Placed January 1, 2000 at Rocky Neck State Park in East Lyme, CT. This
is a single letterbox by the sea, on a bluff between two lovely salt
estuaries. The hike covers 2 easy miles, with an option for another
3/4 mile of level beach combing.

Directions: on I-95 take exit 72, the Rocky Neck Connector. At the
bottom of the hill, the main entrance to the park is to the left. We'll
go right on Rte. 156 West to park at a hiker's entrance that avoids the
seasonal fees and crowds. Heading uphill on this road, park on your
left at the top
of the hill, across from a campground, in an unmarked lot. Your car
will be quite safe here: this is where all the local walkers park.

Walk south through the gate and past a map of the trails. Continue
south on the blue trail, and then turn left (east-southeast) on the red
blazed Bride Brook Trail. Pass a nicely balanced glacial erratic to the
left and travel pleasantly downhill for half a mile. Bear right at a
crossover fork and
then straight with the red where the white trail joins in. The grade
levels out: pass along a forested tongue between salten estuaries
before crossing a bridge near osprey nests.

Exiting into a picnic ground/parking lot, head south to pass between
the snack bar and the bath house. Walk under the railroad bridge and
onto the beach. Your optional beach comb is to the left: the long
curving beach leads to a tidal inlet that just fascinates children and
nature lovers. Collect some shells, rocks, and driftwood, and then head
west up to the magnificent "Pavilion." This dance hall was built of
stone in the Arts and Crafts style by the CCC and WPA in 1936, and is
still quite popular with the summer people from Hartford. Walk west
from the railroad underpass up the ramps to the porch (with another
optional exploration southwards along the
rocks and jetties). Crossing northeasterly along the wide stone porch,
enjoy the marvelous views and imagine the grand dances and swing music
of the old days.

At the end of the porch, turn left (north) and bridge over the railroad
tracks. Kids will thrill to passing trains. Bear sharp left with the
paving after the bridge and parallel the tracks behind the Pavilion. As
the paved road begins to bear right, cut left on a faint path and
follow the cliff line
north with a new estuary below to the west. The trails are briefly
unmarked here, but easy to follow: just stay near the edge and head
north. Almost reaching the top, find an expansive view on a smooth
rounded granite cliff with faded yellow trail markers here and there.