Nantucket National Wildlife Refuge

Nantucket National Wildlife Refuge is a protected area at the northeastern tip of Nantucket Island where barrier beach dunes meet the tidal zone. The roughly 24-acre site sits at the point where Nantucket Sound connects with the Atlantic Ocean.

The refuge was established in 1973 when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service acquired the land from the U.S. Coast Guard. This action was taken to protect the migratory bird populations that arrive seasonally to rest and breed in the area.

The Great Point area has deep roots in fishing culture, with anglers coming here to pursue bluefish and striped bass in the surrounding waters. You will see people wading into the surf and casting their lines as part of the local way of life.

Access to the refuge requires a five-mile drive across sand, necessitating both a beach permit and a four-wheel drive vehicle for the journey. Make sure your vehicle is suitable for sandy conditions before attempting to drive out to this remote location.

The refuge serves as a nesting ground for endangered roseate terns and piping plovers that breed and rear their young in this protected coastal zone. Gray seals and harbor seals regularly gather on the shoreline to rest among the rocks and sandy areas.

Location: Nantucket

Inception: 1975

Website: https://fws.gov/refuge/nantucket

GPS coordinates: 41.33480,-70.03750

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:45