Nehantic State Forest
Managed by Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
1,616 acres13.3 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Photo: Alex756 · CC BY-SA 3.0AOutdoors
Outdoors in East Lyme
25% of East Lyme’s land is conserved: 5,492 acres
58 miles of mapped trail cross East Lyme, 1.7 per square mile of land. 765 acres are parks and preserves, 41 per 1,000 residents. The biggest trail networks: Nehantic State Forest (13.3 mi), Rocky Neck State Park (11.7 mi), Oswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve (8.9 mi).
Ahead of 92% of U.S. towns · #23 of 155 in Connecticut. What drives it
Conserved land
25%
5,492 acres · of 34.0 sq mi of land
Trails
58 mi
1.7 per sq mi of land
Park land
765 ac
41 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
70%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
4.5 mi
1.2 mi paths
Highest peak
430 ft
Walnut Hill
Lakes & rivers
26
19 beaches · 13 boat launches
What kind of outdoors town is East Lyme?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does East Lyme have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, East Lyme is ahead of 92% of U.S. towns, #23 of 155 in Connecticut. All four inputs are above most U.S. towns; conserved land ranks highest, the share of residents near a park lowest.
A
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of East Lyme’s overall grade.
Conserved land25% of the land · typical CT town 15% · U.S. 4%ATrails1.7 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (58 mi) · CT 1.4 · U.S. 0.4APark land41 acres of park per 1,000 residents (765 acres) · CT 22 · U.S. 13A−Parks close to home70% of residents within a half mile of a park · CT 57% · U.S. 72%B
All U.S. towns we grade (21,298)Ahead of 92%
LessMore
Connecticut towns of 2,500+ (155)Ahead of 86%
Connecticut towns conserve more land than most (a typical one, 15%; the U.S., 4%), so East Lyme’s 25% is ahead of 80% of Connecticut towns, while its trails per square mile lead 68% of them.
Water is 19% of East Lyme’s area (8 of 42 square miles), so every share here is of land; over land and water together, the conserved share would read 21%.
How sure. Graded on any three of the four inputs instead, the letter would still be A. Trails and many small parks come from OpenStreetMap, mapped by volunteers, so coverage varies from town to town; the half mile is a straight line from each census block, so a river or highway in the way isn’t counted against it.
PAD-US, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors), Census 2025 Gazetteer and 2020 blocks; details in Sources below. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Nehantic State Forest, with 13.3 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Rocky Neck State Park
Nature preserve
1,183 acres11.7 mi of trail
Old Route 156
Dogs allowed
Directionsto the parking lot
Oswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve
Managed by Town of East Lyme
451 acres8.9 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
The Sheffield Scientific School-Yale University
Nature preserve
1,660 acres4 mi of trail
Aunt Ruth's Turnpike
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Darrow Pond Property
Managed by Town of East Lyme
300 acres3.2 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Ravenswood Tract
Managed by East Lyme Land Trust
27 acres0.8 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
McCook Point Park
Managed by Town of East Lyme Parks & Recreation
22 acres0.4 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
All 27 parks & preserves
Nehantic State Forest1,616 acres · 13.3 mi of trail · Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
DirectionsRocky Neck State Park1,183 acres · 11.7 mi of trail
DirectionsOswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve451 acres · 8.9 mi of trail · Town of East Lyme
DirectionsThe Sheffield Scientific School-Yale University1,660 acres · 4 mi of trail
DirectionsDarrow Pond Property300 acres · 3.2 mi of trail · Town of East Lyme
DirectionsRavenswood Tract27 acres · 0.8 mi of trail · East Lyme Land Trust
DirectionsMcCook Point Park22 acres · 0.4 mi of trail · Town of East Lyme Parks & Recreation
DirectionsCini Memorial Park5 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsVeterans Memorial Field9 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsHole-in-the-Wall Beach2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsNehantic Nature Preserve292 acres · East Lyme Land Trust
Hathaway Farms151 acres · East Lyme Land Trust
Bobrow Property134 acres · Town of East Lyme
