James L. Goodwin State Forest

Highlights

A polished woodland ride with conservation-center charm

Riding

The riding here suits riders who enjoy a calm, scenic pace with enough mileage to feel worthwhile. Expect wooded footing, water views, and a relaxed eastern-Connecticut atmosphere that works well for conditioned pleasure horses, first visits, and riders who want a softer, more composed outing.

Rideable terrain

14 miles

Trailer parking

Use the Potter Road / conservation-center side as your planning anchor. Parking is straightforward, but this is not promoted as a dedicated horse-camp staging area, so larger trailers should arrive with a map, a turnaround plan, and realistic expectations.

Horse regulations

Stay on posted multi-use and equestrian-appropriate routes and review the official trail map before riding out. Avoid any foot-only segments where posted, share the trail courteously, and keep your pace measured around hikers and other users.

Getting here

Arrive at Potter Road and let the conservation-center area set the tone for the day. This is a smoother, more organized kind of starting point, but it still pays to sort out your route before unloading so the first part of the ride feels easy rather than improvised.

Planning your visit

There are no horse rentals, and camping is limited to qualified youth groups rather than horse camping. Bring your own horse, check the latest map updates before departure, and wear high-visibility gear in fall when broader forest hunting seasons may be active.

Where to stay

There is no dedicated horse camping here, so Goodwin reads best as a polished day ride. The upside is that the conservation center, trails, and quiet rural setting make it easy to build out the day without needing a full horse-camp setup.