Connecticut Water Trails Program

Paddling Trails

Connecticut River Hadlyme-Chester Ferry Landing - Hamburg Cove

USGS Quadrangle:

Type of Water: Tidal River

Paddle Length: 9.5 miles

USGS Real Time Water Data / Gauge :

Portage:

Put In One: Hadlyme Ferry Boat Launch

Google Map

Longitude 72°25'42.51"W   Latitude 41°25'13.00"N

Take Out One: Hamburg Cove - Cove Road Hamburg Yacht Club

Google Map

Longitude:  72.22228 W Latitude: 41.22314 N

Take Out Two: Essex Town Dock

Google Map

Longitude 72.38542099999999 W  Latitude 41.35086 N

On The Water:

Once you launch and head down the river you'll be able to explore three coves and a river.

First you'll come to the mouth of Whalebone Cove (Longitude: 72.25394 W Latitude: 41.25051 N ) where you will see a large navigation tower and light.. Turn into the cove right before the navigation tower.

The cove is about a mile long starting out as a wide river leading into a marsh. The marsh then has several side alley's which lead to dead ends.

If you want to paddle Whalebone Creek which is in the channel farthest to the east of the cove you'll have to portage over a beaver dam.

Once you leave Whalebone Creek turn left and head down to Selden Cove entrance Longitude 72.25149 W  Latitude 41.24308 N which is about a mile down. The cove is part of Selden Neck State Park. It has a camping area as well as Selden Creek (entrance Longitude 72.24534 W  Latitude 41.24350 N) which flows behind Selden Island.

To keep away  from boat traffic Selden Creek (entrance Longitude 72.24534 W  Latitude 41.24350 N) is you best bet - which flows behind Selden Neck State park / Island.

You enter the creek south side of Selden Cove through what looks like a marsh. Once you make your way through the small marsh - the creek opens up. As you enter the creek you'll pass a house with a dock on your left - once you pass the house you are in Selden Neck State Park. The first half mile heads south with several small inlets and streams to explore along the way. The creek then turns left and you'll see a cabin on the left bank. You'll float another 1/2 mile before you hit the Selden Creek exit back into the Connecticut River Longitude 72.23410 W  Latitude 41.23220 N.

Once you leave Selden  Creek it's less than two miles to Hamburg Cove entrance Longitude 72.22228 W  Latitude 41.22314 N. You'll be on the Connecticut River itself for this part of the trip to Hamburg Cove - which can be rough. Stay close to the left bank at a distance of 100 feet from the bank as you make your way down.

If you want to take a side trip before Hamburg Cove - one mile down on your left is the entrance to Joshua Creek.

It's a left hand turn into Hamburg Cove. the cove goes in for about a 2.5 miles long. One mile in you will begin to find several channels to explore. If you make it to the end of the cove  - you can paddle under the bridge and explore 1/4 mile of Eight Mile River.

To take out in Hamburg paddle 1 mile east of where you came in - you'll hit a narrow cove which takes you to the Hamburg Yacht Club - where there is  a small dirt ramp to the right of the club.

To get back to the Connecticut River paddle back out the entrance and turn left. Once you get to Brockway Island it's best to paddle straight across the Connecticut River to the right and then down the right side of the river about a mile and 1/4 to North Cove entrance Longitude 72.25394 W  Latitude 41.25051 N and then once in the cove head west to the take out in Essex which is to the right of the boatyard.

Cautions:

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