Discover Rhode Island’s Hidden Coastal Gem: Sachuest Point

Until recently, my understanding of Middletown, Rhode Island, was what I saw from the car window while cruising down Route 138 on my way to Newport. What a narrow town – or at least that was my perception.

On a warm, sunny October Sunday, my wife and I set out to find Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge in Middletown. She spotted it online. I'd never heard of it. How could I have if it's not on Route 138?

We love to find new and different places to hike or walk. Somehow, we had missed Sachuest. That was about to be remedied.

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Trail and Fishing Highlights

Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge sits on a 242-acre peninsula between the Sakonnet River and Rhode Island Sound, with more than 2.5 miles of nature trails, viewing platforms, and easily-accessible saltwater fishing perches for fishermen of all skill levels.

The trails are easy to maneuver with many paths leading to the shoreline.

Sachuest Point once hosted a race track and several military outposts before being transformed into a wildlife preserve in 1970, following the donation of some 70 acres of land by the Audubon Society.

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Wildlife You Might Spot

Visitors to Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge have reported seeing a variety of wildlife, including deer, rabbits, peregrine falcons, and even a snowy owl or two. The refuge is reportedly home to one of the largest winter populations of harlequin ducks on the East Coast.

Getting There from New Bedford

Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge, an easy 45-minute drive from New Bedford, is one of four refuges in Rhode Island, managed by the Rhode Island Wildlife Refuge Complex for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

The best part is that there is no fee to visit Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge.