Visitor OpportunitiesHours of Operation:The trails are open to the public from sunrise to sunset. However, with a night-fishing permit you will be allowed to be on the refuge after dark for fishing activity only. Refuge law enforcement, in cooperation with Middletown Police Department, patrol the area after hours.The Sachuest Point Visitor Center is open everyday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. We also close the visitor center for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day, although the trails will remain open. Please call ahead for unexpected closures, or current weather conditions. Environmental Education:We have a modern visitor center with a small interpretive area and classroom, plus nearly 3 miles of easy trails to make Sachueast Point a perfect spot for field trips for schools, as well as for the general public. A very popular summer program for children and their parents includes topics like Seining, Sea Turtles, Collage Hike, Tracking Migratory Birds, and Rocky Shores. In addition, there are year-round walks and talks conducted by both volunteers and staff who are eager to share their enjoyment of nature with you. Those public programs and many more are listed on our home page under Latest News and Happenings. The Friends of the National Wildlife Refuges of Rhode Island conduct an award-winning environmental education program with participants from many elementary schools in Southern Rhode Island. The program seeks to educate schoolchildren, through classroom curricula combined with field-based tours and study, about the importance of barrier beaches and the natural environment. To view the Barrier Beach Curriculum, please visit the following site: http://www.friendsnwr-ri.org/beach_curriculum/index_beach.html. Environmental Education - EarthCache An EarthCache involves using a GPS unit to go to a certain location. Before going to the location the user needs to research the EarthCache and perform the educational lesson at the site. Visitors to the refuge EarthCaches will discover unique land features, geological processes, and a treasured landscape. Approximately 20,000 years ago the last ice age ended. The geography and landscape of Rhode Island and New England is a direct outcome of glacial retreat. Go to the EarthCache page for more information and a quiz. Fishing:Sachuest Point is renowned for its fishing opportunities, from the avid saltwater flyfisher to families enjoying an afternoon together. Near the end of summer we co-host the popular Take Me Fishing Day for families along with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management's Aquatic Resource Education Program. This event has simulated fishing games for toddlers and real fishing instruction and fishing from the shore for older children and families. Night fishing permits are available at the visitor center. Spearfishing has also become a popular use of the shoreline access points on our refuge. Some of the fish caught from the shoreline of Sachuest Point NWR are striped bass, bluefish, tautog and scup.
Interpretation:Over 2 miles of trails, kiosks, interpretive panels, and viewing platforms await the refuge visitor. Refuge volunteers frequently provide guided tours throughout the year. The interpretive area at Sachuest Point Visitor Center will be completely renovated in 2011, with many new and exciting exhibits.Wildlife Observation and Photography:Nearly 3 miles of trails, kiosks, interpretive panels, and viewing platforms await the refuge visitor. Special events, such as the annual take me fishing day, photography workshops, and a host of guided tours and walks are available. If you forgot to bring your binoculars, don't worry, we have you covered with free loaner pairs and ID books in an easy to carry backpack.Please click on the Birding Resources and Wildlife and Plant Lists in the Quick Links menu above for more information about what you will see at Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge.
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Last updated:
January 10, 2012
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