Housatonic River in Connecticut

Trip Overview

Put in at the state launch off of Naugatuck ave. under the I-95 bridge and traveled South/downstream under the route 1 bridge to the salt marsh area at the mouth of the river. A distance of about 3/4 miles. This area is a maze of waterways that is a lot of fun to explore.

Lots of birds including blue herons, egrets, sand pipers, ducks, cormorants and blackbirds. At low tide the muddy shores are covered with hundreds of tiny snails. This marsh is subject to a 4-5 foot difference between high and low tide so plan accordingly. High tide will allow you to get into many more of the waterways, but visiting at dead low tide lets you make use of the tidal current both to and from the launch.

If you travel all the way through the marsh there is a sandy beach at the mouth of the river. On the Stratford side, this is a public beach and there are porta-toilets and the real bathrooms are open in season. Upstream from the launch there are other marshy island that are fun to paddle through but there seems to be less of an abundance of wildlife there.

Accommodations:

None that I noticed

Fees:

No

Directions:

I-95 north or south to exit 34 turn right off the end of the ramp. about 1/2 mile turn right onto Naugatuck Ave. State launch is about 1/4 mile on the left under the I-95 bridge. Large parking lot. Parking is only a problem on the nicest of days through the summer.