Located in Block Island Sound about 25 miles southwest of Newport and 18 miles northeast of Point Montauk are Block Island and Great Salt Pond. Great Salt Pond was not always open to the ocean. It was not until the year 1895 that a final attempt to dredge an access channel from the pond to the ocean succeeded. Today, Great Salt Pond plays host to thousands of boating visitors a year, mainly due to the protected nature of the water and the relative coolness of the climate compared to mainland locales.

Inside the harbor is a huge mooring field and several marinas, most of which cater to transients. Ashore in Block Island there are dozens of activities. Many people enjoy just lying on the beach, while others explore the historic and museum choices in town. Additionally, Block Island has many great dining establishments to choose from.

Use NOAA Charts 13205 and 13215.

Great Salt Pond is located on the west side of Block Island south of Sandy Point. From Block Island Sound on the west side of Block Island, chart a course for flashing red “4” on the south breakwall of the inlet to Great Salt Pond (unlighted red bell buoy “2” appears before flashing red “4,” but the lighted aid makes a better navigation target). Once you have lined up for the inlet, follow in green can “5,” green can “7,” red nun “8,” and then red nun “10” into the the harbor. Depths in the inlet are reported to be at least 11 feet for a width of 100 feet.

Inside the harbor you are first greeted by an expansive mooring field followed farther south by a line of seven marinas, five of which offer services for transients. The moorings are administered by Block Island Town Moorings, which provides water taxi service to and from your spot in the harbor.

Local Notices to Mariners are now exclusively available online from the U.S. Coast Guard.