We posted the clues for our new series of 4 boxes. Selden Island Campsites
posted by: Swamp Yankee, Sunshine, and the Toaddog
April 22, 2003
Connecticut
New London County
Lyme,CT
The Campsites of Selden Island

Difficulty: moderate/easy, some steep hills and bush whacking/short hikes.
Time: Allow about 30 minutes round trip hiking time per letterbox, most will
be less. Boating time will vary depending on mode of transportation.
Selden Island is an island on the Ct River in Lyme across from the Deep River
docks and therefore accessible by water only, although some maps and the DEP
refer to it as Selden Neck. The north end of the neck was breached during a
severe freshet in 1854 making it and island.
The following isn't to discourage anyone from trying to find our letterboxes.
We only want searchers to be informed and have fun finding them. We spend a
lot of time on the CT River and enjoy it immensely. We want our boxes to be
found and the finders to have a safe and enjoyable time. Therefore, here are
some things to consider prior to hitting the water:
The CT River has a lot of boat traffic on the weekends during the warm summer
months, not as much during the week. Don't expect everyone to slow down.
Most boaters will extend a little common courtesy but there are some who will
not. Be wary of wakes also. A small boat pulled up on shore can get swamped
and a larger one can get stranded when hit by a wake cresting on shore, you
may consider leaving someone behind to tend to the boat. Early mornings in
the summer, excluding weekends, are superb. The river is like glass and the
traffic is minimal.
The coast guard requires all vessels to have a Personal Floatation Device
(PFD) on board for each passenger. The State of Ct requires all persons in
canoes and kayaks to wear their PFD between Oct 1 and May 30.
For motor boats and sail boats, the entrance to Selden Creek at the north end
of the island gets very shallow at low tide, down to a foot or less.
If you're rowing or paddling you may want to consult a tide chart before
heading out. It could make the journey quicker and easier.
Two boat launches are fairly close to the island. The carry in launch at the
Hadlyme side of the Chester ferry, Rt. 148, and at the Deep river docks,
although the last time I was at the Deep River docks the launch was labeled
for Deep River residents only. The river is also accessible at the launch in
East Haddam at the mouth of the Salmon River and in Old Saybrook under the
I-95 Bridge.
Campsites can be reserved for one night stays by contacting Gillette's
Castle. They are all well labeled. The boxes are located to allow
letterboxers to find them without disturbing campers.

The Cedars

The most northern campsite and the only one not directly on the Ct River is
The Cedars. Enter Selden Creek at the northern tip of the island. The
campsite is a short way in on the right. From the campsite take the trail
that follows the creek to the west heading back toward the river. When you
get to the small clearing on the north end of the island, head south to the
base of the hill, a downed tree to your left will show you the best route.
Follow the contour of the marsh a short way to the left to find a stonewall.
Follow the trail with the stonewall to your left until you come to a spot
were the wall projects about 5 feet into the trail. You'll know you're at the
right spot if you look to your right up the hill, perpendicular to the path,
to see several pieces of pipe in a row sticking up out of the ledge, an old
farmers way of setting his barbed wire fence in a place he couldn't dig holes
for his posts. On the south side of the piece of wall that sticks into the
trail look for the Cedars letterbox at ground level. If for some reason you
can't start at the Cedars campsite, just south of the ledge at the north end
of the island on the river side is a wonderful beach. You can pull in there,
hike up the hill to the southeast, walk a couple hundred yards and then turn
east and find the stonewall at the base of the hill.

Hog Back

The next campsite heading south is Hog Back and it's also the most
northerly one on the river side of the island. You can pull in either north
or south of the campsite. If you go south make sure you make a wide turn to
avoid the ledge just under the surface about 20 yards in front of the camp
site, the letterbox is planted to the north. From the campsite follow the
path a short way along the water's edge, to a large beech tree with the names
of past campers carved into the bark. From this tree walk northeast past two
large boulders, across the low hill, through a hemlock graveyard, to the
first ledge outcrop at the base of the hill. If you look closely on the top
of the left side you can make out some quarry marks left from centuries ago.
Look up the steep hill to the southeast to see a double trunked tree in the
shape of a V. Climb the hill and from the tree look north. The box is
hidden at the base of the ledge just to the right of the big oak tree about
30 steps away.

Spring Ledge

The middle campsite on the river is Spring Ledge just past the
navigational aid. This is our favorite picnic spot during the spring and
fall when the traffic on the river lightens up mainly because the large cliff
to the north does a great job blocking the wind and the sun shines in across
the water and keeps it nice and warm. If you want to hear a boring but
unbelievable story about something that was lost and found here let us know.
Your search starts at the extreme southern end of the beach, past the loose
stones and the two ledge out crops. At all but high water notice the two
large slabs of granite left by the quarries after the invention of cement.
Climb the ridge to the top and find the remains of a shack and many old
bedsprings. Be careful of old nails in the boards here and there. Standing
at the western side of the bed springs the letterbox is hidden in the rocks
at the top of the western end of the ridge across the little valley to the
immediate north.

Quarry Knob

The most southerly campsite is Quarry Knob. The letterbox is planted on
the ridge between the campsite and Cold Spring, which is around the point to
the north. From the lower picnic area at the campsite follow the trail
around the hill to the north and up to the rocky cliffs. From the left of
the cliffs, climb up to the top of the ridge. Look for a "horseshoe"
sticking out of a large rock. Beside the horseshoe shaped anchor point find
the survey marker "Neck No.2". Continue northeast over the top of the ridge
to find two stonewalls. Just past a VERY large fallen dead tree, the
letterbox is hidden near the top of the place where the two walls meet.
If you want to continue around the island, you are about half way to the
southern tip. Once in the creek you must slow down, as the entire creek is a
"No Wake" zone, and is ideal for canoes or kayaks. Beware of the swans in
the late spring and summer. There is one that can be aggressive when the hen
is on the nest or little ones are around. If you are in a small boat or
canoe/kayak there are a couple side streams to explore. In the fall the
colors are spectacular.

As always, remember to leave the boxes as well hidden (or better) then you
found them. Our email address is on all of them if supplies or repairs are
needed. Good luck and enjoy.


Sunshine, Swamp Yankee, and the Toad dog.



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