Hilles Preserve126 acres · Lyme Land Conservation Trust
Pattagansett Marshes41 acres · The Nature Conservancy
Rosecliff Tract27 acres · East Lyme Land Trust
DirectionsFarm Meadow Road Tract27 acres · East Lyme Land Trust
Beaver Brook Tract12 acres · East Lyme Land Trust
Town Open Space (Corey Lane)6 acres
Irvingdell Place Open Space4 acres · Town of East Lyme
Pine Grove Ballfield3 acres
Bride Brook Wildlife Sanctuary3 acres · Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
DirectionsGlendenning Field1 acres
Town Open Space (Lunde, Mabry Property)1 acres
DirectionsTown Open Space (Bramblebush Drive)1 acres
Town Open Space (Southeast Of Brainard Road)1 acres
Gorton Pond Boat Launch1 acres · State of Connecticut
Who protects it
5,492 conserved acres
25% of East Lyme’s land. Water is left out: East Lyme has 34.0 square miles of land and 8.0 of water, so the share counts land only. Who manages East Lyme’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
Other state land522 ac
State conservation425 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits333 ac
Town or city202 ac
Private owners5 ac
Not recorded4,465 ac
State Resource Management Area · 1,738 acResearch or Educational Area · 1,367 acConservation Easement · 661 acState Other or Unknown · 578 acState Park · 518 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 261 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 61 of 77 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown State Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 2,451 | Unknown |
| Nehantic State Forest (Old Forest Management Areas) State Resource Management Area | Not recorded | 1,206 | Unknown |
| Rocky Neck State Park State Park | Other state land | 518 | Open |
| Nehantic State Forest State Resource Management Area | Not recorded | 321 | Unknown |
| CT Department of Environmental Protection 6 State Resource Management Area | State conservation | 205 | Open |
| Powers Lake State Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 141 | Unknown |
| Pattagansett Lake State Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 125 | Unknown |
| Town Open Space (Smith-Harris Tract) Local Conservation Area | Town or city | 88 | Open |
| Nehantic State Forest - Horse Pond Area State Resource Management Area | Not recorded | 74 | Unknown |
| Oswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve - Parcel 3 Local Other or Unknown | Town or city | 64 | Open |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
65 places to go in East Lyme
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Beaches in East Lyme
Amtrak Beach
DirectionsAttawan Beach
DirectionsCrescent Beach
DirectionsGiants Neck Beach
DirectionsHole-in-the-Wall BeachIn McCook Point Park
DirectionsMcCook Park BeachIn McCook Point Park
DirectionsRocky Neck State Beach
DirectionsPlus 12 beaches without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Playgrounds in East Lyme
5 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Boat launches in East Lyme
Dodge Pond Boat LaunchIn Dodge Pond Boat Launch
DirectionsDodge Pond Boat LaunchIn Dodge Pond Boat Launch
DirectionsGorton Pond Boat LaunchIn Gorton Pond Boat Launch
DirectionsPattagansett Lake Boat Launch
DirectionsPattagansett Lake Boat Launch
DirectionsPowers Lake Boat Launch
DirectionsPowers Lake Boat Launch
DirectionsPlus 6 boat launches without a name on the map.
Scenic views in East Lyme
10 scenic views without a name on the map.
Peaks in East Lyme
Walnut Hill430 ft elevation · In Nehantic Nature Preserve
DirectionsGrassy Hill423 ft elevation · In Hilles Preserve
DirectionsPond Hill338 ft elevation
DirectionsPigeon Hill328 ft elevation
DirectionsSmith Hill292 ft elevation
DirectionsPumphouse Hill282 ft elevation
DirectionsWilson Hill259 ft elevation
DirectionsOswegatchie Hill253 ft elevation · In Oswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve
Directions8 more peaks
Artillery Hill249 ft elevation
DirectionsMount Tabor243 ft elevation · In Oswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve
DirectionsMacks Mill Hill240 ft elevation · In The Sheffield Scientific School-Yale University
DirectionsSodom Hill194 ft elevation
DirectionsGreen Hill144 ft elevation · In Oswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve
DirectionsMount Caesar125 ft elevation
DirectionsMount Ararat98 ft elevation
DirectionsBaptist Hill56 ft elevation
DirectionsPicnic areas in East Lyme
1 picnic area without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Campgrounds in East Lyme
1 campground without a name on the map.
