Housatonic River in Connecticut

Trip Overview

My darling and I wanted to try the the river near its merge with the ocean. There is a small, concrete boat ramp right under I-95 in Milford and it is not very pretty.

If you go here, it is best to do so a couple hours before high tide and either head south to the swamp(mostly mud at low tide) or north if you want to see the spooky, closed power plant. The currents are a little hard in the middle, but gentle near the sides.

We found it was good practice for alternating currents and winds as we wait for the much calmer sound waters to warm a little more.

There boats docked on both sides of the river, fisherman on the rocks and we saw a pair of swans swim by heading to the swamps about a mile down.

For beginners, this area will be a bit scary - that is why it would be best right before high tide when the current is at its slowest.

We were heading to the Nells Island swamps south of Bridgeport avenue, but about 1000 yards past the underpass of Bridgeport avenue the currents were getting stronger and my girlfriend became uneasy so we returned.

There is a cartop ramp into the swamps which is useless at low tide and we'll be trying that one next.

Accommodations:

Parking for about 20, a concrete boat ramp, A portalet and that's all.

Directions:

Second right south of the underneath of I-95 off of Naugatuck Ave in Milford, CT.