Point Judith Pond with RICKA – July 25, 2026

Through the Narrows

With our shorter Great Island vacation, I didn't have time for my usual RICKA trip on Point Judith Pond, so I did it yesterday. It was posted as a flatwater trip, but I also put it on the sea kayak message board.

Point Judith Pond, or the Great Salt Pond, is located along the border of Narragansett and South Kingstown, and is the second largest of the Rhode Island’s South County salt ponds. It is a shallow, four-mile long pond located behind the barrier beaches and sand dunes that form Point Judith. The pond is 20 miles around with many pretty islands and coves to explore.

Paddling around Galilee

We met in Marina Park at the hand-carried boat ramp next to the Point Judith Yacht Club at 10:00, and were on the water by 10:30. We had 8 boats – 7 kayaks, 1 canoe and a mix of flatwater and sea kayak paddlers. Skies were clear, winds were light from the east and the tide was coming in.

We headed out into the Upper Pond, paddled through the Narrows and out into Point Judith Pond. We checked out the osprey nest at Billington Cove and explored the islands and coves in the upper Point Judith Pond before heading to down to Gardner Island where we crossed the boat channel.

The crew at Dog Beach

We paddled past Beach Island and along Jonathan Island before paddling down the east side of Great Island. It was a little after 12:00 when we paddled into Galilee. We stayed out the boat channel and paddled across the harbor to Dog Beach for lunch.

After lunch, we crossed the boat channel and paddled up the west side of Great Island and Harbor Island, doing our best to avoid the boat traffic. We rounded Pine Tree Point, paddled through the Narrows and back down the Upper Pond. We were back at the put-in around 2:30.  Total distance - 9.3 miles.

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Snug Harbor – July 17, 2026

Point Judith Marina

I didn’t paddle this morning, but I got out this afternoon for a trip down to Snug Harbor.

Snug Harbor is a small village located on the western shore of Point Judith Pond just across from Galilee. In the early 1900's, Snug Harbor was known for its fishing and lobstering fleet with boats working the waters of Point Judith Pond, Narraganset Bay and the open Atlantic. Today, Snug Harbor remains an active harbor for commercial and recreational vessels.

Snug Harbor Light

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Port of Galilee – July 16, 2026

Fishing boat returning to the harbor

I didn’t paddle in the morning, but I was able to get out in the afternoon for a trip down to Galilee. The wind was blowing from the south and the tide was going out creating choppy waves and a strong current going through the Breachway.

The Port of Galilee was created in 1935 when a harbor was dredged and a dock constructed at the mouth of Point Judith Pond. Connected to the ocean by the Breakaway and the Harbor of Refuge, both completed in 1910, Galilee eventually became the home port for much of Rhode Island's fishing industry. I paddled past the fishing trawlers, lobster boats and charter before heading back to the cottage. There was lots of wildfire smoke from Canada that made the sky look grey.

Back at the cottage

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Bluff Hill Cove – July 15, 2026

Barrier beach at Sand Hill Cove

The wind was blowing again, so I stayed close to the cottage and paddle around Bluff Hill Cove.

Point Judith Pond, or the Great Salt Pond, is the second largest of Rhode Island’s South County salt ponds. Its southern end at Bluff Hill Cove is protected from the ocean by the huge barrier beach at Sand Hill Cove. I paddled out around the cove, getting bounced around by the wind and waves before heading back to the cottage.

View of the cottage form Frank's Neck

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Point Judith Pond Islands - July 14, 2026

Osprey at Plato Island

It was windy when I woke up, so I decided to paddle around the islands in the middle of Point Judith Pond. 

Point Judith Pond has three large islands – Great Island, Harbor Island and Ram Island, and four smaller islands - Jonathan Island, Beach Island, Gardner Island and Plato Island. Ram Island is conservation land. Great Island, Harbor Island, Jonathan Island and Plato Island have houses on them. Gardner Island and Beach Island are empty, and nice places to stop for lunch. I crossed over at Plato Island, and did a big loop around Gardner island, Beach Island and Ram Island to return to the cottage.

Oyster farm at Jonathan Island

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Upper Point Judith Pond - July 13, 2026

Boat ramp at Marina Park

I decided to stay close to the cottage today and paddle around Upper Point Judith Pond. I will be leading a RICKA trip here next week, so I wanted to check out the put-in at Marina Park.

Unlike Rhode Island’s other large salt ponds (Ninigret, Green Hill, Quonochontaug and Winnapaug) that are coastal lagoons, Point Judith Pond is an estuary where the Saugatucket River empties to the sea. I paddled up past Jonathan Island and Harbor Island, through the Narrows into the Upper Pond, and through the mooring field to Marina Park. Then I paddled back past Harbor Island and Ram Island to return the cottage.

