Leashed dog walking with its owner on a woodland trail

Dogs at Rocky Neck

Yes, but only in part of the park. Leashed dogs are welcome in Rocky Neck's picnic area and on the hiking trails north of the train tracks. From May 1 to October 1, pets are not allowed on the beach, the boardwalk or in the campground south of the tracks, and the campground does not allow pets at all.

At a Glance

Dog Rules at a Glance

Picnic area & hiking trailsYes, on leash (north of the train tracks)

Beach & boardwalkNo pets May 1 – October 1

CampgroundNo pets

Picnic shelterNo pets

LeashRequired everywhere dogs are allowed

Niantic Bay BoardwalkNo dogs at any time (town rule)

The Railroad Is the Line

DEEP splits the park's pet rules at the Amtrak tracks that run along the back of the beach:

North of the tracks (the picnic area and the trail network): dogs allowed on a leash.
South of the tracks (the beach, the boardwalk, the campground) from May 1 to October 1: no pets.

The picnic shelter is also off limits to pets. Service animals are handled under federal disability law; check with the park office, (860) 739-5471, if you have questions.

Narrow dirt trail through oak thicket with a glimpse of water

Walking a Dog on the Trails

The five-mile trail network is all north of the tracks and is open to leashed dogs year-round. The Rocky Neck Loop (2.5 miles) and its spurs pass through oak thicket, along the Bride Brook salt marsh and out to Tony's Nose above the Four Mile River. Bring water for the dog; DEEP's map shows bathrooms near the beach and in the campground but no water points on the trails. See hiking and the trail map.

Can Dogs Go on the Beach in the Off-Season?

DEEP's pet table dates the beach ban May 1 to October 1. Its picnic-shelter section states the beach rule without dates. If you want to walk a dog on the sand in the colder months, call the park office first, keep the dog leashed, and stay off the beach entirely in summer.

The Campground

Pets are not allowed in the Rocky Neck campground. That is a statewide DEEP rule: pets are prohibited in all state park camping areas (they are allowed in some state forest campgrounds, on a leash no longer than seven feet, with proof of rabies vaccination). Plan a kennel or a different campground if your dog travels with you. Camping.

Leash and Clean-Up

Where dogs are allowed, keep them on a leash and under control, and carry out waste. Connecticut's statewide statute on dogs in parks, quoted by the Town of East Lyme, requires owners to keep dogs under direct control and clean up after them.

Dogs in Niantic

Niantic's town spaces have their own, stricter rules:

Niantic Bay Boardwalk: no dogs at any time of year, except service dogs.
Town beaches (McCook Point, Hole-in-the-Wall, Niantic Bay Beach): dogs only from the Tuesday after Labor Day until the Friday before Memorial Day, under the owner's control.

See Niantic Bay Boardwalk and East Lyme beaches.

FAQ

Dogs at Rocky Neck FAQ

Are dogs allowed at Rocky Neck State Park?

Yes, on a leash in the picnic area and on the hiking trails north of the train tracks. Pets are not allowed on the beach, the boardwalk or in the campground from May 1 to October 1.

Can I bring my dog to Rocky Neck beach?

Not from May 1 to October 1. DEEP bans pets on the beach and boardwalk south of the train tracks in that window.

Can dogs stay at the Rocky Neck campground?

No. Pets are prohibited in all Connecticut state park camping areas, including Rocky Neck.

Are dogs allowed on the Rocky Neck trails?

Yes. The hiking trails are north of the tracks, where leashed dogs are allowed.

Are dogs allowed on the Niantic boardwalk?

No. The Town of East Lyme does not allow dogs on the Niantic Bay Boardwalk at any time of year, except service dogs.