Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge, National Wildlife Refuge in Washington County, Rhode Island, US.

Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge is a protected area of about 800 acres in Washington County, Rhode Island, with a freshwater pond, salt marshes, sandy beaches, dunes and woodlands along the Atlantic coast. The pond lies behind barrier beaches, and the varied habitats support plants and animals in distinct zones.

The refuge was established in 1974 when a private landowner donated land to protect this coastal area. Additional parcels were added over the following decades to expand the protected landscape.

The salt marshes and ponds have been hunting and fishing grounds for thousands of years. Local people depended on these waters for food and built their lives around the rhythm of the seasons.

The refuge lies about 5 km west of Charlestown, with the Atlantic shore on its southern side and Card Ponds on the refuge itself. Trails lead through the wetlands and along the coast; sturdy shoes help on wet ground near the marshes.

The land was shaped by glaciers that retreated about 15,000 years ago, leaving behind ridges and water bodies. This ice-age formation still defines the landscape you see when visiting today.