How Fall Colors Transform Candlewood Lake Into A Scenic Paradise

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been chasing the changing colors around Candlewood Lake and Squantz Pond — most of these shots were taken from our pontoon while the hills were on fire with fall color. A photo gallery of those moments waits below, but first, here’s the story behind the view.

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Candlewood Lake, soon to celebrate its 100th birthday in 2026, was born from an ambitious idea in the late 1920s. Connecticut Light & Power flooded five valleys — once home to farms and small villages — to create the state’s largest lake. What was designed for hydroelectric power became something far greater: a way of life, a playground, a muse for anyone with a camera and a heart for Connecticut’s seasons.

Just across the narrow causeway sits Squantz Pond, Candlewood’s quieter companion. Long before the dam, this was sacred ground to the Schaghticoke tribe. Legend says Chief Squantz once stood on the overlook that still bears his name, gazing across the same rolling hills that now erupt in gold and crimson each fall. It’s easy to imagine he admired the same beauty — the same calm before the cold. The following short video provides a brief history of Candlewood Lake.

This season, as the sunlight dances like sparks on the water, both Candlewood and Squantz become living postcards. The reds of Sherman, the golds of Brookfield, the deep russet reflections off the cove near New Fairfield — each view is a reminder that we live in one of the most beautiful corners of the state.

All photos below were taken by yours truly — about 75% of them from our pontoon boat, easily the best seat in the house when Candlewood decides to show off. The rest were captured from the shoreline and overlooks that frame this Connecticut gem.