Lake guide · Connecticut
Lake Waramaug boating rules, launches and marinas
Lake Waramaug covers 656 acres. Public launch: The state park launch on North Shore Road takes car top and carry in boats only. Power boats may launch only at the Town of Washington boat launch. Marina Radar lists 2 nearby marinas, launches and boat services. It touches Washington. Each rule below links to its official source.
Updated : official sources checked that day. Fee amounts are given only where an official page prints them. Check the source before you launch.
Lake Waramaug kayak and paddleboard rentals
Kayak, canoe and paddleboard rentals on site in the state park for the 2026 season, run by Litchfield Paddle.
Source: portal.ct.gov · “Rental services are provided on site by Litchfield Paddle”
What are the boating rules on Lake Waramaug?
- Size
- 656 acres
- Source: portal.ct.gov · “the state park beach is the only public access point on this massive 656”
- Public launches
- The state park launch on North Shore Road takes car top and carry in boats only. Power boats may launch only at the Town of Washington boat launch.
- State park car top and carry in launch, KentTown of Washington boat ramp for power boats
- Source: portal.ct.gov · “Power boats may only be launched on Lake Waramaug at the Town of Washington's Boat Launch.”
- Wake limits
- Slow No Wake from May 15 through September 15 in the northernmost 1,300 feet of the cove next to the state park; wake enhancing devices are banned.
- Source: portal.ct.gov · “The use of wake enhancing devices is prohibited.”
- Permit / sticker / registration
- CT AIS Stamp required for registered vessels on CT inland waters (fee applies).
- Source: portal.ct.gov · “Any person who operates a vessel required to display a registration decal on Connecticut's inland waters must have a CT AIS Stamp.”
- Invasive species inspection / decon
- Inspect your boat and remove any vegetation before you launch.
- Source: portal.ct.gov · “inspect your boat for any vegetation before dropping in!”
- Fishing rules
- CT DEEP lists largemouth and smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, yellow perch, brown bullhead and sunfish in Lake Waramaug. Trout are catch and release only from March 1 until 6 a.m. on the second Saturday of April, and the daily limit is 5 trout the rest of the year. Bass and chain pickerel follow the statewide lake rules: bass are open all year with a 12 inch minimum and 6 fish a day in total, and chain pickerel have a 15 inch minimum and a daily limit of 6.
- Source: portal.ct.gov · “Species: LMB, SMB, CP, YP, BB, S”
Not found on an official source: speed limits, quiet hours / time limits, horsepower limits, boating season. That means we could not find it on an official page, not that there is no rule.
Fees, hours and rules for the Town of Washington power boat launch are on the town Parks and Recreation page linked from the state park page.
Marinas, launches and boat services near Lake Waramaug
Listings on the lake or in its towns, grouped by type. In each group, places with a phone come first, and both sets are A to Z. Not ranked, and no business paid to appear.
Boat launch (2)
- Lake Waramaug Boat Ramp (Town of Washington) Washington
Lake Waramaug questions
How big is Lake Waramaug?
656 acres
Where is the public boat launch on Lake Waramaug?
The state park launch on North Shore Road takes car top and carry in boats only. Power boats may launch only at the Town of Washington boat launch.
What are the no wake rules on Lake Waramaug?
Slow No Wake from May 15 through September 15 in the northernmost 1,300 feet of the cove next to the state park; wake enhancing devices are banned.
Do I need a permit or sticker to boat on Lake Waramaug?
CT AIS Stamp required for registered vessels on CT inland waters (fee applies).
Can I rent a kayak or boat on Lake Waramaug?
Kayak, canoe and paddleboard rentals on site in the state park for the 2026 season, run by Litchfield Paddle.
What are the fishing rules on Lake Waramaug?
CT DEEP lists largemouth and smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, yellow perch, brown bullhead and sunfish in Lake Waramaug. Trout are catch and release only from March 1 until 6 a.m. on the second Saturday of April, and the daily limit is 5 trout the rest of the year. Bass and chain pickerel follow the statewide lake rules: bass are open all year with a 12 inch minimum and 6 fish a day in total, and chain pickerel have a 15 inch minimum and a daily limit of 6.
Where can I launch a power boat on Lake Waramaug?
Only at the Town of Washington boat launch. The launch in Lake Waramaug State Park in Kent is car top and carry in only, about a 150 foot carry, for boats with outboards of 12 HP or less.
Do I need a permit for the Washington boat launch on Lake Waramaug?
