South Ferry Road - URI Bay Campus

41° 29.542' N    71° 25.2' W   See this location in: Google Maps   Map Server   Acme Maps

This is a site for launching hand-carried boats such as canoes or kayaks.

Description & Overview:

This site on the URI Bay Campus has a nice gravel and sand beach very suitable for launching sea kayaks. It might also be possible to launch trailered boats here but you would be driving on sand and gravel not a hard surface ramp. The parking lot next to the beach is not very big but there is more parking just up the hill. Once on the water you are on the open waters of the West Passage of Narragansett Bay, so wind, waves and boat traffic should be expected. Heading south from this site you can paddle by 50 foot cliffs on the way to Bonnet Shores. Heading north takes you past Plum Beach and towards the Jamestown Bridge. Experienced paddlers can head east across the West Passage to Dutch Island (a 1 mile crossing) and Fort Getty Park.

On most days the southwest wind fills in strongly in this area in the morning and blows briskly throughout the afternoon, producing strong waves, so be prepared for this when planning your trip.

This site provides access to the following water bodies: West Passage.

Location:

Town: Narragansett

Driving Landmarks: This site is on the URI Bay Campus and is easy to find. From Route 1A (Boston Neck Road) take South Ferry Road towards the Bay Campus and simply follow South Ferry Road straight to were it dead ends at the shore. If you are coming from Route 1 take Bridgetown Road (Route 138) east (at Tower Hill) and follow the road to Route 1A. When you get to Route 1A go straight across 1A and you will be on South Ferry Road, which leads straight to the site.

Access & Waters:

Water 'Features' At Site: ocean/bay

Note: Because one boat launch can access, say, both a lake and a river or both the upstream and downstream portions of a river, not all paddling trips at a given site will necessarily encounter all of the features listed.

Type of Access: Boat launch for hand carried boats

ADA Accessible Boat Launch? no

Shoreline: Sand and gravel beach

Float/Dock: no

Approximate Length of Carry between Car Access and Water: 25 feet

Parking:

Parking: yes: 8 spaces

ADA Accessible Parking Spaces? no

Nearby Amenities:

Public Restrooms: During business hours there are restrooms available in the basement of Pell Library, which is on the south side of South Ferry Road, about 700 feet up the hill from the shore.

Sources for More Information:

Other Guidebooks: Site 25 in Ed Mullen's book "Kayaking Narragansett Bay"

Website: Mike Krabach's kayak access website

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