No- and low-frill spots can be the most rewarding, in part because they are not usually tourist traps. They don’t come with the baggage of high expectations either.
A brown rabbit calmly hopped across the Great Island State Boat Launch driveway at the end of Smith Neck Road. If you are without a boat to launch, there is a small deck onto which you can step up and take in the sights.
North of here is the Elizabeth B. Karter Watch Rock Preserve. And north of that are two neighboring sites: Old Lyme Ferry Road Launch Site and Dock and CT DEEP Marine Headquarters – Ferry Landing Park.
After passing a large home/mansion with giant bear statues and a helicopter on the lawn, Ferry Road curves, revealing the launch site for small, car-top boats (I’m assuming that if you dragged your kayak on a bike trailer, that would also fit the definition for allowable vessels). There is a floating dock (Old Lyme’s Dinghy Dock) and a few educational signs that explain the tidal wetlands in view.
Ferry Landing Park is just a short walk from the dock. This boardwalk’s where to find folks who have been fishing since 4 AM, along with those who are using live eels as bait. An observation deck is a fine place to take in the sights without having to duck and weave around those trying to catch stripers.
Tidal wetland restoration projects and the Connecticut River are among the views. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to see the Connecticut River Bridge rise and lower, and hear one of the trains cruise through. Then again, there is annoyance to seeing a train so close, yet knowing that taking the train to the southeastern section of the state is not practical unless you’re heading to New London or have a very flexible schedule and bring your bicycle along.
There is a small lawn with several picnic tables and a pavilion close to the parking lots. There are porta-johns in the lot, but consider bringing your own toilet paper.