Sunset on a Saltmarsh
Experience one of nature’s rare alignments—when the tides, sunset, and rising moon converge to create a breathtaking saltmarsh evening. This phenomenon happens only once or twice a summer, offering a magical paddling opportunity through golden waters and twilight reflections.
Time & Location
Jun 04, 2025, 5:45 PM – 8:15 PM
Guilford, Guilford, CT, USA
About the event
Explore the winding channels of a tidal river as we paddle through one of Connecticut’s most ecologically rich coastal wetlands. This expansive salt marsh is part of a dynamic estuarine system, where fresh water from inland streams meets the tidal flow of Long Island Sound, creating a haven for wildlife and a constantly shifting landscape shaped by the tides.
We’ll be surrounded by broad expanses of salt marsh grasses—primarily smooth cordgrass and saltmeadow hay—that provide critical habitat for nesting birds, crustaceans, and juvenile fish. Keep your eyes peeled for snowy egrets, great blue herons, oystercatchers, and ospreys diving for fish. At low tide, exposed mudflats attract willets, yellowlegs, and other shorebirds probing for invertebrates.
This landscape constantly changes with the water level—revealing secret creeks and quiet back channels that are only accessible at high tide. By planning our paddle with the tides, we make the trip easier and more relaxed,…