Trails & water
3 named trails and 26 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 8.1 miUnpaved · 21.6 mi
Aunt Ruth's Turnpike1.1 mi
Old Route 1560.2 mi
Cruttenden's Bluff0.2 mi
Lakes & rivers tap for directions
Banning CoveBeaver Brook DamlakeBride LakelakeBrocket PondBush PondpondClark PondpondCranberry PondDarrow PondpondDodge PondpondDodson PondreservoirFourmile Pond No 1Goodwins PondreservoirGorton PondreservoirHavens PondpondIndian PondpondLatimer Brook PondpondLittle Dodge PondpondLovers Lane PondPattagansett LakelakePerry's PondpondPowers LakereservoirScott PondToupass PondBride BrookFourmile RiverPattagansett River
Biking & sports
4.5 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
1.2 mi
off-road bike paths
3.3 mi
shoulders & shared lanes
Courts & fields
20Tennis
10Baseball
6Basketball
5Soccer
3Pickleball
2Football
1Multi-sport
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →6 places on the National Register
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 4 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
Thomas Lee HouseBuilding · listed 1970
About itSamuel Smith HouseBuilding · listed 1979
About itThomas Avery HouseBuilding · listed 1979
About itWilliam Gorton FarmBuilding · listed 1984
About itRocky Neck PavilionBuilding · listed 1986
About itPlant, Morton Freeman, Hunting LodgeBuilding · listed 1988
About itWhen to get out
The best walking months in East Lyme: May to September
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.5 | 10.6 | 11.8 | 13.3 | 14.5 | 15.1 | 14.9 | 13.8 | 12.4 | 11.0 | 9.8 | 9.2 |
| High (°F) | 39 | 41 | 47 | 58 | 68 | 77 | 83 | 81 | 74 | 64 | 53 | 44 |
| Rain (in) | 3.5 | 3.0 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 3.6 | 3.9 | 3.2 | 3.8 | 4.1 | 4.6 | 3.8 | 4.3 |
February is the driest month (3.0 in) and July the warmest (highs of 83 °F). 4.6 inches fall in October, the wettest month. The climate in East Lyme →
Next door
East Lyme and its neighbors
East Lyme has the second most mapped trails of the 6 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Lyme | 25% | 1.7 | 41 | 70% | A |
| Old Lyme | 22% | 2.2 | 84 | 55% | A |
| Waterford | 14% | 0.8 | 45 | 56% | A− |
| Lyme | 51% | 2.8 | 409 | 23% | A |
| Niantic | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Salem | 30% | 1.6 | 127 | 21% | A |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in East Lyme
Where can I hike in East Lyme?
The longest trail networks: Nehantic State Forest, 13.3 miles; Rocky Neck State Park, 11.7 miles; Oswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve, 8.9 miles; The Sheffield Scientific School-Yale University, 4 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of East Lyme is conserved land?
25% of its land, against a typical 15% for a Connecticut town and 4% nationally (PAD-US). Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors: easements are usually private land.
Are dogs allowed on East Lyme’s trails?
OpenStreetMap records dogs as welcome at Rocky Neck State Park. For the rest, check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in East Lyme?
4.5 miles of bike routes are on the map: 1.2 of off-road paths and 3.3 of shoulders and shared lanes.
Is there public land near East Lyme?
9,484 acres of parks and open public land lie inside East Lyme or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 778 of them inside the town line.
How much outdoors does East Lyme have?
Ahead of 92% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #23 of 155 in Connecticut. The grade combines the share of land that is conserved, miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, park acres per 1,000 residents and the share of residents within a half mile of a park. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from East Lyme neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →