Jamestown Harbor

41° 29.841' N    71° 21.976' W   See this location in: Google Maps   Map Server   Acme Maps

This is a site for launching boats from trailers. Boat ramps can normally be used to launch canoes and kayaks but please do your best to keep the boat ramp clear for boat trailers.

Description & Overview:

This site is in the middle of downtown Jamestown, right on Jamestown Harbor. There is a boat ramp here as well as a town beach. The latter is a better place to launch hand-carried boats. Because of the location, parking can be hard to find, especially in the summer. The parking lot at the site is almost always full and has a short time limit. Once on the water you are in busy Jamestown Harbor, where there are lots of boats and activity to look at but also lots of boats underway to watch out for. Heading north from the harbor takes you under the Newport Bridge and past rocky Taylor Point. Heading south from the harbor takes you to The Dumplings, Fort Weatherill and other scenic spots. Use caution if you head beyond The Dumplings because once around the point the shoreline becomes quite exposed.

On most days the southwest wind fills in strongly in this area in the morning and blows briskly throughout the afternoon, producing strong waves once you are outside of the immediate harbor area, so be prepared for this when planning your trip.

This site provides access to the following water bodies: East Passage, Jamestown Harbor.

Location:

Alternate Site Name: East Ferry Ramp

Town: Jamestown

Nearest Town Center: Jamestown

Driving Landmarks: From Route 138 east take the Jamestown exit (shortly before the toll booth) and follow Conanicus Avenue into the center of Jamestown. From Route 138 (i.e., coming from Newport) take the Jamestown exit (just after the toll booth). Turn right at the end of the ramp and go 0.4 miles to the T-junction with Conanicus Avenue. Turn left on Conanicus Avenue and follow it into the center of Jamestown. Look for the public fishing pier and boat ramp on your left.

Access & Waters:

Water 'Features' At Site: ocean/bay

Note: Because one boat launch can access, say, both a lake and a river or both the upstream and downstream portions of a river, not all paddling trips at a given site will necessarily encounter all of the features listed.

Type of Access: Boat ramp

ADA Accessible Boat Launch? no

Shoreline: Cement boat ramp and adjacent sandy beach

Float/Dock: no

Parking:

Parking: yes: 6 spaces, no overnight parking

ADA Accessible Parking Spaces? no

Sources for More Information:

Other Guidebooks: Site 29 in Ed Mullen's book "Kayaking Narragansett Bay"

Website: Mike Krabach's kayak access website

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