Upper Quiet Corner Region

The Upper Quiet Corner occupies the northeastern corner of Connecticut along the Massachusetts and Rhode Island borders, where the state becomes noticeably more rural and wooded. The region is characterized by forests, farmland, small villages, lakes, rivers and historic mill communities, with very little of the suburban or urban development found elsewhere in Connecticut. Visitors will find hiking, fishing, paddling, scenic drives, historic sites, farms, small-town downtowns and a slower pace that makes this one of the state's strongest areas for getting away from the busier parts of Connecticut.

Towns Included:

Ashford, Eastford, Killingly, Pomfret, Putnam, Thompson, Union, Woodstock

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The Main Cities Of This Region Are:

There are no cities in the Upper Quiet Corner. Putnam is the region's most prominent town center and has the strongest concentration of restaurants, antique shops, galleries, small businesses and cultural activity, but it retains the character of a small New England mill town rather than functioning as a city.

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Major regional draws

Historic Mill Towns & Heritage

• Putnam Historic Downtown

• Roseland Cottage

• Thompson Historical Society & Museum

• Palmer-Warner House

• Eastford Historical Society

Rivers, Lakes & Water Recreation

• Quinebaug River

• Natchaug River

• Quaddick Reservoir

• Mashapaug Lake

Parks, Forests & Outdoor Recreation

• Bigelow Hollow State Park

• Nipmuck State Forest

• Natchaug State Forest

• West Thompson Lake

• Quaddick State Park

• Mashamoquet Brook State Park

• Wolf Den State Park

Unique Attractions & Family Destinations

• Woodstock Fair

• Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret

• Putnam Saturday Antiques Market & Antique District

• Waterfire in Putnam

• Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park

Farms, Countryside & Scenic Landscapes

• Woodstock Orchards & Farm Country

• Buena Vista Farm

• The Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor

• Air Line State Park Trail

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Meet Adoptable Senior CT Shelter Dogs

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The Main Highways In This Region Are:

• I-395 is the principal limited-access highway serving the eastern side of the Upper Quiet Corner. It passes through Killingly and Putnam, providing the region's major north-south connection toward Norwich and New London to the south and Worcester, Massachusetts to the north.

• Route 12 is the principal surface route paralleling I-395 through the eastern portion of the region, running through Killingly and Putnam and continuing north toward the Massachusetts border. It serves several of the region's historic mill communities and provides access to businesses and local roads that are bypassed by the interstate.

The Main Routes In This Region Are:

• U.S. Route 44: The major east-west route across the northern portion of the region, passing through Pomfret and Putnam and connecting northeastern Connecticut with Hartford and Massachusetts.

• Route 12: One of the principal north-south routes through Killingly and Putnam, closely paralleling I-395 through much of the region.

• Route 101: Runs through Killingly and Pomfret, providing an important east-west connection between the communities around Putnam and the northeastern Connecticut interior.

• Route 21: Serves Killingly and the surrounding northeastern Connecticut countryside, providing a connection toward the Massachusetts border.

• Route 44: The state's continuation of U.S. 44 through portions of the region and an important cross-state route connecting the rural communities of the Quiet Corner.

• Route 169: A scenic north-south route through Woodstock and Pomfret, known for its historic houses, stone walls, farms and remarkably intact rural landscape. It is one of the best roads in the region for experiencing traditional northeastern Connecticut scenery.

• Route 171: Runs through Woodstock and Thompson, connecting rural communities along the northern edge of the region.

• Route 198: Runs through Eastford and Woodstock, providing a north-south connection through the western portion of the region.

• Route 197: Serves Woodstock and Putnam, providing an important east-west connection through the northern Quiet Corner.

• Route 89: Runs through Woodstock, connecting the town's rural interior with neighboring communities.

• Route 190: Serves Union and the northern part of the region, providing a connection toward Stafford Springs and Massachusetts.

• Route 198: One of the principal roads through Eastford, connecting the town with the surrounding forest and rural communities.

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To the North of this region is Massachusetts

To the East is Rhode Island

To the South is the “Lower Quiet Corner” Region

To the West is the “North Central East” Region

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