Silver Sands State Park

Where can you hunt for legendary treasure or visit religious ruins, all while picnicking on the beach and swimming in the Long Island Sound? Silver Sands State Park in Milford, Connecticut, of course! This 47-acre park offers beachfront access for swimming, sand dunes, a restored salt marsh, open areas and wooded areas. Hiking and biking trails run through the park, as well as boardwalks that offer views of the coastal wetlands.

A tragic history

The area upon which Silver Sands State Park now rests was originally a residential neighborhood. That all changed in 1955, when Hurricane Diane completely destroyed the 75 cottage homes that were along the coast. After that, the land near the boardwalk was used as a landfill until the 1970’s, but it is currently undergoing environmental restoration. As a result, the foundations of the destroyed homes are still seen, now incorporated into the environment of the marshlands.

Charles Island

A unique feature of the park is Charles Island, the rumored location of Captain Kidd’s buried treasure. According to legend, the notorious pirate often buried his loot on islands in coastal areas, and although treasure hunters have searched Charles Island many times over the years, no treasure was ever found. Charles Island is accessible during low tide by walking across the tombolo (sandbar), which is dangerous unless you plan ahead and start about one hour before dead-low tide. In years past, Charles Island was used as a Catholic Retreat, and the ruins are still visible today. The wooded interior of the island is a bird sanctuary, where heron and egret are spotted nesting in their rookeries. One of the largest wading bird rookeries in Connecticut, bird watchers, photographers and nature lovers alike can spend many pleasant hours observing these splendid birds in their natural habitat.

Thanks in part to its mysterious past and persistent legends, Silver Sands State Park is an unforgettable stop for anyone seeking a day of history-rich adventure.