Connecticut Sea Grant and the Connecticut National Estuarine Research Reserve will host a hike of Griswold Point in Old Lyme on Jan. 1, 2026, at 1 p.m.
The hike is part of statewide First Day Events, Walks and Hikes organized by the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection in collaboration with partners.
Staff of CT Sea Grant and the Reserve will lead the approximately 2.5-mile round-trip hike along mostly flat shoreline to Griswold Point at the mouth of the Connecticut River. From there participants can view areas in the Reserve, and hike leaders will share the significance of the area and information about ongoing projects. They will also talk about the ecology and geology of the area, as well as its designation as a Long Island Sound Stewardship Area. Binoculars will be available.
“Griswold Point is part of the Lower Connecticut River Stewardship Area, one of 33 Long Island Sound Stewardship Areas across Connecticut and New York that were selected for their exceptional ecological and recreational value,” said Erica Casper, Long Island Sound Partnership outreach support coordinator at CT Sea Grant and one of the hike leaders. “This is a unique place where the Connecticut River meets Long Island Sound, and where people can experience the landscape firsthand and understand why these areas are important.”
The hike will begin in the parking area of the White Sands Town Beach, at the end of White Sands Beach Road.
To register for this free event, send an email to: judy.benson@uconn.edu. No pets, please.