Here’s your guide on where to go, launch, and rent gear for your Connecticut sea kayaking adventure.
Think about great sea kayaking destinations in New England, and your mind probably drifts to Maine’s jagged, rocky coast or the waters off Cape Cod. But on the northern shores of Long Island Sound, the Connecticut coast offers paddlers beautiful scenery, mellow waters, and interesting areas to explore.
Here’s what to know to plan your own sea kayaking adventures in Connecticut.
Marshes, Coves, and Beaches
Connecticut offers paddlers tons of variety. In a single day, kayakers can explore tidal creeks, cross open bays, and beach on a sandy spit.
One of the area’s best paddling spots are the Thimble Islands near Branford, Connecticut. The Thimble Islands feature more than 100 islands of various sizes, ranging from just a few feet wide to big enough for more than 30 houses. These islands are sure to appeal to a paddler’s sense of exploration and adventure, especially since the pirate Captain Kidd was rumored to have spent time here.
On the eastern side of the state, the charming town of Mystic offers kayakers a quintessential New England coastal experience. Kayakers can launch from Esker Point Beach or Bluff Point and paddle along the Mystic River or out into Fishers Island Sound. Along the way, you’ll pass historic schooners, working marinas, and stretches of untouched salt marsh teeming with wildlife.
Paddlers who want to connect with nature will love birdwatching from their kayaks near the mouth of the Connecticut River near Essex and Old Lyme. The area is a prime spot to view herons, egrets, and bald eagles, and the scenery along the shoreline is stunning.
Just offshore, paddlers will love exploring the Norwalk Islands. Kayakers can choose to spend several hours hopping from island to island, or they can do a longer day trip weaving through the entire chain of islands. However, paddlers here should pay attention to tides and boat traffic as it is a busy area of the Sound.
Where To Launch
Kayakers can find places to launch from all along the Connecticut coastline. One of the best places is Stonington Point, which offers paddlers great access to Fishers Island Sound and the nearby Barn Island Wildlife Management Area.
Launching from Meigs Point at Hammonasset Beach provides boaters with a wide, sandy launch into calm waters with nearby marshes to explore.
Paddlers who launch from the ramp near the Port Clinton Marina can kayak up the Indian River or out to the Menunketesuck Islands.
To explore the beautiful lower estuary of the Connecticut River, kayakers can launch from the Essex Boat Launch.
Connecticut Kayak Rentals
Kayakers in Connecticut can find plenty of places that will not only rent kayaks, lifejackets, and other necessary gear, but often also provide instruction, advice on where to go, and even offer guided trips.
In Mystic, paddlers can rent kayaks and paddleboards at Adventure Mystic, located along the Mystic River.
Black Hall Outfitters has locations in both Old Lyme and Westbrook. They offer rentals, guided sunset paddles and eco tours, camps, fish equipment, and more.
Indian River Marina and Kayak in Clinton offers kayak and paddleboard rentals, long-term rentals, and convenient access to the Indian River and Clinton Harbor.
In New Haven, paddlers can rent from Kingfisher Adventures. They also offer guided tours.
Based along the Saugatuck River in Westport, Sea Kayak Connecticut offers a wide range of rentals, including kayaks, paddleboards, and even pedal kayaks. They also offer guided on-water tours for all skill levels.
To explore the Thimble Islands, check out Thimble Island Kayak Rental in Branford. They rent kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards, and they offer delivery and pickup services in the area.
