Hike Sachuest Point in Rhode Island

Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge is located in Middletown, Rhode Island on beautiful Aquidneck Island.  The 242 acre refuge is popular with fishermen and bird watchers and also offers a few miles of well-maintained trail for a unique New England hiking experience.

The Flint Point Loop circles the northern half of the point with the Ocean View Loop to the south.  By connecting these two trails and circling the perimeter of the point, hikers can create a loop of about 2.5 miles.

The trailhead and parking are located at 769 Sachuest Point Road in Middletown, Rhode Island.  A USFWS issued map can be found by clicking here.

Our Sachuest Point Hike

On a brisk February afternoon, we certainly expected to have the refuge mostly to ourselves.  When we arrived, however, we found the parking lot full and cars parked on the grass in the overflow parking area.  It turns out that we had chosen to visit Sachuest Point in the same weekend as a snowy owl. Snowy owls occasionally venture as far south as Rhode Island but sightings are relatively rare.  The area around the visitor’s center was filled with local bird enthusiasts and the crowd was buzzing with excitement.

We took a few minutes to observe the owl (which was perched on top of the visitor’s center building) before starting our walk clockwise from the parking area on the Flint Point Loop.  The trails through the refuge are wide, flat gravel paths. Just before the Flint Point Loop meets the Ocean View Loop is a short, rocky, cutoff trail that is not marked on the map. I would highly recommend this short cutoff for a brief change of pace and beautiful ocean views.

Sachuest Point Highlights

The refuge at Sachuest Point is truly a hidden gem in Middletown, RI.  The wide, flat trails, ocean views, and high potential for wildlife sightings make for a unique “hiking” experience.  Sachuest is ideal for families with children (even in strollers) but equally appealing to avid hikers looking for a short, easy hike with interesting scenery. Other highlights include three raised viewing platforms and eight ocean access points along the trail.  The platforms also have free (no quarters needed!) mounted binoculars for viewing wildlife.

The large visitor’s center at Sachuest Point offers information about the history and ecology of the refuge, interactive exhibits for children, and helpful staff.  The center also contains a small store selling books, maps, and souvenirs.

Know Before You Go

The refuge is a coastal environment with very few large trees, leaving the trails very exposed.  Be sure to plan for exposure to sun and wind during your walk. If it is windy, it will be very windy on the point and on sunny summer days there will be very little shade.  This would make a great early morning or after dinner walk during the summer months. The Fish and Wildlife Service also warns about an abundance of ticks and poison ivy in the refuge.

Parking is free and plentiful at Sachuest and bathrooms are located in the visitor’s center.

Have you visited Sachuest Point?  Please share your experience in the comments below!

Love coastal hikes? Check out The Marsh Trail at Sandy Neck.