Yves Tanguy.

Notably, the city’s main museum features an extensive button collection, comprising 15,000 pieces that were originally gathered by the now-defunct Button Museum.

Waterbury’s jewel is the Palace Theater, an exquisitely restored live entertainment venue that opened in 1922 and underwent a $30 million restoration in 2004.

4. Fascia’s Chocolates

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With a history of crafting handmade candies for roughly 60 years, Fascia’s Chocolates has become a prominent chocolatier. Despite its commercial achievements, the company maintains a commitment to producing confections in small quantities at its factory and shop located to the east of Watertown’s Oakville section.

The factory hosts a “Make-a-Bar” workshop during school breaks, as well as a comprehensive hour-long “Chocolate Experience”.

During the latter experience, participants will trace the journey of chocolate from bean to bar and beyond, partake in tasting sessions, and observe demonstrations. Additionally, a remote-controlled camera provides a view of the factory floor.

Afterward, visitors can explore the store, where I found the irresistible gelato offered by Fascia’s, available in an extensive array of delightful flavors.

5. Mattatuck State Forest

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For those seeking a hike in the rugged wilderness surrounding Watertown, the Mattatuck State Forest is an excellent choice. Encompassing almost 4,700 acres distributed among 20 parcels of land, it was established in the early 20th century, rehabilitating land compromised by the brass industry in the Naugatuck Valley.

Many portions of the forest are interconnected by the Mattatuck Trail, a Blue-Blazed path stretching 36 miles in length.

In Watertown, the trail runs alongside Connecticut Route 8 and continues to Bidwell Hill Road, leading into Black Rock State Park.

Further south, in Watertown’s Oakville section, you can access the Jericho Trail, which meanders through a stunning area of the state forest for 3.5 miles.

The southern trailhead and parking area are located on Echo Lake Road, while the northern terminus aligns with the intersection of the Leatherman Cave Trail (part of the Mattatuck Trail), which I will detail next.

6. Leatherman Cave Trail

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This approximately two-mile out-and-back hiking trail is particularly delightful in spring and summer, when wildflowers adorn the path.

A good pair of hiking shoes is recommended due to the significant elevation change of nearly 660 feet.

The Leatherman Cave Trail represents a portion of the 36-mile, Blue-Blazed Mattatuck Trail. This ascent is richly rewarded with breathtaking vistas from Crane’s Lookout and the historically significant cave.

The Leatherman, who lived between 1839 and 1889, was a vagabond, believed to be of French-Canadian descent.

Dressed in handmade leather attire, he traversed the same 365-mile circuit annually between Western Connecticut and Eastern New York, using rock shelters along his journey, including the one on this trail.

Watertown’s Leatherman Cave is known to be one of the places where he resided, and remnants of the fire pit he utilized can still be discerned.

7. Nonnewaug Falls

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Located along the border of Woodbury and Bethlehem, this gentle one-mile trail leads through fields and woodlands to a picturesque waterfall.

Boasting a height of 11.5 feet as a horsetail waterfall below a 6.5-foot fan, Nonnewaug Falls may not be large, but it presents a photographer’s paradise with mature deciduous trees and mossy rocks framing the river.

Both the falls and the East Nonnewaug River are named after a Native American chief, Nonnewaug, who is interred in the forest nearby.

To experience the falls at their best, it is advisable to visit following a substantial rainfall.

8. Brass Works Brewing Company

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Situated directly across the Naugatuck River from Watertown, Brass Works Brewing Company is a craft brewery that draws on over 30 years of brewing experience.

Brothers Michael and David Ieronimo began their brewing journey in their mother’s kitchen as teenagers in the late 1980s and transitioned their garage hobby into a full-fledged brewery in 2015.

At the time of my visit, the taproom featured 16 draught beers, including a variety of IPAs, several lagers, two stouts, three porters, and three flavorful ales.

The taproom operates from Thursday to Sunday, and an outdoor terrace regularly hosts food trucks, offering culinary delights such as BBQ, New England-style seafood, burgers, and pizza.

9. Whitestone Cliffs Trail

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This looping Blue-Blazed trail, established by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association, is named for the tall stone cliffs that exhibit a white hue when viewed from Connecticut Route 8 and the Naugatuck River.

The majority of the path traverses the Mattatuck State Forest, comprising several connecting spurs that extend south toward Route 262, east to the trail’s parking area, and west to the Naugatuck River, passing under Route 8.

The most picturesque section of my hike involved a peak rising 750 feet, offering expansive vistas.

