Boating

Boating in Connecticut

Where can I paddle in Connecticut? Looking to kayak or paddleboard/SUP?

The Rivers Alliance currently has a complete map of launches with 412 launches, their interface leaves a little something to be desired but definitely use them as a resource as I continue to work on this page.

Quick Links:

Work in progress below with at least 125 rivers in Connecticut and many more lakes and ponds aiming to strike a balance between most boat-able/popular and complete.

Major Rivers: 

Major Bodies of Water:

  • Candlewood Lake
  • Squantz Pond
  • Bantam Lake
  • Lake Zoar

[expand title=”Rivers – Alphabetical    |expand|” tag=”h3″]

  • Green Fall River
  • Mystic River
  • Pawcatuck River
  • Poquonock River
  • Shunock River
  • Thames River
  • Wood River

[/expand]

[expand title=”Rivers – By Drainage Basin    |expand|” tag=”h3″]

       Block Island Sound

    • Pawcatuck River
      • Shunock River
      • Green Fall River
      • Wood River

    Long Island Sound

    • Mystic River
    • Poquonock River
    • Thames River
      • Oxoboxo River
      • Shetucket River
        • Quinebaug River
          • Pachaug River
          • Blackwell Brook
          • Moosup River
          • Five Mile River
          • Little River (Quinebaug River tributary)
          • French River
        • Little River (Shetucket River tributary)
        • Merrick Brook
          • Beaver Brook
        • Natchaug River
          • Mount Hope River
            • Fenton River
          • Bigelow Brook
          • Still River (Natchaug River tributary)
        • Willimantic River
          • Tenmile River
          • Hop River
            • Skungamaug River
      • Yantic River
    • Niantic River
    • Pattagansett River
    • Fourmile River
    • Threemile River
    • Black Hall River
    Connecticut River watershed
    • Connecticut River
      • Back River
      • Lieutenant River
      • Falls River
      • Eightmile River
      • Deep River
      • Salmon River
        • Moodus River
        • Blackledge River
        • Jeremy River
      • Sumner Brook
        • Pameacha Creek
      • Mattabesset River
        • Coginchaug River
      • Hockanum River
      • Park River – also known as Hog River and Little River
        • North Branch Park River
        • South Branch Park River
      • Podunk River
      • Farmington River
        • Pequabu River
          • Pequabuck River
        • Nepaug River
          • Poland River
        • East Branch Farmington River
          • Hubbard River
        • West Branch Farmington River
          • Still River
            • Mad River
      • Scantic River
        • Watchaug River
    • Patchogue River
    • Menunketesuck River
    • Indian River (Clinton)
    • Hammonasset River
    • Neck River
    • East River
    • West River (Guilford)
    • Branford River
    • Farm River
    Rivers of New Haven
    • Quinnipiac River
      • Muddy River
      • Tenmile River
      • Eightmile River
    • Mill River
    • West River
      • Sargent River
    • Cove River
    • Oyster River
    • Indian River (Milford)
    • Wepawaug River
    Housatonic River watershed
    • Housatonic River
      • Farmill River
      • Naugatuck River
        • Mad River
      • Halfway River
      • Pomperaug River
        • Nonnewaug River
        • Weekeepeemee River
      • Pootatuck River
      • Shepaug River
        • Bantam River
        • Marshepaug River
      • Still River
      • West Aspetuck River
        • East Aspetuck River
      • Rocky River
      • Ten Mile River
      • Hollenbeck River
      • Blackberry River
        • Whiting River
      • Konkapot River
    • Pequonnock River
    • Ash Creek
      • Rooster River
    • Mill River
    • Saugatuck River
      • West Branch Saugatuck River
      • Aspetuck River
      • Little River
    • Norwalk River
      • Silvermine River
    Rippowam River
    • Fivemile River
    • Noroton River
    • Rippowam River
    • Mianus River
    • Byram River [/expand]

Manship Park

★☆☆☆☆

50 Lovell Ln, Canterbury, CT

Robert Manship Park Canterbury Town Park 8 acres in Canterbury, CT Parking: Small lots near 50 Lovell Ln, Canterbury, CT Trail Map      Trails: 0.3 miles …

Legend Wood

★★★☆☆

41.489036, -71.876836

Legend Wood / Wyassup Lake Connecticut State Forest / Blue Blaze Trail in North Stonington, CT Parking: West End: Small lot at Wyassup Boat Launch East End:…

Halls Pond

★★★☆☆

92 Kennerson Rd, Eastford, CT, USA

Halls Pond Connecticut State Boat Launch 1.5 acres in Eastford, CT Parking: Small lot and shoulder parking near 92 Kennerson Rd, Eastford, CT Boat Launch Map   …

Beach Pond

★★★☆☆

41.584222, -71.805990

Beach Pond Connecticut State Forest / CFPA Blue Blaze Trail 400 acres in Voluntown, CT Parking: Large lot on North Shore Rd Voluntown, CT Trail Map   …

Morey Pond Boat Launch

★★☆☆☆

41.970439, -72.194359

Morey Pond Boat Launch Connecticut State Water Access 44 acres in Union, CT Parking: Down the road near 723 Buckley Hwy Union, CT Trail Map     …

Crystal Pond Park

★★★☆☆

41.913346, -72.095686

Crystal Pond Park Eastford and Woodstock Community Park 120 acres in Eastford and Woodstock, CT Parking: Large lot near 305 Crystal Pond Road, Woodstock, CT Trail Map        Trails:… Read more…

West Thompson Lake

★★★☆☆

41.952254, -71.904027

West Thompson Lake and Dam U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 1,763.5 acres in Thompson, CT Parking: West side (hiking) of the dam small lot Parking Link East… Read more…

Fisherman’s Walk Trail

★☆☆☆☆

42.010085, -71.941494

Fisherman’s Walk Trail / Fabyan Boat Launch Thompson Town Park 8 acres in Thompson, CT Parking: Small lot near 622 Fabyan Rd, North Grosvenor Dale, CT Trail…

Nye-Holman State Forest

★★☆☆☆

41.881992, -72.307428

Nye-Holman State Forest Connecticut State Forest 818 acres in Tolland, CT Parking: River Access/Walking – Small lot near on Tolland Stage Rd  Archery/Camping – Medium lot near… Read more…

Babcock Pond

★☆☆☆☆

653 Middletown Rd, Colchester, CT, USA

Babcock Pond WMA Connecticut Wildlife Management Area 1,524 acres in Colchester, CT Parking: Boat launch: Small lot near 653 Middletown Rd, Colchester, CT Trails: Small lot near…