Niantic Bay Boardwalk

The Niantic Bay Boardwalk is a free, mile-long boardwalk and gravel path along Niantic Bay in East Lyme, running from Cini Memorial Park in the east to Hole-in-the-Wall Beach in the west. It is open 24 hours a day, fully accessible and free to walk, with parking at both ends (a town parking pass is required in summer). Dogs, bikes, skateboards, rollerblades and scooters are not allowed. It is run by the Town of East Lyme, not the state, and sits about two and a half miles east of Rocky Neck State Park.

Where It Runs

UConn's Connecticut Trail Finder describes the route this way: from Cini Memorial Park, a paved boardwalk crosses a native dune ecosystem with views over Niantic Bay Beach to Long Island Sound, then follows the water west and ends at Hole-in-the-Wall Beach. Both ends are town parks with restrooms and outdoor showers.

• East end, Cini Memorial Park: on Route 156 by the Niantic River bridge, at the end of the boardwalk. It has a handicap-accessible fishing pier, a picnic area, a canoe and kayak launch dock and the half-mile Niantic Bay Beach.
• West end, Hole-in-the-Wall Beach: on Baptist Lane, reached through a short tunnel under the railroad. It has a bicycle repair stand and connects to McCook Point Park.

Parking

There are lots at both ends: Cini Memorial Park (River Road) and Hole-in-the-Wall Beach (Baptist Lane). UConn's CT Trail Finder lists parking there as free year-round, but the town, which runs both parks, says that from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day every vehicle entering them needs a town parking permit (daily or seasonal, sold by card at the beach or in advance). The town's rule wins. Outside the beach season, parking is free. East Lyme beaches and passes.

Directions From I-95

CT Trail Finder's directions: take exit 72 toward Rocky Neck State Park, follow the Rocky Neck Connector to Route 156 (West Main Street) and turn left (east). For Cini Memorial Park, turn left onto River Road; for Hole-in-the-Wall, turn right onto Baptist Lane. Coming from Rocky Neck, stay on Route 156 east; DEEP puts Hole-in-the-Wall Beach 2.4 miles from the park.

Hours and Cost

The boardwalk itself is open 24/7 and costs nothing to walk. The beaches beside it keep town hours: Niantic Bay Beach (Cini) 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Hole-in-the-Wall 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Boardwalk Rules

The Town of East Lyme posts these rules:

• No dogs or other pets, at any time of year, except service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
• No bikes, skateboards, rollerblades or scooters.
• No tobacco products or alcohol.
• Nothing attached to railings, fences or benches: no memorabilia, trinkets or padlocks.

Plaques and Benches

The railings carry engraved commemorative plaques, sold through the East Lyme Public Trust Foundation with the town's parks department, and the Foundation says about 200 memorial benches have been sponsored along the boardwalk since 2005.

Accessibility

CT Trail Finder lists the boardwalk as fully accessible, and Cini Memorial Park has a handicap-accessible fishing pier. The town lends Mobi-Chairs at its beaches through the lifeguards.

Rocky Neck or the Boardwalk?

They suit different days. Rocky Neck has the bigger beach, the campground and five miles of trails, and is free for Connecticut cars without a town pass. The boardwalk is a short, flat, paved walk beside Niantic's beaches and close to Main Street's restaurants and shops. Rocky Neck beach, things to do in Niantic.