View past Jonathan island to Beach Island

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Around Great Island - July 12, 2026

Our new cottage

This is our 15th year taking a summer vacation on Great Island on Point Judith Pond. We had rented the same cottage on Horseshoe Point for the last 14 years, but the owner wasn’t renting it this year. Fortunately, we were able to find another cottage just down the beach.

Point Judith Pond, or the Great Salt Pond, is the second largest of Rhode Island’s South County salt ponds. Separated in the south behind sand dunes and barrier beaches, Point Judith Pond is connected to the ocean through the Breachway at Galilee.

Fishing boats in the harbor

I always start off my paddling adventures with a trip around Great Island. Great Island is the largest island on Point Judith Pond. It is about 2-miles long and 1/2-mile wide, and full of summer cottages. I paddled down to Frank’s Neck before heading into Bluff Hill Cove and paddling under the bridge into Galilee.

The fishing village of Galilee was developed in 1935 when the State of Rhode Island dredged out a harbor suitable for commercial fishing vessels. I paddled down into the harbor to snap a few pictures of boats going through the Breachway before paddling back to the cottage.

Back at the cottage

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Around Ram Island - July 31 2025

Denny and Ann’s grandnephew Zach is visiting from the UK and I offered to take him out kayaking. Denny and Zach used the kayaks from the cottage. The wind was gusting, but we still spent an hour paddling around Ram Island.  

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Port of Galilee - July 27, 2025

The kids are visiting this weekend, so I decided to stay around the cottage and paddle down to Galilee. I paddled down the east side of Great Island into Bluff Hill Cove and then into the Port of Galilee.

The Port of Galilee was created in 1935 when a harbor was dredged and a dock constructed at the mouth of Point Judith Pond. Connected to the ocean by the Breachway and the Harbor of Refuge, both completed in 1910, Galilee eventually became the home port for much of Rhode Island's fishing fleet. I paddled past the fishing trawlers, lobster boats and charter boats before heading back. I forgot to bring my camera, but here is a picture from last year

Buoy in the Port of Galilee

Point Judith Pond with RICKA - July 26, 2025

Paddling by the osprey nest

This year my annual Point Judith Pond trip for RICKA coincided with the Blessing of the Fleet in Galilee. This is usually a flatwater trip, but since there was no sea kayak trip on the calendar, I posted in the sea kayak board as well.

Point Judith Pond, or the Great Salt Pond, is located along the border of Narragansett and South Kingstown, and is the second largest of the Rhode Island’s South County salt ponds. It is a shallow, four-mile long pond located behind the barrier beaches and sand dunes that form Point Judith. The pond is 20 miles around with many pretty islands and coves to explore.

Group picture form the cottage

We met in Marina Park at the hand-carried boat ramp next to the Point Judith Yacht Club at 10:00, and were on the water by 10:30. We had 7 boats – all kayaks, and a nice mix of flatwater and sea kayak paddlers. Winds were from the north, but switched to the east later in the day

We headed out into the Upper Pond from Marina Park, paddled through the Narrows and out into Point Judith Pond. We checked out the osprey nest at Billington Cove and explored the islands and coves in the upper Point Judith Pond before heading to down to Gardner Island where we crossed the boat channel.

View from the top of the Breachway

We paddled past Beach Island and across the top of Ram Island before paddling down the east side of Ram Island to Great Island. Michelle came out and snapped a few pictures before we headed to the east side of Great Island to Galilee.

It was a little after 12:00 when we paddled into Galilee. We stayed out the boat channel and paddled down to the last red buoys above the Breachway. With the tide going out, the current kept pulling us down into the Breachway. We saw the fire boat come through and then got shooed away. We headed up to Dog Beach for lunch.

Approaching Pine Tree Point

After lunch, we crossed the boat channel and paddled up the west side of Great Island. This area is shallow at low tide, but there was enough water that the boats could use this area to zip up and down the pond and avoid the speed restrictions in the boat channel. I was glad when we could cross over to Harbor Island to get out of the traffic.

Between the wind and the boat traffic there was a lot of choppy water as we paddled along Harbor Island. We rounded Pine Tree Point, paddled through the Narrows and back down the Upper Pond. It was another great day.

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Marina Park from Rhode Island Blueways

Galilee Boat Ramp from Rhode Island Blueways

Upper Point Judith Pond - July 21, 2025

Marina Park Boat Ramp

I slept late this morning, so I stayed close to the cottage and paddled around Upper Point Judith Pond. I will be leading a RICKA trip on Point Judith Pond on Saturday, so I wanted to check out the put-in at Marina Park. 

