Welcome to the ExploreRI Mapper
This mapper will help you locate boat launches and other points of interest to for small boat recreation throughout the state of Rhode Island. To get started, click anywhere on the map to zoom in on that area. To zoom out use the zoom control to the left of the map. Once you have zoomed in, boat launches and other points of interest will show up on the map as clickable red icons (see the key below the map). Click on an icon to get more information about that location. If you prefer to search by criteria or simply look up a site by name, try the boat launch search page. If you have a high-speed Internet connection (e.g., DSL or Cable), you may want to try our Google-based mapping system which also includes sites in the Narragansett Bay Watershed in Massachusetts.
KEY
Hand Carry Boat Launch
Boat Ramp
Portage
Other Type of Site
The location you clicked on 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.
Site Name: Fort Adams
Town: Newport
Driving Landmarks: From downtown Newport head south on Thames Street, which is one way. Turn right on Wellington Avenue and follow it as it wraps around the harbor and then turns left and becomes Halidon Avenue. When Halidon meets Harrison Avenue turn right and go 1/2 mile to the entrance to Fort Adams State Park. Once in the park stay right and look for signs for the boat launch.
ADA Accessible Boat Launch? no
Shoreline: Concrete boat ramp
Float/Dock: low float or dock
Hours of Operation: Sunrise to sunset, year-round
Parking: parking lot
ADA Accessible Parking Spaces? no
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.
Comments & Overview:There is a concrete slab boat ramp here at Fort Adams as well as docks, floats and parking. Additional parking is available in the upper lots. This site provides access to Newport Harbor and the East Passage. Newport Harbor is an interesting place to explore if you like looking at boats, but it is a busy harbor with very heavy marine traffic so caution is advised in small boats such as sea kayaks. Larger craft may not be able to see you or if they do see you they may not be able to turn or stop in time to avoid you. Heading out into the East Passage you should expect everything up to naval warships and freighters, so great caution is advised. In addition to the ship traffic, the East Passage is open and exposed and can get very rough. For experienced paddlers, heading around Fort Adams and out towards Brenton Point can provide some exciting paddling.
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.
(Parts of this description were adapted from Ed Mullen's Book "Kayaking Narragansett Bay" and from Mike Krabach's kayak access website.)
For more details see the full site report
The data on this website comes from many sources, including volunteers and organizations across the state of Rhode Island and nearby parts of Massachusetts. We have done our best to make sure the data are accurate and up to date, but any information critical to the success of your trip should be confirmed before you start. The maps and information on this website should not be substituted for nautical charts, topographic maps, or other more detailed maps and guides. We welcome corrections and additions. To send a correction or provide other feedback, please use our feedback form.
Credits: The data for the base maps was provided by the Rhode Island Geographic Information System (RIGIS) and the Office of Geographic and Environmental Information (MassGIS), Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Executive Office of Environmental Affairs. The site data came from numerous sources and organizations. Much of it was collected through the hard work of volunteers for various conservation, watershed and outdoor recreation groups around the state of Rhode Island.