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Norwalk Islands, Conn. The Norwalk Islands are a splendid retreat just 40 miles from downtown Manhattan, whose skyscrapers are visible from the top of the Sheffield Island Lighthouse. The chain of a dozen islands stretches for 6 miles beyond Norwalk Harbor. Three of them—Chimon, Goose, and most of Sheffield—are part of the Stewart B. McKinney Wildlife Refuge and provide sanctuary to an impressive number of waders and shorebirds, including the endangered roseate tern. (Chimon is restricted April 1 through August 15 because of nesting birds.) Three of the islands provide overnight camping: Cockenoe, owned by the town of Westport, and Shea and Grassy islands, owned by the town of Norwalk. A handy resource for planning a trip to this area is the South Western Regional Planning Agency Kayak Trail Map posted on the bulletin board at Calf Pasture Beach, in Norwalk, and available at www.swrpa.org/projects. A good day route starts at Calf Pasture Beach and skirts Chimon Island’s wildlife sanctuary, Grassy and Shea islands’ campsites, and several private islands. Take a snack or lunch break on Sheffield, then work your way back. You can also land at the Sheffield Island Lighthouse, built in 1868, open as a museum for a small fee. The paddle to the nearest islands from Calf Pasture (Grassy and Chimon islands) is about one mile, AMC Connecticut Chapter trip leader Robert White explains. “This is a channel crossing and I would not recommend canoes or recreational kayaks,” he says. “We would require a sea kayak with flotation and a skirt. Paddlers should have basic paddling skills, be comfortable with a wet exit, and have participated in assisted reentries.” Connecticut Chapter leader Jean Trapani says the Norwalk Islands are her favorite place to paddle in Connecticut “because it is legal to land on some of them, and inside their shelter, you can rest. And they are not so heavily developed.” Assateague National Seashore, Virginia and Maryland Assateague is a magnificent, 35-mile barrier island stretching over Maryland and Virginia. Perhaps best known for its wild ponies memorialized in Marguerite Henry’s Misty of Chincoteague, the island is still occupied by its equine residents, now protected, and they may wander by your tent. Four backcountry campsites, available on a first-come basis on the day of departure, are accessible on the Chincoteague Bay side of the island and part of the Assateague Island National Seashore. Pick up your camping permits at the National Seashore Entrance Station and put in at Ferry Landing. It’s 9 miles to Green Run from here, which is a good goal for your first night out, or you can make day trips to Tingles (2 miles) or Pine Tree (5 miles) from the launch site. You will be paddling on the bay side of the island, behind the barrier beach, so it is somewhat sheltered and easy for a beginner but it can get fairly windy. (The ocean side provides rougher water and surf for more experienced and adventurous paddlers.) Chincoteague Bay is peppered with many small, unnamed, low-lying marsh islands through which you can paddle. To the left, the dunes of Assateague and an occasional pony will define the horizon. To the right will be the mainland’s low relief. Because the bay is so shallow, kayaks and canoes frequent it more than motorized crafts, providing you with a quiet, serene saltwater world to enjoy. No matter what journeys you take this summer, be sure to check tide and weather reports and nautical maps so that you choose a good course for your ability level. You may also want to read nature or history guides about the area in advance or take them with you to better understand what you pass by.
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Reid State Park, Maine. Photo by D. Corbin.
