Devil's Hopyard State Park

A close-up of Chapman Falls.

The waters of the Eight Mile River plunge more than 60 feet over Chapman Falls.

Fly fishermen work the Eight Mile River.

The explanations for the name "Devil's Hopyard" run quite a gamut, from ghouls reportedly seen among the hops vines to weekly dances, or hops, run by a man named Devlin. The explanations don't satisfy historians, but they do say something about the imaginations of New England's early settlers.

One tale interests both geology and history fans. At the base of 60-foot Chapman Falls are a number of perfect cylinders, called "potholes," bored into the stone by pebbles caught in eddying water. Early settlers speculated that the Devil was so angered by getting his tail wet in the falls that his hooves burned holes in the rock as he hopped around in distress.

There are more than 15 miles of hiking trails (mostly also suitable for mountain biking), which lead through a variety of terrains, from hemlock forest to marsh to river shore. One trail leads to a scenic vista; another extends outside the park to the town of Millington.

The park is used by cross-country skiers and snowshoers.

Picnic sites, accessible by car from Hopyard Road, are found along the Eight Mile River, which feeds Chapman Falls and is home to brook trout. Wheelchair-accessible fishing platforms are available.

A 21-site seasonal campground is located about 1,000 feet from the falls. Reservations are accepted.

The park is open from 8 a.m. to sunset daily year-round; the campground is open from the third weekend in April through Sept. 30.

A recreational alternative in East Haddam is Gillette Castle State Park, at 67 River Road, south of town. The park, which offers hiking, canoe camping, picnicking and fishing, is the site of a stone castle designed by actor William Gillette. Open for tours seasonally, the castle sits high on a cliff overlooking the Connecticut River.