East Lyme, CT, USA - panoramio (2).jpg
Idawriter · CC BY-SA 3.0

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

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

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 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. 0.2 miBear left, heading S.
  4. 0.4 miTurn right, heading E.
  5. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  6. 0.2 miPass Rocky Neck State Park Beach.
  7. 350 ftBear right, heading S.
  8. 300 ftTurn left, heading S.
  9. 250 ftPass Rocky Neck State Beach.
  10. 150 ftSharp left, heading S.
  11. 50 ftPass Rocky Neck State Park Beach.
  12. 450 ftTurn left, heading S.
  13. 0.3 miTurn left, heading E.
  14. 50 ftPass Rocky Neck State Park Beach.
  15. 50 ftReach Rocky Neck State Beach, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  16. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  17. 0.3 miTurn right, heading W.
  18. 450 ftSharp right, heading W.
  19. 350 ftTurn right, heading W.
  20. 300 ftBear left, heading N.
  21. 0.3 miBear left, heading N.
  22. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  23. 0.4 miBear right, heading N.
  24. 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
  25. 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

Sunrise 5:48 AMSunset 8:04 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.0 mi in (~25 min). Leave by 7:19 PM for the 8:04 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:45 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