Wickford Harbor and Backwaters - September 12, 2020

Smith's Castle

I knew I wanted to run a RICKA Flatwater trip in September, but I couldn’t decide where. This trip was originally planned for the Concord River and then moved to the Sudbury River. As the trip approached and travel restrictions for RI residents going into MA continued, I decided to move it one more time to Wickford. We would be paddling in the protected waters around Wickford Harbor and its three small coves - Mill Cove, Fishing Cove and Wickford Cove.  

Wickford is located on the West Passage of Narragansett Bay and was established in the early 17th century when Roger William purchased land from the Narragansett Indians and established a trading post. In 1637, Williams sold the land to Richard Smith who constructed a large fortified house on the site, giving the house its nickname the “Castle”. That house was burned during King Philip's War, and the structure on the site today was built in 1678.

Paul at the mouth of Mill Creek

We put-in at low tide at Wilson Park and paddled out into Mill Cove near Rabbit Island. After passing Smith’s Castle we headed up the long narrow channel that leads to Mill Creek. There were egrets in the trees and sea gulls and cormorants diving into the water. We even saw an osprey fly overhead carrying a fish. At the mouth of Mill Creek a cormorant dove into the water and then came up in full flight right in the middle of our group – pretty cool.

I did some research and learned that Mill Cove is one of several tidal estuaries in Narragansett Bay that are home pogies or menhadens.These fish spend their juvenile years in the less saline waters where freshwater rivers and streams like Mill Creek enter the bay. The birds where probably taking advantage of low tide for a mid-morning brunch.

Taking a break at Sauga Point

We paddled back down the channel into Mill Cove toward Cornelius Island and into Fishing Cove. We took a break at Sauga Point at the northern end of the Wickford Harbor Breakwater.  

There are two stone breakwaters that form the entrance to Wickford Harbor from Narragansett Bay – the north breakwater from Sauga Point is about 1,130 feet, and the south breakwater from Poplar Point is about 825 feet. A mile long channel through the Outer Harbor and into Mill Cove and Wickford Cove allows recreational and small commercial boats to access Wickford's marinas and boatyards.

Boston Post Road Bridge

We headed out from Sauga Point and waited for the boats to pass before crossing the boating channel at the opening in the breakwater. From there, we paddled down the Outer Harbor and into Wickford Cove at the Wickford Shipyard.    

In the late 17th and early 18th centuries, Wickford grew to become a major port and shipbuilding center. Today, much of that historic village can be seen as you paddle into Wickford Cove along Washington Street. We continued down the cove toward the Boston Neck Road (Route 1A) Bridge and past the Kayak Centre boat ramp before heading back to Wilson Park. Another great day, but aren’t they all!  

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