AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Rocky Neck SP Beach Niantic CT.jpg
Morrowlong · CC BY-SA 4.0
Rocky Neck State Park

Lands End–Rocky Neck State Park Viewpoint, 4 beaches

2.5 mi · ▲ 179 ft · 55 min

Lands End–Rocky Neck State Park Viewpoint, 4 beaches is a 2.5-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, Rocky Neck State Park Beach and Lands End before reaching Rocky Neck State Park Viewpoint at the turnaround, 1.2 miles in. It is mostly level, with 179 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 15/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi7 – 105 ft3.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Old Route 156 41.31454, -72.25020
Nearest town South Lyme, CT
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Lands End–Rocky Neck State Park Viewpoint, 4 beaches

2.5 mi · ▲ 179 ft · 55 min

Elevation 5–105 ft

Out & Back · Rocky Neck State Park

Trailhead: Old Route 156 · 41.31454, -72.25020

Weather Aug 4: sunrise 5:48 AM · sunset 8:04 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
  3. 450 ftTurn left, heading N.
  4. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SE.
  5. 350 ftTurn right, heading S.
  6. 150 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  7. 0.2 miBear right, heading S.
  8. 0.2 miPass Rocky Neck State Park Beach.
  9. 350 ftBear right, heading S.
  10. 350 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  11. 250 ftPass Rocky Neck State Beach.
  12. 150 ftSharp left, heading S.
  13. 50 ftPass Rocky Neck State Park Beach.
  14. 450 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  15. 450 ftBear left, heading E.
  16. 200 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  17. 150 ftPass Rocky Neck State Park Viewpoint.
  18. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  19. 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
  20. 150 ftReach Lands End, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  21. 150 ftBear right, heading SW.
  22. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  23. 200 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  24. 200 ftBear right, heading W.
  25. 450 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  26. 450 ftSharp right, heading SW.
  27. 350 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  28. 300 ftBear left, heading SE.
  29. 0.3 miBear left, heading SW.
  30. 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
  31. 150 ftTurn left, heading N.
  32. 350 ftTurn left, heading N.
  33. 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
  34. 450 ftBear right, heading N.
  35. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/rocky-neck-state-beach-rocky-neck-state-park-beach-out-back-5-beaches-3-km

Trail surface

71% dirt3% paved26% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 5:48 AMSunset 8:04 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.9 mi in (~23 min). Leave by 7:21 PM for the 8:04 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:44 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Old Route 156 Trailhead

Hikes near South Lyme, Connecticut