Bureau of Land Management National Park Service U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. Forest Service

Farmington River & Salmon Brook, Connecticut

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Managing Agency:

National Park Service, Northeast Regional Office


Designated Reach:

March 12, 2019. Multiple segments and tributaries are designated.

  • The main stem of the Farmington River beginning 0.2 miles below the tailrace of the Lower Collinsville Dam and extending to the site of the Spoonville Dam in Bloomfield and East Granby.
  • The main stem of the Farmington River extending from 0.5 miles below the Rainbow Dam to the confluence with the Connecticut River in Windsor.
  • The East Branch of Salmon Brook extending from the Massachusetts-Connecticut State line to the confluence with the West Branch of Salmon Brook.
  • The West Branch of Salmon Brook extending from its headwaters in Hartland, Connecticut, to its confluence with the East Branch of Salmon Brook.
  • The main stem of Salmon Brook extending from the confluence of the East and West Branches to the confluence with the Farmington River.


Classification/Mileage:

Recreational — 61.7 miles; Total — 61.7 miles.

Farmington River

Farmington River (Lower) & Salmon Brook

Located about halfway between New York City and Boston, the Farmington River is the largest tributary of the Connecticut River, and Salmon Brook is the largest, and arguably most important, tributary to the Farmington. Salmon Brook joins the Farmington River in the town of East Granby, Connecticut, about ten miles northwest of the city of Hartford. The Farmington River joins the Connecticut River in town of Windsor, Connecticut, 55 miles north of the Long Island Sound and 13.1 miles south of the Massachusetts state line.

The lower Farmington River and Salmon Brook support natural, cultural and recreational resources of exceptional significance to the citizens of Connecticut and the nation. There is strong local support for the protection of the rivers, including votes of support for wild and scenic designation from the governing bodies of all ten communities abutting the study area including Avon, Bloomfield, Burlington, Canton, East Granby, Farmington, Granby, Hartland, Simsbury and Windsor.

The river corridors boast a remarkable combination of varied geology; healthy forested watershed; excellent fishing and paddling areas; well-kept walking and biking trails; diverse communities of plants, wildlife, fish and aquatic invertebrates; rich agricultural soils; archaeological sites; historic towns and landmarks; and striking scenic views. The outstandingly remarkable values (ORVs) described in the management plan are geology, water quality, biological diversity, cultural landscape and recreation.