Save
You must be signed in to save park lists.
Your Park Lists
add New List
Add Photo
You must be signed in to add photos.
state route ranger badge
Connecticut
7

Connecticut State Parks

responsive menu icon
USA Parks
Connecticut
Mystic Country Region
Selden Neck State Park
Robin © stateparks.com
Cool Swim © stateparks.com
Search
Availability
Calendars
Availability Search
SELDEN NECK STATE PARK
SELDEN NECK STATE PARK
67 River Road
East Haddam, Connecticut   06423

Phone: 860-526-2336
Toll Free: 866-287-2757
Email: park email button icon
Three public camps along the Connecticut River at Hurd, Gillette Castle and Selden Neck State Parks offer primitive, riverside sites with fireplaces and pit toilets for individuals traveling on the river.The river campsites are available from May 1 through September 30. The length of stay is limited to one night. Use of river campsites at Hurd and Gillette Castle is restricted to canoers only.
History of the Area
Though called Selden Neck, this park is actually an island. Cut off from the mainland in the 1850s, Selden Neck has spent the better part of 160 years on its own as the largest island in the Connecticut River. The island is named after John Selden who was the second owner of the property having purchased it in 1695. It remained in the Selden family for approximately 170 years until the 1860s. In 1889 a partnership bought the property to quarry the islands? red granite schist for paving stones. These paving blocks were four inches wide, seven inches deep and twelve inches long. These blocks were used for paving the streets of New York city nearly 130 years ago.

Today the roadless, uninhabited, 607 acre island, bordered to the east by Selden Creek and by the Connecticut River to the west, is roughly a half mile wide and one and a half miles long. Except for the tidal marshes, the island is completely blanketed with lush woodland vegetation. The island tops out at nearly 230 feet in elevation providing some areas of potentially strenuous hiking.

Connecticut State Parks has constructed four primitive camp areas (see map) for overnight stays. Each location invites the camper to explore the island trails, some marked better than others, in search of wildlife, the remains of the farmstead, and a former quarry building?s granite foundation.

A marked trail begins near the Quarry Knob camp site and leads to the quarry area in the southeast part of the island. The trail encounters the old causeway, built to transfer the granite stones from the quarry face to the shoreline for shipment. Another trail extends northwest to the ruins of old farm buildings and a well.

Lookouts from the trail offer wonderful views of the lower Connecticut River. From these the viewer will quickly understand why the Nature Conservancy designated the lower Connecticut River as one of "America's Last Great Places". Views to the east, opposite Selden Creek, encompass 275 more acres of Nature Conservancy owned land. The quiet of the island is inviting. Listen at night to the wind in the wings of waterfowl passing overhead.

History courtesy of David Wordell's "The Quarries of Selden Neck".
Passes
Connecticut has made state parks, forests, trails, historic sites and beaches more accessible to our residents so they can enjoy the many attractions and beauty they offer. Under the Passport to the Parks program, parking fees are now eliminated at Connecticut State Parks for those with Connecticut registered vehicles. You can view the CONNECTICUT PASSPORT TO THE PARKS web page to learn more.
Camping
There are four primitive camp areas in this park.
Nearby Accommodations
businesss listing main photo
BBs / Inns
Located along the CT Shoreline midway between New York City and Boston, and only one hour from Hartford, with tons of local attractions both on the Long Island Sound and the Connecticut River.
3.2 miles from park*



Things To Do in the Area
businesss listing main photo
Boating
Explore the Connecticut River aboard the R/V River Quest, an environmentally friendly 64', 60 passenger vessel docked at Eagle Landing State Park, Haddam, CT.
8.3 miles from park*

Visitor Comments, Memories and Reviews
write a review
Share On

Area Campgrounds
Riverdale Farm Campsites
111 River Road
Clinton, CT
860-669-5388
Pequot Ledge Campground
157 Doyle Road
Montville, CT
860-859-0682
Niantic I95 Exit 72 CT KOA
271 West Main Street
East Lyme, CT
860-739-9308
Wolf's Den Campground
256 Town Street
East Haddam, CT
860-873-9681
Markham Meadows Campground
7 Markham Road
East Hampton, CT
860-267-9738
Aces High RV Park
301 Chesterfield Road
East Lyme, CT
Camp Niantic-By-The-Atlantic
271 West Main Street
Niantic, CT
860-739-9308
Indianfield Campground
306 Old Calchester Road
Salem, CT
860-859-1320
Salem Farms Campground
39 Alexander Road
Salem, CT
860-859-2320
Witch Meadow Lake Campground
139 Witch Meadow Road
Salem, CT
860-859-1542
Nearby Hotels
Booking.com

state route ranger badge
Connecticut
7

Connecticut State Parks

X