The Town of Washington requires an annual permit with current proof of registration, plus an inspection fee set by the Board of Selectmen that is collected at launch. Every motor boat and trailer is inspected before it launches.
Is the Lake Waramaug town ramp open now?
No. The Lake Waramaug Authority hours sheet says the Town of Washington ramp fall season ended October 26, 2026, and no later hours are posted. Car top and carry in boats can still use the state park launch, which keeps park hours of 8 am to sunset.
What are the boating rules on Lake Waramaug?
Only 20 non residents are allowed on the water at once across the town and state park launches. Wake enhancing devices and seaplanes are banned. From May 15 to September 15 the northernmost 1,300 feet of the cove by the state park is Slow No Wake. Car top boats with motors need a Town of Washington inspection sticker before launching at the state park.
Is there a fee at the Lake Waramaug State Park launch?
The park parking fee applies. Connecticut has dropped parking fees for cars with CT plates. Out of state cars pay $15 on weekends and holidays and $10 on weekdays from April 1 through October 31.
Do I need a fishing license to fish Lake Waramaug?
Yes, if you are 16 or older. CT DEEP requires an inland fishing license for anyone 16 or older; it runs for the calendar year and ends December 31, and anglers under 16 need none. Connecticut residents 65 or older get the inland license free, and Connecticut residents age 16 or 17 pay half price. CT DEEP says the Trout and Salmon Stamp may be needed for trout.
Do I need a boating certificate on Lake Waramaug?
Yes, if you live in Connecticut, own property in Connecticut or your boat is registered in Connecticut, to run any boat with a motor or a sailboat 19 and a half feet or longer. CT DEEP accepts a Safe Boating Certificate, a Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation or a valid US Coast Guard vessel operator license, kept on board. Every personal watercraft driver needs a Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation from Connecticut, NY, MA, NH or RI.
Where do I get my boat inspected for Lake Waramaug?
At the Washington Town Ramp. CT DEEP says the Lake Waramaug Watercraft Inspection and Decontamination Program inspects boats there during posted hours, and its decontamination unit is at the New Preston Fire Station, 185 New Milford Turnpike, New Preston. Car top boats with outboards of 12 HP or less need its sticker before launching at the state park. Call the program at 860-868-6427 to confirm hours or arrange a launch before dawn.
Is the Lake Waramaug town ramp open in November?
The Town of Washington posts town ramp hours only through the last Sunday in October, and no page posts hours after that. Check with the Town of Washington for later dates.
Can I launch a kayak on Lake Waramaug in winter?
CT DEEP lists the car top and carry in launch in Lake Waramaug State Park as open year round. Car top boats with a motor still need a Town of Washington inspection sticker before launching there.
Do I have to wear a life jacket paddling Lake Waramaug in the fall?
Yes. Connecticut law says everyone aboard a kayak, canoe, paddleboard or rowboat must wear a Coast Guard approved life jacket from October 1 through May 31. Children 12 and under must wear one all year while underway.
Is the ice on Lake Waramaug safe to walk on?
CT DEEP says ice is never 100 percent safe. Stay off clear ice under 4 inches thick, and white snow ice is only about half as strong. It is illegal to drive a car or truck on the ice in Connecticut.
Are there water quality advisories at the Lake Waramaug launch?
CT DEEP posts water quality advisories, such as cyanobacteria warnings, on its Lake Waramaug launch page. Check that page before you go.
Can I fish from shore on Lake Waramaug?
Yes, at Lake Waramaug State Park. CT DEEP marks Lake Waramaug for shoreline fishing and lists fishing among the park activities, and the state park offers the only public access on the lake.
Answers checked on CT DEEP Waramaug launch page, Town of Washington 2026 boat launch regulations, Lake Waramaug Authority ramp hours sheet, CT DEEP Lake Waramaug State Park page, CT DEEP state park fees page, CT DEEP boat launch FAQs.
Answers checked on CT DEEP fishing licenses page, CT DEEP boating certificate page, CT DEEP Waramaug launch page.
Answers checked on Town of Washington 2026 boat launch regulations, CT DEEP Waramaug launch page, CT DEEP life jacket page, CT DEEP ice safety page.
Fishing answers checked on CT DEEP lake and pond regulations, CT DEEP species regulations, CT DEEP fishing licenses page, CT DEEP Lake Waramaug State Park page.
Towns and services near Lake Waramaug
Winter boat storage near Lake Waramaug
Towns with winter boat storage on record, closest first, within 40 miles of the listings in this guide (straight line).