By Julia Lucey
With Connecticut’s warm summer days finally upon us, there are few things as refreshing as a day at the beach. Greenwich, of course, has amazing beaches to offer, but after several months of staying home, many of us are itching to find safe ways to get out of town, even if just for a day. If you’re looking for the perfect beach for a summer day trip, check out Silver Sands State Park in Milford, CT.
Silver Sands State Park (1 Silver Sands Pkwy, Milford, CT 06460) is less than an hour’s drive away on I-95 and is very easily reached right off of Exit 35. Alternatively, the park can be reached via the Merritt Parkway but requires a slightly longer drive. Once off the highway, you are directed down Silver Sands Parkway, a pleasant drive hugged by vibrant foliage, and brought directly to the park’s parking lot, which is well equipped with ample parking. Better yet, parking is free!
Typically, the beach is accessible by way of a long boardwalk that stretches across the park’s marshy area, but due to Covid guidelines, the boardwalk is temporarily closed as it is too narrow to ensure proper social distancing could be practiced. Luckily, there is an alternative path to follow, one that is easily found from the parking lot, and this walk is hardly inconvenient and fully worth it. While the boardwalk that spans the marsh is currently off limits, there is a boardwalk that runs along the beach that is open to the public for walking and enjoying the park’s scenic views.
Upon entering the park, there is a main strip of beach for sitting and sunbathing, connecting directly to the Long Island Sound for water activities. The water is very calm and considerably clear for the LIS, making for a very enjoyable swim to cool off or splash around. There is a lifeguard on duty Wednesday through Sunday. Unique to Silver Sands State Park is the “tombolo,” or a sandbar, that emerges from the water twice a day with the tides, connecting the beach to Charles Island, a small island about a half a mile off the mainland. While crossing to the island is not permitted May 1 through August 31 to protect the nesting bird population, the tombolo is still a special feature of the park to experience during your visit.
Beyond the lifeguarded swimming area and further down the boardwalk, there are some more secluded spots to sit if you’re looking for a quieter experience. This swimming area is not guarded and the bottom of the water is a bit rockier. The water is still calm and very swimmable, and if you prefer a softer, sandier area to swim in, the main beach is right next door. As the tide comes in, water rushes over a rock barricade, forming tide pools where you will see sea grass and even some minnows. The rocks serve as a perfect spot for fishermen to set up for the day and wait for some catches! You may even come across some clammers as the tide goes out.
As you continue down the boardwalk, you’ll arrive at a bridge that spans the small river feeding from the wetlands into the Sound, overlooking open water on one side and the marsh and a glimpse of some of Milford’s beach homes on the other. Past the bridge, the boardwalk connects to Walnut Beach, one of Milford’s town beaches.
Silver Sands Park is open daily from 8 am until sunset, so make a whole day out of your visit! Bring along some lunch, a good book, and some sunscreen (and your mask!) and spend the day out in the sun or floating in the LIS. To top it off, pay a visit to Walnut Beach Creamery to choose from an impressive list of fresh, homemade, gourmet ice cream flavors!
