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American Legion/Austin Hawes Campground
Overview
Experience the rugged beauty of the Litchfield Hills at the American Legion State Forest, specifically within the Austin Hawes Campground. This destination offers a tranquil retreat for travelers looking to disconnect and immerse themselves in a lush, forested environment. Situated along the west bank of the Farmington River, the park provides a classic New England camping experience where the sound of flowing water and the rustle of hemlocks set a peaceful pace for your stay.
Location & Surroundings
Located in the town of Barkhamsted, CT, the park is nestled within a region known for its dramatic topography and pristine water resources. The campground is surrounded by the Wild and Scenic Farmington River, which is a centerpiece for local recreation. The immediate area is characterized by dense woodlands and steep ridges, providing a sense of seclusion despite being easily accessible from major Connecticut thoroughfares. The surrounding Peoples State Forest, located just across the river, complements the landscape with even more protected acreage to explore.
Amenities & Park Features
This is a traditional, rustic campground featuring approximately 30 sites that cater to smaller RVs and trailers. While the park does not offer individual hookups for water or electricity, it provides essential facilities including a dump station and centrally located bathhouses equipped with flushing toilets and hot showers. Each site is outfitted with a picnic table and a fire ring, encouraging outdoor cooking and evening gatherings under the stars. The park's layout is designed to prioritize the natural landscape over modern development, ensuring a genuine woodland atmosphere.
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
The primary draw for visitors is the exceptional trout fishing and river activities. The Farmington River is renowned for its fly fishing opportunities and is a popular spot for tubing and kayaking during the summer months. Just a short drive away, the Saville Dam offers one of the most photographed views in Connecticut, overlooking the expansive Barkhamsted Reservoir. For hikers, the area boasts over 20 miles of trails, including the popular Agnes Bowen Trail, which showcases the region’s diverse flora and historical stone walls.
Who This Park Is Best For
Austin Hawes Campground is ideal for self-contained RVers and nature enthusiasts who prefer a quiet, low-tech environment over a busy resort setting. It is a fantastic choice for anglers and paddlers who want immediate access to the river. Because the sites are somewhat smaller and lack hookups, it is best suited for those in camper vans, teardrops, or small travel trailers who enjoy a boondocking-style experience with the added convenience of on-site restrooms and showers.
Amenities
- Recreational Facilities
- Policies
- Other Amenities & Services
- Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles)
- Facility
- Hunting Nearby (within 20 miles)
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
User Reviews
nia 0412
Great campground. Well maintained and nice, helpful staff. Stayed many times over the summer and would return. No hookups but potable water throughout the site and generators allowed except during quiet hours. Each spot comes with a fire pit and picnic table. Depending on where you are, there might be some car noise from the nearby road. People were respectful of quiet hour. There are definitely bears roaming around so keep your food contained within your vehicle. Leashed pets allowed.
Stephanie Danner
I love this campground. We visit multiple times a year. If you have small children this may not be for you. Older kids will have fun I think. If you appreciate nature, quiet camping (tree separated camping spots, trails and just pure relaxation this place is for you. They also have fishing spots, including one large one made of concrete for those who enjoy that activity. 5 star.
B. Gonggrijp
Great campground with lots of privacy and nice in the Forrest. You do need to pick a spot that is not close to the road as the campground is just next to a road that is relatively busy so can be noisy if you have one of the spots closest to it. Great hikes in the area.
SAM DUCHARME
Camped here recently and loved it! The staff were friendly and helpful, the sites were large and well-spaced and the area has lots of places to explore and fish. The bathrooms could use a repaint but they were campground-clean (also, they hadn’t turned the hot water on yet). The site and proximity of the river outweighs my negative comments about the restrooms and I hold firm on 5 stars.
jeffrey french
Great place. Enjoyed black bear activity, kept me on my feet. Best rangers you can ask for. See you on 4/22- 4/24
Amber Lavallee
I really love a quiet, heavily wooded, small campground with large, private sites and that is EXACTLY what you get here. Sites on the lake are lovely, but sites by the road seem noisy and lousy imo. I was at site 18 and it was honestly perfect! This was the quietest campground I've stayed at all year. Not much for kids, but I think it's lovely for people who want a relaxing getaway in the woods. Wood to buy on site, but that's about it. The water is off now but should be back on today or tomorrow they said; that did not impact my stay. Loved it!
debi mangi
Loved this camp site. Fewer spots means fewer people...😉 Bathrooms were great-3 toilet stalls and 2 warm showers with plenty of space. Bathrooms were freshly cleaned each AM. 4 stars only because we couldn't hear or see the river from our spot. Nothing at camp to do but relax, walk paths, or bike, walk down to swift river which is great. If you want more to do we went to other spots for swimming or kayaking. Camping spots larger and flat with nice trails. River was swift and we went to other close by locations for playing in the river.
Kelley Delaney
Really enjoyed the site. Staff was helpful. Plenty of space between sites. Clean and stocked facilities.
Jeff Nickel
Great campground. We (my son's, brother in law, nephews) have been coming here since 2016. Great location on the Farmington river. We kayak and fish the area lakes. Lots of space and privacy between sites. Cabins have electric. Staff is always pleasant and bathrooms are clean. My only issue is that the bathrooms need de-cobwebbing and a scraping and painting on the interior masonry.
Adina Wolf
The camp sites are nice and wooded with the river right beside. If you’re looking to fly fish; this is an ideal location (lots of anglers in the river). However, the camp office closes at 6pm, so if you have an issue (like another group taking your registered campsite - which happened to us), you have to call an emergency number which isn’t meant to receive calls like this. Or, if there is a group that is playing loud music until 5:30am (which also happened), there is no one around to monitor. You also can’t buy firewood and ice after 6. Additionally, presumably since there aren’t staff after hours, the restrooms aren’t kept up (nor was the overflowing trash). Also, the public water spigots weren’t working in the camp loop, which wasn’t told to us - the road is also right next to the loop. We still enjoyed the forest and river, but I wish I knew some of these things about the vibe of the camp!