Silver Sands State Park — Charles Island Trail / tombolo
Connecticut Shoreline / Milford, Connecticut
Activity
Hiking / Tidal Crossing
Distance
1.5 mi round trip
Elevation gain
~20 ft
Route
Seasonal tidal out & back
The adventure
Walk across Long Island Sound on a tidal sandbar that disappears beneath the water twice a day. Time the tide, walk a disappearing sandbar through Long Island Sound and reach Charles Island before the sea takes the trail back.
Start at Silver Sands and walk the shoreline toward the Charles Island tombolo only during a safe, fully exposed low-tide window outside the nesting-season closure. Cross the dry sandbar to the island, stay outside the protected interior, reach the island end of the tombolo, turn back with plenty of tide margin and return safely to the mainland to.
What to expect
- Time the tide, walk a disappearing sandbar through Long Island Sound and reach Charles Island before the sea takes the trail back.
- Use the main Silver Sands parking at the end of Silver Sands Parkway and walk toward the beach with Charles Island offshore. Check the official tide information before leaving the mainland. Approach the tombolo only when the entire intended crossing is exposed and dry enough for a safe out-and-back. Walk to Charles Island, remain outside the closed wooded sanctuary, then reverse course early enough to be back on the mainland well before the incoming tide reaches the sandbar. If water is already crossing any portion, do not attempt it.
Good to know
- TIDE IS THE CLOCK
- The tombolo connecting Silver Sands to Charles Island is exposed only around low tide and overwashes twice every day.
- NO WATER CROSSING
- Connecticut warns that the incoming tide creates dangerous currents and undertow. If water is covering the route, do not cross.
- SEASONAL CLOSURE
- Access to the island is prohibited from May 1 through September 9 to protect nesting birds.
- THRICE-CURSED ISLAND
- Charles Island has carried resort history, religious-retreat history and a persistent Captain Kidd buried-treasure legend.
- LOOK FOR THE DISAPPEARING ROAD
- Turn around from the island side and look back at the narrow strip you just crossed. A few hours later, Long Island Sound erases it.
- Fee
- Required: Parking is free for Connecticut-registered vehicles, while out-of-state vehicles are currently charged $15 weekdays and $22 weekends/holidays. The routed arrival uses the main state-park parking.
- Entrance fee
- Parking is free for Connecticut-registered vehicles, while out-of-state vehicles are currently charged $15 weekdays and $22 weekends/holidays. The routed arrival uses the main state-park parking.
- Dogs
- not-allowed.
- Season
- Crossing is legally closed May 1 through September 9 for nesting birds and is physically possible only during appropriate low-tide windows. Winter exposure and cold-water risk require additional caution.
Photos