Gull Cove State Boat Ramp

41° 38.019' N    71° 13.815' W   See this location in: Google Maps   Map Server   Acme Maps

This is a site for launching boats from trailers. Boat ramps can normally be used to launch canoes and kayaks but please do your best to keep the boat ramp clear for boat trailers.

Description & Overview:

This site provides access to "The Cove" at the north end of Aquidneck Island. There is a cement plank boat ramp here as well as a large gravel parking lot and plenty of shoreline adjacent to the boat ramp suitable for launching hand carried boats. The Cove is a large tidal estuary with many coves and channels suitable for small boat exploration. The waters of the cove are shallow, under 4 feet in many places at low tide, but because of the sometimes narrow channels connecting different parts of The Cove there are areas where the tidal currents are strong and where there are sudden drop-offs into deep water due to current scouring out channels and holes. There is a fixed bridge at the mouth of the cove with a vertical clearance of 25 feet at high tide, so larger sailboats cannot enter or exit The Cove, but the generally shallow water depths makes this area unsuitable for most sailboats anyway. The mouth of The Cove opens onto the busy waters of the narrows on the Sakonnet River. You can expect strong tidal currents here, and once out on the Sakonnet River or Mount Hope Bay the usual southwest wind that develops on most mornings and blows through the afternoon can produce significant waves! (Some of the information about this site was adapted from Mike Krabach's kayak access website.)

This site provides access to the following water bodies: The Cove.

Location:

Alternate Site Name: Long Neck

Town: Portsmouth

Driving Landmarks: Coming from the south on Route 24, look for a dirt road turnoff about 0.8 miles after the Boyds Lane exit. If coming from the north on 24/138 use the Boyds Lane/Portsmouth exit (1.5 miles from the east end of the Sakonnet River Bridge) to reverse directions on Route 24 and then look for a dirt road turnoff on the right in about 0.4 miles. If coming from the north on Route 114 over the Mount Hope Bridge, bear left onto Boyds Lane at the end of the Mount Hope Bridge and then go 0.7 miles and get on Route 24 north and then look for a dirt road turnoff on the right in about 0.4 miles.

Access & Waters:

Water 'Features' At Site: estuary, 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 ramp

ADA Accessible Boat Launch? no

Shoreline: Concrete plank boat ramp and extensive gravel shoreline

Float/Dock: no

Parking:

Parking: yes

ADA Accessible Parking Spaces? no

Nearby Amenities:

Public Restrooms: No

Sources for More Information:

Website: Mike Krabach's kayak access website

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