Connecticut / Housatonic River /

Sunnyside Boat Ramp

Sunnyside Boat Ramp is a boat ramp open to residents or permit holders on the Housatonic River near Shelton, Connecticut, run by City of Shelton.

Aerial view of the paved ramp and parking lot at Sunnyside boat ramp on the river, spring 2023
Aerial view of the paved ramp and parking lot at Sunnyside boat ramp on the river, spring 2023 Photo: CT State GIS Office · 2023 aerial imagery, credited · via CT ECO
Restricted

Public, but limited to residents, sticker or permit holders (on tribal land, a tribal permit). Check the rules with the town, tribe or agency before you go.

Status not reported No closure has been posted for this launch, but its agency does not publish open or closed status. Check with the managing agency before you tow.

At the launch

Type
Boat ramp
Fee
Fee charged
Restrooms
No
Tidal
Yes
Wheelchair access
Yes
Managed by
City of Shelton
Website
sheltonparksandrec.org
Coordinates
41.29017, -73.06921

Directions (Google) Apple Maps

Conditions

Tides

Predicted highs and lows at NOAA's Shelton station, 0.8 mi from this launch, in local time above MLLW. Predictions, not observations: wind and weather move the real tide. Full predictions at NOAA.

Tide predictions, Mon Nov 2 to Sun Nov 8
Mon Nov 2 Low 12:05 am 0.5 ft · High 5:38 am 6.8 ft · Low 12:28 pm 0.8 ft · High 6:03 pm 7.1 ft
Tue Nov 3 Low 1:08 am 0.5 ft · High 6:44 am 7.0 ft · Low 1:36 pm 0.7 ft · High 7:10 pm 7.0 ft
Wed Nov 4 Low 2:08 am 0.4 ft · High 7:46 am 7.3 ft · Low 2:39 pm 0.5 ft · High 8:12 pm 7.0 ft
Thu Nov 5 Low 3:02 am 0.3 ft · High 8:42 am 7.6 ft · Low 3:37 pm 0.3 ft · High 9:08 pm 7.1 ft
Fri Nov 6 Low 3:52 am 0.3 ft · High 9:31 am 7.9 ft · Low 4:28 pm 0.0 ft · High 9:57 pm 7.1 ft
Sat Nov 7 Low 4:38 am 0.3 ft · High 10:15 am 8.0 ft · Low 5:14 pm -0.1 ft · High 10:42 pm 7.1 ft
Sun Nov 8 Low 5:20 am 0.4 ft · High 10:55 am 8.0 ft · Low 5:56 pm -0.1 ft · High 11:24 pm 7.0 ft

On the river

River hazards

Keep well clear of dams: strong currents and restricted zones above and below them.

  • Dam, 3.4 mi upstream: Lake Housatonic Dam. · Connecticut DEEP dams (public use)
  • Dam, 9.3 mi upstream: Stevenson Dam. · Connecticut DEEP dams (public use)

Up to 10 river miles each way, from the agencies' inventories; not every hazard is listed and rivers change. Scout before you go.

Sources: Connecticut DEEP dams (public use).

On Housatonic River

The Housatonic River is a river about 149 miles long in western Massachusetts and western Connecticut. It begins where its West and East branches meet in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, drains about 1,950 square miles and empties into Long Island Sound between Stratford and Milford. Five hydroelectric dams hold back the river in Connecticut: Falls Village, Bulls Bridge, Shepaug, Stevenson and Derby. The last three form a chain of lakes running from New Milford south to Shelton: Lake Lillinonah, Lake Zoar and Lake Housatonic. Below Derby Dam the river is tidal for its whole length, and its lower end is brackish to salty. In December 2022 the 41-mile stretch from the Massachusetts line to the Boardman Bridge in New Milford was designated a National Wild and Scenic River. More about Housatonic River.

Boating rules on Housatonic River

  • Slow no wake when passing marinas, yacht clubs, fuel docks, anchorages, docks, boat launches and congested areas source
  • Slow no wake in the channel east of Nells Island and in all channels, creeks and waterways within the Charles E. Wheeler Wildlife Management Area source
  • Slow no wake from the Devon railroad bridge (Milford–Stratford) south to navigation aid #14 source
  • Slow no wake from the northernmost to the southernmost tip of Wooster Island source
  • Slow no wake from 500 feet upstream of navigation aid #4 to 500 feet downstream of navigation aid #3 source
  • Fly-fishing only in the lower three miles of the Housatonic River Trout Management Area (Cornwall) source
  • Catch-and-release only for trout and smallmouth bass, all year, in the Bulls Bridge Trout and Bass Management Area source

Community

Where people who use Housatonic River talk about it.

Nearby launches

Sources

Why it is listed as public: listed by Connecticut DEEP Coastal Access Sites (boat launches and car-top access). Something wrong, or is this launch private? Send a correction; it goes to a person.