Located inside of the Wickford Harbor, Wickford Cove and Mill Creek are home to some of the finest marine facilities on Narragansett Bay. Wickford Cove is located to port just beyond the breakwaters around Marker Point, while Mill Creek is located about a quarter-mile straight inside. Wickford Cove and the town of Wickford are 17 miles due south of Providence and nine miles (as the bird flies) northwest of Newport.

Wickford Cove has three marinas, and all of them have facilities for transient guests at their slips. Also inside Wickford Cove is a uniquely shaped mooring chains that snakes its way up into the cove past both marinas, although most of them are private. Wickford is an interesting town to visit, with dozens of beautiful 18th-century homes lining the streets.

Mill Creek:

Use NOAA Chart 13221.

From West Passage, about three miles west of Conanicut Point, flashing green “1” marks the south breakwall at the inlet to Wickford Harbor (red gong buoy “2” marks the mid channel inlet and flashing red “4” marks the north breakwall). The inlet to the harbor is deep and wide with 10- to 17-foot depths.

Once you have cleared the breakwaters, chart a course for green can “7” at Marker Point, and then head north toward red nun “8,” green can “9” and red nun “10” at the creek entrance. Inside the creek to port (visible in the image above) are four marinas of varying sizes, but only one of them accepts transients. Farther into starboard is a large mooring field where you can pick up a mooring for the evening.

Wickford Cove:

Use NOAA Chart 13221.

From West Passage, about three miles west of Conanicut Point, flashing green “1” marks the south breakwall at the inlet to Wickford Harbor (red gong buoy “2” marks the mid channel inlet and flashing red “4” marks the north breakwall). The inlet to the harbor is deep and wide with 10- to 17-foot depths.

Once you have cleared the breakwaters, chart a course for green can “7” at Marker Point (round it closely), and then round it to port to access Wickford Cove. Inside the cove you will find two large marinas to port on entry, and then a large string of moorings to starboard that lead all the way up to the town of Wickford. Wickford Cove has seven-foot depths all the way to the bridge at Wickford.

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