Bluff Point Coastal Reserve

In this aerial view of the Bluff Point Coastal Reserve, Bluff Point itself is at the far left and the tombolo beach reaches up from the center.

This point of land, distinguished by an oddly shaped tombolo beach — sand spit — jutting into Long Island Sound, is the last significant undeveloped land along Connecticut's coast.

One mile wide and half as long, the park comprises 806 acres of woodland, wetland and shoreline. A loop trail of nearly four miles weaves through woods that open near the water. The trail passes the site of the former Governor Winthrop residence, meets the beach at Bluff Point, and returns to the parking lot along the Poquonock River.

Hikers need to take precautions against deer ticks.

From Bluff Point, one may walk down Bluff Point Beach and Bushy Point Beach to the spit's terminus at Bushy Point.

In addition to hiking and nature viewing, visitors fish from the beach, sunbathe and picnic.

The park is in Groton past the railroad underpass on Depot Road, off Route 1.