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Connecticut Water Trails
Program
Connecticut Coastal Paddling
New London County
Old Lyme
Great Island Estuary and the Great Island Wildlife Management Area
Site Location:
Smith Neck Road, Old Lyme, Connecticut
Basic Information:
Type:
Salt Marsh
Water Type:
Saltwater
Season:
Site Contact Information:
Connecticut Department Of
Wildlife
CT Department of Environmental Protection
79 Elm Street
Hartford,
Connecticut 06106-5127
Site Coordinates:
Longitude
72.332917 ºW
Latitude
41.288166 ºN
Location Map:
USGS Quadrangle:
Old Lyme
Navigational Charts:
Driving Directions:
Route 156, south to end of Smith Neck Road
and Great Island Wildlife Area.
From the East: Take I-95 South to Exit 70. At the end of the exit ramp, turn left onto Lyme Street and proceed .8 miles. Next, turn right onto Ferry Road, and continue 0.3 miles. Turn left onto Route 156 and proceed 1.3 miles. Turn right onto Smith Neck Road and follow .7 miles (to its end). Parking is available in the Great Island State Boat Launch parking lot.
From the West: Take I-95 North to Exit 70. At the end of the exit ramp, turn right onto Route 156/Shore Road and continue 1.7 miles. Next, turn right onto Smith Neck Road, and proceed .7 miles (to its end). Parking is available in the Great Island State Boat Launch parking lot.
Directions Map:
Google Map
Boat Launch Information:
Great Island Boat Launch
ADA Access:
Site Description:
This site, accessible only by canoe or kayak, provides visitors with
birding, fishing, and crabbing opportunities within one of Connecticut's
largest brackish marshes. Visitors can launch their boats at the nearby
Great Island State Boat Launch to access this site. Visitors MUST NOT
physically access the marsh, although they may explore the creeks within
the marsh in non-motorized vessels. Motorized boats are not allowed within
this sensitive marsh that provides critical habitat to waterbirds who feed
and breed here. Please observe posted signs regarding osprey nesting.
Information about canoe and kayak "trails" is available at the
Connecticut River Estuary Regional Planning Agency
Environment:
Salt Marsh
Additional Info:
Great Island Wildlife Management Area
Inter coastal waterways,
Lieutenant River,
Black Hall River
& open water to Long Island Sound &
Connecticut River
Paddling
Great Island Estuary
USGS Quadrangle:
Old Lyme
Type of Water:
Saltwater Estuary and Marshland
Paddle Length:
504 acres
USGS Real Time Water Data / Gauge:
NA
Portage:
None
Put In:
Great Island Boat Launch
Google Map
Google Map 2
Longitude
72°19'26.36"W Latitude
41°17'14.95"N
Take Out:
Same As Put-In
Or
Take Out:
Lieutenant River Boat Launch
Google Map
Longitude
72°20'13.74"W
Latitude
41°18'49.71"N
On The Water:
This is a shallow saltwater
estuary. Please watch for and obey signs warning about protected nesting
areas. This is a great area to explore.
You can also paddle to and
explore
Griswold Point,
Blackhall River,
Duck River,
or the
Lieutenant River.
Cautions:
Site History:
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