               
 | Property Description | 1,117 acres | Established 1974 | While Coskata-Coatue ("co-skate-uh co-too") Wildlife Refuge may be best known for its historic lighthouse, many miles of white-sand beaches, and world-class fishing, the Refuge is a complex ecosystem that features rare habitats, plants, and birds. Rolling maritime dunes cover more than 200 acres and support different associations of bayberry, beach plum, heather, and beach grass. Landward of Coskata Beach and the Head of the Harbor lies The Cedars, a red cedar savanna and woodland, the largest of its kind in New England. Coskata Woods is a mature maritime oak forest that contains gnarled, wind-blown trees. Below the forest canopy are freshwater and saltwater swales teeming with hidden wildlife. The ridges and valleys of The Glades are separated only by a few vertical feet, yet they support plants characteristic of both a salt marsh and a maritime shrubland. Great Point Lagoon's fluctuating water levels support changing plant life, and Coskata Pond, also a lagoon, serves as a nursery for fish, soft-shell clams, and quahogs. Gray and harbor seals feed on fish and invertebrates in the Great Point riptide and use the point's beach as a haul-out. Seasonal tours allow visitors to explore Great Point Lighthouse and the assorted natural wonders of the Refuge. |
| | Trails | | 16 miles of oversand vehicle and walking trails, plus beach front. Moderate hiking. |
| | Facilities | Public restrooms are located at the Great Point Lighthouse from Memorial Day through Columbus Day weekend. Please note: The restroom located halfway to Great Point has been eliminated. A bike rack is located at the Wauwinet Gatehouse.
Private functions may be arranged; e-mail or call 508/228-6799 for more information. |
| | Projects | | On May 13, a satellite transmitter was fitted to a male Osprey named Mr. Hannah on Coskata-Coatue. For now you are able to follow Mr. Hannah's travels on the island as he searches for food to feed his family. When Mr. Hannah begins his migration, you will be able to follow its journey to who knows where (quite possibly South America!). We are able to track Mr. Hannah thanks to a generous donation from an anonymous friend of Coskata Coatue and The Trustees of Reservations. Click here to follow Hannah. |
| | Tours | The Trustees of Reservations offers guided natural history tours that help adults and children alike explore the natural wonders of Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge as well as the historic Great Point Lighthouse. All guided tours are led by expert naturalists. All proceeds support ongoing conservation work at Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge, including conducting wildlife research, protecting endangered species and their habitats, and maintaining the structure of the lighthouse. Fishing Discovery Tour
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, late May through mid-October | Call for departure times.
Discover Coskata-Coatue’s intriguing coastal environment as you learn the fine points of saltwater fishing on this unique adventure! Adult $75; Child (12 and under) $30. Sunset Tours
Tuesdays, July and August
Enjoy a 2-hour guided trip to Great Point to bask in the setting sun – and climb Great Point Lighthouse. Reservations required. Call 508.228.6799. Members: Adult $30. Nonmembers: Adult $40. Member/Nonmember child (12 and under) $15. Natural History Tours
Daily, mid-May – mid-October | 9:30AM & 1:30PM
Join our experienced guide on this 2.5-hour oversand vehicle tour and learn about the fascinating flora and fauna that call Coskata-Coatue home. Members: Adult $30. Nonmembers: Adult $40. Member/Nonmember child (12 and under) $15. Science Discovery Thursdays (remove Science Discovery Wednesday)
Marine Ecology Walk Thursdays, June 11 - September 3 | 9:30AM | Adults $35, Child $25.
Back by popular demand, join an Aquarium intern from Maria Mitchell Association to seine net and discover what lives in our local waters. To register call Maria Mitchell Aquarium at 508.228.5387. Meet at the Wauwinet Gatehouse. Fishing for Kids (Ages 10-17)
Thursdays, June 5 - August 13 | 1:30 PM | Child $45. This fishing adventure is dedicated to teaching children how to fish. An experienced Maria Mitchell Teaching Intern will spend the afternoon with the group on the beach. To register call Maria Mitchell Association at 508.228.9198 or online at www.mmo.org. Meet at the Wauwinet Gatehouse. NEW! Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum and Great Point Tour
Sundays, May 26 - October 15 | 9AM SHARP! - 12:30PM
Featuring a guided tour through the Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum followed by a tour of the Coskata Coatue Wildlife Refuge. Members $35, Nonmembers Adults $50. Member/Nonmember child (Ages 8-12)$15. For reservations call Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum at 508.228.1885. Meet at the Museum, parking available at the UMass Field Station. Charter Tours
Pre-booked charter tours are available May – October. Call 508.225.6799.
Note: For all tours, please arrive on time! Tour vehicles depart promptly on-schedule. Smoking and alcoholic beverages are not permitted in the tour vehicle. Tours are weather dependent. Appropriate clothing recommended. Bring binoculars, camera, film, refreshments, sun block, sun glasses, and insect repellent. You are traveling to a remote location, so remember that medical or emergency facilities are not available. However, all tour vehicles carry two-way radios. |
Pre-booked charter tours from may to October may be arranged in advance; e-mail or call 508.229.6799 for more information. |
| | Literature | Free trail map distributed from gatehouse and by patrolling rangers (also included with OSV permit). Please understand that supplies periodically run out. You may also download trail maps from this web site or mail order trail maps in advance of your visit. Some publications are also available for purchase at the Islands Regional Office at 508/693-7662. |
| | Hunting Advisory | Seasonal hunting is permitted at this property subject to all state and town laws. Click here for further information. |
| | Property Acquisition History | | Original acreage a gift of Mrs. J. Allen Backus and Mr. and Mrs. Robert W. Sziklas in 1974. Additional land given by Christopher K. Lohmann and Pamela Fezandie Lohmann in 1983 and 1989 and by Backus Trust in 1986. Partial interest in 125 acres given by the Lohmanns in 1989 and 1993, completed in 1998. |
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Telephone:
508-228-5646 E-mail:
islands@ttor.org When to Visit:
Open year round. November through April – Dawn to Dusk. May through October, dawn to 10PM. Allow a minimum of 3 hours. Admission Fees & Permits:
Free to all pedestrians and boaters. Oversand vehicle permits: Permit may be purchased for $140 from gatehouse attendant daily (9am to 6pm). Permit is valid April 1 to March 31. A complimentary family membership to The Trustees of Reservations is issued with each permit purchase. There are no membership discounts for OSV permits. Membership in The Trustees of Reservations is not transferable; member cards may not be used by nonmembers to qualify for member discounts on oversand vehicle permits. Regulations / Advisories:
Sections of the Refuge may be closed to protect nesting shorebirds.Seasonal hunting is permitted. See details below left.Dogs are permitted on the beach from Sept. 16 through March 31st. Dogs are not permitted any other time (including in vehicle). Dogs must be leashed at all times. How to Get There:
From Nantucket town rotary, take Polpis Rd. east for 6 mi. Turn left onto Wauwinet Rd. and continue to end where gatehouse is located. There is no parking area. Access is by over-sand vehicle (permit required) or foot; bicycles must be left at the gatehouse. There is no designated parking area nor on-street parking. The Refuge's southernmost boundary is located more than a mile from the gatehouse. Road Map:
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