Unlike Rhode Island’s other large salt ponds (Ninigret, Green Hill, Quonochontaug and Winnapaug) that are coastal lagoons, Point Judith Pond is an estuary where the Saugatucket River empties to the sea. I paddled up past Ram Island and Harbor Island, through the Narrows into the Upper Pond, and into the Saugatucket River at Silver Spring Cove. Then I paddled back round the top of Point Judith Pond before crossing at Gardner, Beach and Jonathan Islands.

Selfie near Ram Island

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Around Great Island - July 20, 2025

Horseshoe Point

We have been renting a vacation house at Horseshoe Point on Point Judith Pond for the last 13-years. I always start off my paddling adventures with a trip around Great Island. This year it was a little cloudy and a little windy, but not too bad.  

Point Judith Pond, or the Great Salt Pond, is the second largest of Rhode Island’s South County salt ponds. Separated in the south behind sand dunes and barrier beaches, Point Judith Pond is connected to the ocean through the Breachway at Galilee.

View to Snug Harbor from Galilee

Great Island is one of three large islands on the pond - the other two are Harbor Island and Ram Island. Great Island is about 2-miles long and 1/2-mile wide, and full of summer cottages. I paddled down to Frank’s Neck before heading into Bluff Hill Cove and paddling under the bridge into Galilee.

The fishing village of Galilee was developed in 1935 when the State of Rhode Island dredged out a harbor suitable for commercial fishing vessels. I paddled down into the harbor to snap a few pictures of boats going through the Beachway 

The Breachway into the Harbor of Refuge

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Port of Galilee - July 26, 2024

Fishing boats in the Port of Galilee

It was a beautiful morning, but very windy, so I decided to stay around the cottage and paddle down to Galilee. I stayed out of the wind and headed south down the east side of Great Island into Bluff Hill Cove and then into the Port of Galilee.

The Port of Galilee was created in 1935 when a harbor was dredged and a dock constructed at the mouth of Point Judith Pond. Connected to the ocean by the Breakaway and the Harbor of Refuge, both completed in 1910, Galilee eventually became the home port for much of Rhode Island's fishing industry. I paddled past the fishing trawlers, lobster boats and charter boats on the Galilee side before crossing over to the Jerusalem side. With low tide, I followed the boat channel on the west side back up the pond before crossing back to the cottage at Plato Island. I got some practice paddling in the wind.

View from Galilee to Jerusalem 

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Pea Soup Fog on Point Judith Pond – July 24, 2024

Thomas Point

I awoke to pea soup fog this morning - even thicker than the usual pea soup fog. My original plan was to paddle over to Potter Pond, but once I go out on the water I decided that would be a little ambitious. The sea birds were everywhere, so I decided to do a quick trip around Great Island.

Horseshoe Point

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Point Judith Pond with RICKA - July 21, 2024

Heading up the Upper Pond

It was a 12-mile day for me – 2-miles from the cottage to Marina Park, 8-miles for the trip from Marina Park down to Galilee and back, and 2-miles from Marina Park back to the cottage. Still, it was a great day for my annual RICKA Point Judith Pond paddle.

Point Judith Pond, or the Great Salt Pond, is located along the border of Narragansett and South Kingstown, and is the second largest of the Rhode Island’s South County salt ponds. It is a shallow, four-mile long pond located behind the barrier beaches and sand dunes that form Point Judith. The pond is 20 miles around with many pretty islands and coves to explore.

Through the Narrows

I woke up at 5:00 to wind and torrential rain, but fortunately the storm blew over quickly. My family needed my car for the beach, so I paddled up to the put-in at the Marina Park on the Upper Pond. By the time we launched the weather was beautiful with sunny skies and a slight wind from the south.

We had 9 boats – all kayaks. We headed out into the Upper Pond from Marina Park, paddled through the Narrows and out into Congdon Cove in Point Judith Pond. From there, we headed down to Gardner Island where we crossed the boat channel and crossed the pond over to Jonathan Island.

Crossing to Dog Beach

With a wind from the south decided to paddle down the east side of Great Island into Galilee. We paddled across the top of Galilee and took a break for lunch at Dog Beach between Jerusalem and Snug Harbor. It was a little nerve-racking crossing the busy boat channel but we finally made it.

Since the wind was blowing from the south we crossed the boat channel again and returned up the west side of Great Island. With the wind to our backs, the return trip went much faster. Between the wind and the boats traffic there was a lot of choppy water at the top of the pond, but everyone did great.