10. Bantam Lake

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The largest natural lake in Connecticut is conveniently located within an easy drive to the northwest in Litchfield.

At 947 acres, Bantam Lake is particularly lively during the summer months, drawing families to its two public beaches at Sandy Beach and Morris Town Beach.

These sites are perfect for swimming, sunbathing, picnicking, outdoor grilling, and engaging in various water sports.

Additionally, Bantam Lake is home to America’s oldest water ski club, the Bantam Lake Ski Club, established in 1958.

The northern shores of the lake are preserved by the White Memorial Foundation, serving as a critical habitat for local bird species.

11. Bantam Cinema

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Continuing past the lake, you will discover a significant piece of entertainment history housed within a red barn: the Bantam Cinema, recognized as the oldest operating movie theater in Connecticut.

Originally opened as the Rivoli Theatre in 1927, this establishment utilized projectors purchased from Winfield Scott Rogers, Chairman of the Bantam Ball Bearing Company, who had been screening complimentary movies for his employees since 1918.

The Bantam Cinema has since upgraded to modern sound and projection systems and screens critically acclaimed international films that are typically not featured in multiplexes.

One aspect that particularly impressed me was the organic popcorn, generously topped with real butter.

12. Bellamy-Ferriday House and Garden

Source: Bellamy-Ferriday House and Garden / facebook

This charming property in neighboring Bethlehem, dating back to 1760, narrates the stories of two fascinating historical figures.

The first is Congregationalist minister Joseph Bellamy (1719-1790), a key figure in the First Great Awakening, a series of religious revivals in Britain and its colonies during the mid-18th century.

Much later, the house became the home of actor and philanthropist Carolyn Ferriday (1902-1990), who played a significant role in exposing the Nazi experimentation on Polish women at the Ravensbrück concentration camp.

Her family purchased the estate in 1912, redesigned the exterior, and established a formal parterre garden, with Ferriday herself responsible for cultivating the beautiful rose and lilac collections.

Upon her passing, Carolyn bequeathed the entire property, along with its furnishings, to Connecticut Landmarks. During my visit, the house and gardens were accessible for 90-minute guided tours, available Thursday through Sunday.

13. Flanders Nature Center

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The Flanders Land Trust oversees more than 2,100 acres of open space across seven preserves located in Woodbury, Bethel, Southbury, and Middlebury.

The main office is situated a short distance west in Bethlehem at the Van Fleck Farm & Nature Sanctuary, which hosts exhibitions, diverse educational programs, and workshops for both adults and children.

Visitors are greeted by a collection of aesthetically pleasing buildings spread across a large area at the intersection of Church Hill Road and Flanders Road.

At the 19th-century North Barn, guests can find a variety of farm animals and exhibits reflecting rural traditions in New England.

The Buz Russell Museum of Antique Tools and Farm Life features an extensive array of farming implement displays and toys gathered by a dedicated Bethlehem resident. Additionally, the Studio, established in 1928, offers lectures, meetings, art classes, and nature-related programs.

The Sugar House, located off Church Hill Road, is home to Flanders’ annual maple sugaring program, and inside, visitors can explore exhibits related to the habitats and wildlife found in the Flanders nature preserves.

14. Crestbrook Park Golf Course

Source: Crestbrook Golf Course / facebook

The former private nine-hole course was acquired by the town of Watertown in 1975 and subsequently expanded to an 18-hole layout by the 1980s.

Crestbrook Park Golf Course is frequently recognized as one of the premier municipal courses in Connecticut, lauded for its quick greens and sloping fairways that can surprise even experienced golfers.

The course is meticulously maintained, featuring a five-acre practice facility, a fully-stocked pro shop, and a highly regarded 19th hole at the Sunset Grille.

At the time of writing, green fees for non-residents were below $50 during both weekdays and weekends.

15. Old Burying Ground

Situated opposite the new Starbucks at the intersection of Main Street and French Street, this cemetery dates back approximately 300 years.

The walls are low, allowing easy access, although gravestone rubbings are strictly prohibited.

The oldest grave belongs to one Hannah Richards Scovill, who passed away in 1741, while the most recent burial is that of Martha Beardsly from 1938.

Visitors can take their time exploring the aged gravestones and their intricate carvings, though it may feel unsettling to realize there are many more unmarked burials beneath this ground.

By the mid-19th century, the soil at the Old Burying Ground became too hard to penetrate, prompting the establishment of the Evergreen Cemetery on North Street.