Rocky Neck State Park, CT

700-acre Rocky Neck State Park features 1/2 mile of crescent-shaped sandy beach. Rocky Neck's varied terrain offers something for everyone. Clear waters and the stone-free beach with expanses of white sand make it ideal for swimming. Diverse trails within the park provide easy and interesting walks to the scenic salt marsh and to such points of interest as Baker's Cave, Tony's Nose and Shipyard. Picnickers enjoy the large stone pavilion. Bounded on the west by a tidal river and to the east by a broad salt marsh, Rocky Neck was known to both Indians and colonists as a place of abundant fish and wildlife, and today, the large marine estuary that bisects the park provides saltwater fishing opportunities, and high spring tides allow schools of alewives (herring) to swim into Bride Brook, toward inland spawning grounds. Osprey, cranes, and herons wade among cattails and rose mallow, and fishermen may catch mackerel, striped bass, blackfish, or flounder.

Located on Long Island Sound in the town of East Lyme, 710-acre Rocky Neck is a popular recreation spot. The public now enjoys use of the park because of a few farsighted conservationists who secured the land in 1931, using their personal funds until the State Legislature authorized its purchase. In the 1930's, relief agencies constructed the curved masonry building of native materials and crafted supporting pillars with wood cut from each of the state parks and forests.

There are 5 miles of hiking trails on the western side of the park, as well as ocean-side picnic areas. Other activities include a wildlife viewing platform, interpretive programs, scuba diving, saltwater swimming and fishing, cross-country skiing, mountain biking, rollerblading, and camping.

Rocky Neck Campground offers 160 sites in both open and wooded settings. The camping season begins in May and ends September 3. Additional park facilities include restrooms, food concessions, a reservable picnic shelter located at East Beach, picnic tables, restrooms, drinking water, paved and gravel parking,

Nearby attractions include Bluff Point State Park and Coastal Reserve, Devil's Hopyard State Park, Gillette Castle State Park, Haley Farm State Park, Hammonasset Beach State Park, and Harkness Memorial State Park.

Reservations must be made 1 Day(s) ahead of arrival and can be made up to 11 Month(s) in advance.

Season Schedule

• General Rules