The crew at Dog Beach

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Aaron's Video

Marina Park from Rhode Island Blueways

Galilee Boat Ramp from Rhode Island Blueways

Point Judith Pond Islands and Coves - July 17, 2024

Islands in Point Judith Pond

The sunrise was beautiful, so I decided to stay close to home and paddle around the islands and coves at the top of Point Judith Pond. Point Judith Pond has three large islands – Great Island, Harbor Island and Ram Island, and four smaller islands - Jonathan Island, Beach Island, Gardner Island and Plato Island. Ram Island is posted no trespassing. Great Island, Harbor Island, Jonathan Island and Plato Island have houses on them. Gardner Island or Beach Island are the best places to stop for lunch.

I crossed over at Plato and paddled the boat channel up the west side of the Point Judith Pond past the oyster farms to Billington Cove. Egrets and cormorants were everywhere, and the osprey were in their nest at the marina at Billington Cove.

The mooring yard

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Paddle Map - Upper Point Judith Pond

Upper Point Judith Pond July 15, 2024

View of Horseshoe Point

I was up early and decided to stay close to the cottage and paddle to Upper Point Judith Pond. I'll be leading a RICKA trip from there next week.

Unlike Rhode Island’s other large salt ponds (Ninigret, Green Hill, Quonochontaug and Winnapaug) that are coastal lagoons, Point Judith Pond is an estuary where the Saugatucket River empties to the sea. I paddled up past Ram Island and Harbor Island, through the Narrows into the Upper Pond, and into the Saugatucket River at Silver Spring Cove. 

Boat ramp on the Upper Pond

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Paddle Map - Upper Point Judith Pond

Around Great Island - July 15, 2024

View of Horseshoe Point from Frank's Neck

We have been renting a vacation house at Horseshoe Point on Point Judith Pond for the last 12-years. I always start off my paddling adventures with a trip around Great Island. This year it was a little cloudy and a little gray, but the wind was calm.

Point Judith Pond, or the Great Salt Pond, is the second largest of Rhode Island’s South County salt ponds. Separated in the south behind sand dunes and barrier beaches, Point Judith Pond is connected to the ocean through the Breachway at Galilee.

Boats and jet skis heading out the Breachway

Great Island is one of three large islands on the pond - the other two are Harbor Island and Ram Island. Great Island is about 2-miles long and 1/2-mile wide, and full of summer cottages. I paddled down to Frank’s Neck before heading into Bluff Hill Cove and paddling under the bridge into Galilee.

The fishing village of Galilee was developed in 1935 when the State of Rhode Island dredged out a harbor suitable for commercial fishing vessels. I paddled down into the harbor to snap a few pictures of boats going through the Beachway before heading back up the west side of the island to the cottage.

That's me - houses along Bluff Hill Cove in the background

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Point Judith Pond with RICKA - July 26, 2023

Paul heading out from Marina Park

I had to reschedule Sunday’s Point Judith trip due to family obligations. We decided to do a mid-week trip on Wednesday. The forecast was for a hot day with winds from the south. We had 6 boats – all kayaks.

Point Judith Pond, or the Great Salt Pond, is located along the border of Narragansett and South Kingstown, and is the second largest of the Rhode Island’s South County salt ponds. It is a shallow, four-mile long pond located behind the barrier beaches and sand dunes that form Point Judith. The pond is 20 miles around with many pretty islands and coves to explore.

Lunch at the beach

The weather was hot with a slight breeze as we met at the town boat ramp at Marina Park. We headed out into the Upper Pond, paddled through the Narrows and out into Point Judith Pond. We explored the coves on the west side of the pond on the way to Gardner Island where we crossed the boat channel. We paddled across the top of Great Island and stopped at the cottage for a picture before heading down the east side of Great Island into Galilee to avoid the wind.

We paddled across the top of Galilee and crossed back over the boat channel near Snug Harbor to have lunch at the beach in Jerusalem. Since the wind was blowing from the south we crossed the boat channel again returned up the west side of Great Island. With the wind to our backs, the return trip went much faster. Eight miles total – everyone did great.

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The Coves on Point Judith Pond - July 21, 2023

Smelt Brook Cove

I slept a little late this morning, and with the kids coming down today, I was back out for a paddle on Point Judith Pond. It was a bright, clear morning with just a touch of wind, so why not. This time I padded up to the coves in the northeast corner of the pond - Turner Cove, Smelt Brook Cove and Cogdon Cove - and around Commock Island before heading back. Birds everywhere - seagulls, egrets, cormorants and osprey.

Hidden cottage on Cogdon Cove

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Paddle Map - Upper Point Judith Pond