Hello All,
I’m on the move again…this time to Connecticut possibly. Could you recommend some of the top spots for scenic kayaking in the New Haven area. My husband is a beginner so salt marshes and flat water are best. Thanks!
Welcome
(At least potentially) to the Nutmeg State. Mainly paddle the Sound; there are some wonderful trips like the Thimble and Norwalk Islands, etc. Contact the Connyak club (www.connyak.org). They have numerous suggestions and group paddles scheduled for all ability levels. Another month and things will thaw here…
Mark
Thimble Islands
off stony brook (a little east of new haven), looks like maine; and selden creek just North of Essex on the Ct. river is also a very pretty and quiet spot. Black Hall river in old lyme is also nice(right on the sound.)
Lots of possibilities
In addition to the ones listed above, there’s also the Mystic River, where you can paddle up to the tall ships at Mystic Seaport, There’s Barn Island in Stonington, where you can paddle Little Narragansett Bay, and up the Pawcatuck River to Westerly, RI.
Let’s see, the entire lower CT river is nice, with a lot of creeks and back rivers off it, Bluff Point Park in Groton has a good sized bay, and you can paddle upstream a bit. There is a decent variety of protected salt water. Go to www.connyak.org to find a list of launch sites.
And for fresh water, there are a few good-sized lakes, but that’s highly dependent on where you live.
Wayne
Take rt. 8
– Last Updated: Feb-27-07 11:21 AM EST –
north up to thomaston, then rt 109/63 left at arethusa farm will get you up to the Bantam river, another very pretty flatwater area. Loads of beaver, couple of bald eagles last spring, occasional deer, mink, lots of herons. I paddle this after work or real early weekends as it gets crowded.The lake is fairly quiet and at 900 acres, is the states largest natural lake.Camping here too at pt. folly.
http://travel.webshots.com/album/554399636RScSwv?start=0
Former Rhode Islander
I know exactly where you are talking about. It was off the Wickford area in Rhode Island where I first Kayak when I was 14, it was the beginning of a beautiful relationship.
Check out these links
http://www.lisrc.uconn.edu/coastalaccess/index.asp
http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2707&Q=323846&depNav_GID=1642&depNav=|
They are for lakes and ponds and the ct shore.
Oh yeah
If you live in the eastern part of the state, RI is not far away, and the paddling is great. Places like Wickford Harbor, URI Bay Campus launch, Jamestown town landing, and East Greenwich Harbor all offer near-shore protected and semi-protected paddling.