Gillette Castle State Park The trails at Gillette Castle State Park vary in difficulty, offeringhiking through wooded grounds along the former bed of a miniature train. A 1.5-mile trail follows the converted railroad path and winds through the park over footbridges and trestles and through an aband oned 75-foot train tunnel. Another trail leads to the wreckage of the Aunt Polly, Gillette’s houseboat destroyed by fire in 1932 (best viewing is during low tide). The park featuresscenic views of the Connecticut River and picnicking spots, along with a trail leading down to the river where you can catch the historic Chester-Hadlyme ferry from April through November. The 14,000-square-foot stone castle was built in 1914 by William Gillette, the actor most famous for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes, making this a unique combination of nature and historical architecture on a184-acre woodland property.