City: Salem, CT

Category: Tours & Attractions

Telephone: (860) 526-2336

Description: Named for the local Gardner family, this natural lake on the border of Salem and Montville has been raised 4 feet by a 168-foot earthen dam, bringing the surface area to 528 acres. With an average depth of 14 feet, it is perfect for all sorts of boating activities. If you’re there between sunset and 8 a.m., don’t go over 6 mph, but otherwise you can water-ski to your heart’s delight. The lake is stocked with a nice population of walleye, bullhead, and catfish if you’d like to fish. The best fishing is around Minnie Island, where the water is deepest. Incidentally, this heavily wooded island is technically a state park, Connecticut’s smallest. Gardner Lake State Park is on the southern end and has a nice beach, though not much else. To get to the boat launch, take the turn off Route 354, and continue past the park entrance to a large turnaround and ramp at the lake. There’s enough room for 54 vehicles here.