CHARLESTOWN — A group of Charlestown women goes paddling during just about every full moon through most of the year.

They kayak on Ninigret Pond, launching their boats at a small public ramp off Charlestown Beach Road. They paddle though a small channel, cross the Charlestown Breachway and land on the eastern side of East Beach, where they share great wine, cheese and special snacks.

When the sun is shining, a few members of the same group gather quahogs and steamer clams on Ninigret, often called Charlestown Pond. It is one of Rhode Island’s most accessible and bountiful salt ponds — perfect for a solo or group paddle, night or day.

Summer or winter.

Access to the pond always has been easy, and now, a new launching area in Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge makes the state’s largest salt pond even more accessible.

A narrow channel connects Ninigret Pond to Green Hill Pond in South Kingstown. Together they cover 2,150 acres.

Their shores range from densely populated to wild. On the wild side, paddlers at dusk and dawn may see deer, foxes, cottontail rabbits and other mammals.

During the summer, the pre-dawn chorus of songbirds is joyous.

The ponds also hold a variety of waterfowl year-around and serve as a resting area during spring and autumn migrations.

Around the middle of September, the migration of monarch butterflies passes through.

That’s also the time when a variety of tropical fish often appear in the pond, offering exciting viewing for snorkelers.

During the winter, hunters shoot a variety of waterfowl there.

During warmer weather, anglers can catch striped bass, bluefish, tautog, fluke and flounder. Reports have surfaced about stripers remaining in the pond even during the winter.

In a 1991 study of Ninigret and Green Hill ponds, scientists found 55 species of fish. In the summer, Rhode Island residents catch blue crabs here, too.

Because Ninigret and Green Hill ponds rarely freeze, there is no inappropriate season for paddling here — only inappropriate outerwear.

There are snack bars, restaurants and a bakery nearby. Public restrooms are scarce, except at state beaches.

Rental kayaks are available during the summer from the Kayak Centre of Rhode Island at (401) 364-8000 at Shelter Cove Marina on Charlestown Beach Road. Rentals are available throughout the year, with free delivery and pick-up at the boat ramp, from Breachway Bait & Tackle at (401) 364-6407, also on Charlestown Beach Road.

Five boat ramps are available. The sandy town ramp is free. Take Charlestown Beach Road and turn right immediately after the little bridge. Turn right again and go to the water.

There’s another public launching ramp at the Charlestown Breachway, but parking is limited during the summer, and there is a parking fee.

Shelter Cove Marina at (401) 364-2010 on Charlestown Beach Road and Lavin’s Landing Marina at (401) 322-7277 at 60 Sportsman Road in Charlestown charge for parking, but their launching ramps are easy to use and convenient.

The newest launching area, at the Ninigret National Wildlife Area, will put you in the middle of the pond. To get there, follow the signs to Ninigret Park, on Route 1A. Enter the park and follow the signs to the fishing area. The end of the park road is the entrance to the national wildlife refuges. You can drive to the launching area on a circular, gravel road, drop off your boat and return to the spacious parking area.

A guide to paddling all of Rhode Island’s salt ponds is available online at www.saltpondscoalition.org.

tmeade@projo.com