Annual Summer Hike and Swim at Bluff Point, Groton, CT
David Ostafin
Join us for an EASY hike in Bluff Point State Park, located at 55 Depot Road, in Groton, Connecticut, on Saturday, July 18, 2026. The hike will include a swim in Long Island Sound. Meet at 10:30 a.m. for a prompt departure at 11:00 a.m. The trail loop we will take is 3.4 miles, but it is flat and graveled. The rain date is the following day, Sunday, July 19, 2026. This hike has become an annual summer event for our group.
ABOUT THE HIKE: We will hike a clockwise loop from the parking lot to a strip of beach (Bushy Beach) for a swim in Long Island Sound. So, bring your swimwear and towel. We will first walk the trail to the picturesque “bluffs” (geologically, a “bluff” is a steep cliff, often with a broad, rounded face, that overlooks a body of water), and there we will enjoy the spectacular view from the rock cliffs overlooking the Sound. There are many opportunities for photos. Also, along the way we will stop at the ruins of the Governor Winthrop house (Connecticut’s first colonial governor John Winthrop, 1635-1639, acquired the land through a grant in 1648).
The hike is low-intensity, and will last about two hours (excluding the time we decide to spend frolicking in the Sound). There are waterless restrooms at the beach, which can be used as changing rooms to put on swimwear for our swim in the Sound. Dogs are allowed on the hiking trail, but disallowed on the beach (a prohibition that is intermittently enforced). As always, read our Disclaimer (our group disclaims all liability; responsibility is assumed by each participant for him/herself), dress appropriately for the season, and bring ample water for hydration.
ABOUT THE PARK: Bluff Point State Park, located on Depot Road in Groton, is the last remaining significant piece of undeveloped public coastline in Connecticut. The park encompasses 800 acres. It is one of the few public parks in Connecticut where one can combine a hike and a swim in Long Island Sound. It was a popular recreational destination through the 1920’s and 1930’s, and a large community of summer cottages were built along the beach. But the Great New England Hurricane of 1938, which came ashore on September 21, 1938 during high tide, destroyed all the homes, and dashed all future hopes for beach-front construction. It was then decided that this area was unsuitable for permanent dwellings due to exposure to any future hurricanes, and so the cottages were never rebuilt. Bluff Point became an undeveloped recreational area for Connecticut residents. In 1975 the Connecticut legislature established Bluff Point as a Coastal Reserve.
DIRECTIONS: The address of the park is listed as: “55 Depot Road, Groton, CT.” Take Exit 88 off I-95 (North or South) to CT-117 South. From the intersection of I-95 and CT-117 drive 0.3 miles to UP-1 South to Groton. Then drive 0.3 miles and take left onto Depot Road. Once on Depot Road, drive 0.7 miles, passing an industrial park and bearing right under a bridge, to reach the parking lot. We will meet at the end of the parking area, next to the kiosk with the park map on it, adjacent to some picnic benches
Parking is ample. Connecticut registered vehicles park for free. Those with out-of-state registered vehicles are asked to pay a fee on-line, which is $15 on summer weekends. [The fee is paid online at “Reserve America,” under “connecticut state parks,” or by calling 1-877-668-CAMP (2267).]
AFTER-HIKE SOCIAL: The optional after-hike social will be at the Groton Townhouse Restaurant, located at 355 Rt. 12 in Groton, CT. The restaurant has an extraordinarily diverse menu, including all-day breakfast. To view the menu, visit the website at: http://grotontownhouserestaurant.com.
Giovani Querido and David Ostafin
