Rocky Neck State Beach & Rocky Neck State Park Beach is a 2.8-mile out-and-back in Rocky Neck State Park near South Lyme, CT. The route passes Rocky Neck State Park Beach, Rocky Neck State Beach and Rocky Neck State Park Beach before reaching Rocky Neck State Park Beach at the turnaround, 1.4 miles in. It is mostly level, with 200 ft of elevation gain. It scores 18/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi3 – 112 ft · steepest grade: 19%3.2 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Old Route 156 41.31454, -72.25020
Nearest town South Lyme, CT
Directions
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Rocky Neck State Beach & Rocky Neck State Park Beach
2.8 mi · ▲ 200 ft · 1 hr 2 min
Elevation 4–113 ft
Out & Back · Rocky Neck State Park
Trailhead: Old Route 156 · 41.31454, -72.25020
Weather Sep 20: Rain, high 65°F / low 60° · precip 85% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:35 AM · sunset 6:52 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftBear right, heading E.
- 0.2 miPass Rocky Neck State Park Beach.
- 350 ftBear right, heading S.
- 300 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 250 ftPass Rocky Neck State Beach.
- 150 ftSharp left, heading S.
- 50 ftPass Rocky Neck State Park Beach.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftPass Rocky Neck State Park Beach.
- 50 ftReach Rocky Neck State Beach, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading W.
- 450 ftSharp right, heading W.
- 350 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 300 ftBear left, heading N.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 0.4 miBear right, heading N.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
- 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
57% dirt23% boardwalk3% paved17% unspecified
Weather
RainTemperature 65°F60°
Precip85%Wind5 mphUV1Humidity92%
Rained 0.7″ 7 days ago
Hourly temperatureRain chance
70°55°
Sunrise 6:35 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 6:52 PM
Mon
69°58°
26%
Tue
66°50°
29%
Wed
67°48°
Thu
67°46°
22%
Fri
62°52°
37%
Sat
60°53°
36%
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.0 mi in (~25 min). Leave by 6:07 PM for the 6:52 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:33 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Old Route 156 Trailhead
- Lands End–Rocky Neck State Park Viewpoint, 4 beaches 2.5 mi · ▲ 179 ft
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