Pinchot Sycamore Tree Park

Gotta give it 5 stars for being the biggest tree in CT, right?
You can see it 2 ways– either by driving down Route 185 and peering over the guardrail, or by seeing it up close and personal. Look closely at the guardrail near the tree and you’ll see the guardrail has an opening with a driveway in the middle of the opening. This runs down a hill and the tree is on your left. You’ll get some strange looks from the commuters lining up on 185 to see you peel off and seemingly drive off a cliff, or at least into the Farmington River.
There is a small meadow at the end of the driveway, so you can walk around and enjoy the scenery. There are 2 plaques in front of the tree that gives you the history of this awesome tree.
And yes, seeing it up close is very awesome indeed

So chances are… you have or have seen a Connecticut State Quarter. You know the ones that have individual pics on the back coordinating with each state? Well, the Connecticut one has a beautifully intricate sycamore tree on the back and… it’s not THIS one, it’s the Charter Oak but since that died over a 100 years ago (a marble monument is in it’s place) the Pinchot is now the «coolest» and «hippest» tree in all the land!
The Pinchot Sycamore can be found just northeast of the Route 185 Bridge… about 8.6 miles from Route 4 in Farmington and about 6.3 miles from the Old Farms Road bridge. Just look for a little turnoff at the end of the bridge on 185… you’ll find it!
The Gifford Pinchot Sycamore, the largest tree of its species in New England (tying with one in Bath, VA as the largest in the US!), stands apparently in honor of one of America’s leading advocates for environmental conservation. So fitting that we dedicated a «tree!» Anyway, Pinchot, who lived from 1865 to 1964, was a native of Simsbury and a long-​time friend of Theodore Roosevelt. When Teddy Roosevelt became President, he turned to Pinchot, first chief of the US Forest Service and President of American Forests, to outline a plan for the protection of the nation’s forest lands.
The tree was last measured in 1998 with a circumference of 26 feet, an a height of 95 feet and a canopy of 140 feet (the length of half a football field so you get the picture!) It’s pretty darn BIG to say the least… it’s the largest tree in Connecticut.
It’s a cool little spot off the highway… with the tree on one side, another, lesser known tree sits opposite, and further down the path you go, you’ll stumble into the Farmington River. Great place to take some scenic pics no matter the season…