Barn Island Wildlife Management Area

I love Connecticut. I love that it has so many hidden places, many quite beautiful. I’ve stated again and again that the state often is overlooked. I hear complaints such as “There is nothing to do.” Wrong! Always up for a good coastal journey, I recently revisited Barn Island Wildlife Management Area in Stonington.

One downfall about little CT is that much of its coastline is private or charges an admission price to visit in season. There are only a few free gems. Among them: Silver Sands State Park in Milford, Bluff Point in Groton, and Barn Island in Stonington. Being somewhat of a “Connecticut Connoisseur,” I thought I knew of every nook and cranny in the state. Around eight years ago, a friend took me to Barn Island for the first time. I was impressed and shocked that I had never heard of it.

How to get to Barn Island

It’s a little wild to get to Barn Island. Basically, follow Palmer Neck Road in Stonington almost to the end. On the right-hand side will be a small parking lot across from the park entrance. If you’ve come to the boat launch, you’ve gone too far. 

What greets the visitor is a serene marshland, bay views, woodland and meadow trails, and remnants of a bygone farm. Starting at the lot, the path which snakes along Barn Island’s southerly border follows near the marshland, with the stunning Little Narragansett Bay in the background. Water is on both sides as inlets cut through. 

After traversing much of the southerly section, I chose to go right. In looking for the former farm on the property, I figured this would be the better route. Suddenly the bay views and breeze give way to woodlands as the trail bisects a forest. 

Barn Island, a former farm?

Clues surround the path though as to the property’s former use. Stone walls which once marked property lines or provided an enclosure of some kind give the first hint. Eventually, this path expands into the road Brucker Pentway. Before reaching the street though, two stone pillars, which presumably flanked the entrance to the property, are among the only man-made remnants left.

At the entrance to the road, I turned around and retraced my steps. I was also looking for the allegedly haunted graveyard, with stones dating from the 1700s buried along this area of the preserve. As I was here in September, at the height of the summer’s growth, alas I could not locate the cemetery. 

Egrets, Ibis, and Owls, oh my!

All in all, Barn Island comprises over 1000 acres. Paths wind through the property for walkers, joggers, and bikers. Dogs are welcome. Boaters use the adjoining launch and kayakers can explore the waterways via their craft. It is also home to many species of bird, some endangered, including the least bittern, the black rail, and the Willett, in addition to egrets, ibis, and owls. William Niering, professor at Connecticut College and authority on all things wetland, once called this property the “finest wild coastal area in Connecticut.” 

The preserve is truly stunning and peaceful.

The More You Know

Please note: Hunting is allowed at Barn Island so don’t wear your antler hat. Additionally, recently mosquitoes that were confirmed as Tripe E positive were caught there as part of Connecticut’s mosquito management initiative. I’m guessing that’s why it was pretty empty there on a beautiful September day. Barn Island was the site for mosquito ditching during the Depression-era WPA project. 

For more CT Backyard Road Trips fun: Coastal Connecticut Trip, 2nd Bridge Brewing Company and Norwichtown