Barkhamsted (/bɑːrkˈhæmstɛd/ bark-HAM-sted) is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States.

The north end of West Hill Lake is located at the southern border of Barkhamsted.

Since voting predominantly Republican from 1956 through 1988, Barkhamsted has oscillated between the two major parties at the presidential level.

The town of Barkhamsted has one elementary school, in the village of Pleasant Valley.

Barkhamsted schoolchildren attend the Regional High/Middle School with students from three neighboring towns, New Hartford, Norfolk, and Colebrook.

The town employs one paid daytime driver/firefighter to assist the volunteers during normal work hours.

[15] Within the Barkhamsted Reservoir lie the foundations of Barkhamsted Hollow, the historic center of town that was purchased by the Metropolitan District Commission of Connecticut in the early 20th century to create a reservoir to serve the Hartford area.

This area was flooded following the construction of the Saville Dam on the East Branch of the Farmington River, and took eight years to fill.

Originally created to ensure the riparian rights of downstream mill owners, this lake now serves the recreational interests of the surrounding area with beaches, boating, and fishing.

It runs through the villages of Riverton and Pleasant Valley and hosts fishermen year-round in the catch-and-release section.