Seaside State Park - Waterford, CT
Seaside State Park: A Unique Waterfront Dog Park in Waterford, Connecticut
Seaside State Park in Waterford, Connecticut, offers a tranquil spot for dog owners looking to combine pet-friendly trails with stunning water views. Known for its historic sanatorium ruins and scenic location overlooking Long Island Sound, this park provides a one-of-a-kind destination for leisurely strolls, quiet relaxation, and dog-friendly walking adventures.
The park is meticulously kept, ensuring clean grounds and a peaceful environment. Visitors enjoy walking along the waterfront and exploring the fascinating, fenced-off historic buildings. While the official beach area is limited and better suited for views than swimming, the park’s quiet ambiance makes it a favorite for dog owners seeking a less crowded alternative among dog parks in Waterford, Connecticut.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are there walking or hiking trails connected to the park? Yes, the park is known for its beautiful walking areas and pet-friendly trails along the waterfront.
- Is there a swimming area or pond for dogs? There is beach access with water views, but swimming is not officially permitted; signs indicate no swimming, and the small beach is not ideal for swimming.
- Is the park regularly cleaned and maintained? Yes, reviews note that the grounds are well-kept and clean.
- Are there restrooms available for owners? There are two Porta Potties available for restroom needs.
- Where is the best place to park? There is an area for parking on site.
Reviews
Great place for some sight seeing and a walk with the dog. Quiet too. Had fun our first time here but left much more to be explored. The buildings are grand as the overlook the beach – a piece of history and should be respected as such.
Interesting place & beautiful setting.
The picture with the strange light anomaly is my most interesting picture I have from Seaside. It was taken through a small open ground level basement window in the dorm building, which was pitch black inside. My sister, who I was with, suggested I take the picture for whatever reason. Obviously this is from a few years ago before the chain link fences. Notice up in the rafters the unusual tendrils.
The buildings are really spooky, but the grounds are kept really clean. It has a very beautiful sound view. Great place to take your dogs.
A less frequent place for anyone who would like to have a magnificent view of the water without battling with a crowd. Lovely view of the water among the ruins of an abandoned psychiatric hospital.
Perhaps this place has the best view of Long Island sound. Enjoy it until a developer comes in and build a couple hundreds of condos in this spot.
This is a great place to enjoy a walk or just sit and relax. It is right on the water. There are signs that say no swimming but from what I saw it doesn’t seem to be enforced. It doesn’t seem like a great place to swim though. There is beach area but it is very small and there is too much seaweed. I came to see the ruins of the sanatorium, which were not a disappointment. Most of the buildings were fenced off, but you could walk right up to what I’m guessing was the administration building and the superintendents home. I’m told that that the buildings are being torn down soon to make way for an eco park so visit now before they are gone. There are 2 Porta a potties and an area for parking.