Made up of a pair of long peninsulas, Coskata-Coatue (pronounced “co-skate-uh coat-oo”) Wildlife Refuge is both a popular warm-weather destination and a wild, remote barrier beach.

Rolling maritime dunes cover hundreds of acres and support bayberry, beach plum, heather, and beach grass. The Cedars, a red cedar savannah and woodland facing away from Coskata Beach and the Head of the Harbor, is the largest of its kind in New England. Coskata Woods is a mature maritime oak forest that contains gnarled, wind-blown trees. Gray and harbor seals feed on fish and invertebrates in the Great Point riptide and use the nearby beach as a haul-out.

Find answers to frequently asked questions, including oversand vehicle (OSV) and permit information, here.

Explore 16 miles of oversand vehicle routes and walking trails including the popular Beach Trail, Inside Trail, and Coskata Woods Trail, plus miles of beachfront. A trip to Great Point at the extreme northwest tip of the refuge is recommended, as is a visit to the lighthouse (open seasonally), which has been aiding mariners across three centuries.

Hiking from the Wauwinet Gatehouse to the refuge is popular—all hikers are advised to wear proper hiking footwear, bring water, and allow enough time before sunset. Please only embark if you’re prepared for a strenuous hike across soft sands. Salt marsh mosquitoes and greenhead flies can be prevalent during July and August. Hunting is allowed so wear bright colors during hunting season. Dogs must always be on a leash.

Visiting in your 4×4 vehicle is welcome. Deflate your tires to 12-15 PSI, and use caution. The speed limit is 15 MPH. For beginner to moderately experienced OSV drivers, a regularly patrolled and recommended route will take roughly 40 minutes one way, starting at the gatehouse and leading straight up to the Great Point lighthouse. Note the weather and tide before heading out. Access is limited due to environmental conditions as determined each day. Visit the trail map portion of this page to download a map before beginning your trip—cell phone reception can be spotty. The narrow barrier beach portion of the Refuge, Coatue, is recommended for experienced OSV drivers, as the sand is extremely soft and not regularly patrolled by Trustees rangers.

For more information about OSVs and permits, visit the FAQ section of this page. To learn about Guided Tours, click here.

Open daily, 9AM to sunset—active surfcasters excepted (unless conditions prevent access). Please check the weather and tides before heading out, and call 508.228.5646 #2 for up-to-date property access information. Allow a minimum of three hours for your visit.

The gatehouse opens for the season on May 20, 2022. Gatehouse hours are 9AM-5PM in June, September and October. During the peak summer season in July and August gatehouse hours are expanded to 8AM-6PM.

The property is patrolled year-round, and sections of the refuge may be closed depending on environmental conditions. Permits are required for any vehicles driving onto Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge. Visit the FAQ section on this page for more information.

The Refuge is free for all pedestrians, and may park at the Wauwinet Gatehouse during the off-season. Pedestrians must stay on marked OSV trails and never walk through the dunes. Please respect our neighbors and do not use private property to access the water’s edge.

Wauwinet Rd.
Nantucket, MA 02554
Telephone: 508.228.5646
Email: nantucket@thetrustees.org

Get directions on Google Maps.

From Nantucket town rotary, take Polpis Rd. east for 6 mi. Turn left onto Wauwinet Rd. and continue to end where gatehouse is located.

Access is by oversand vehicle (permit required) or foot.

The greater coastscape, which includes the federally owned Great Point Lighthouse and Nantucket Conservation Foundation land, remains a popular destination for saltwater anglers in search of striped bass and bluefish. Yet this double-fingered peninsula jutting northward between the Atlantic Ocean and Nantucket Sounds is so much more: a blend of sandy beach, rolling dunes, and forest uplands both rugged and serene.

The Refuge provides multiple habitats for an array of coastal plant and animal species, including heather and beach plum, a maritime oak forest and savannah of red cedar – the largest of its kind in New England – which offer shelter to deer. At the beachfront, watch for horseshoe crabs advancing in extremely slow motion, seals basking in the sun, and shorebirds skittering above the surf line.

Wauwinet Gatehouse will open for the season on May 20, 2022 at 9AM. The gatehouse will be open 9AM-5PM, May, June, September, October and 8AM-6PM through the months of July, August until Columbus Day.

A station to deflate your vehicle tires is located near the gatehouse—drivers are required to deflate to 12-15 PSI before entering the Refuge.

Seasonal portable toilets are available at Wauwinet Gatehouse and Great Point Lighthouse.

To inquire about small ceremonies and events, please email Nantucket@thetrustees.org

Free trail map distributed from bulletin board in the parking area. Please understand that supplies periodically run out.

We recommend that you take a photo of the map on your phone so you can refer to it during your visit, or download a trail map before you head out.

Three entities own the vast majority of these acres, forming a large wildlife refuge system encompassing four parcels: The Trustees’ Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge; The Haulover and Coatue Wildlife Refuge, both held by the Nantucket Conservation Foundation (NCF); and the Nantucket National Wildlife Refuge at Great Point, which is owned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Several small lots scattered throughout the Refuge are in private hands.

• Refuge is located more than a mile by foot from gatehouse.
• Oversand permits required for vehicles.
• Dogs are not allowed between April 1 and September 15 (including inside vehicles).
• Sections of the refuge may be closed due to environmental conditions.
• Authorized hunting, only with written permission, is allowed on this reservation for a limited number of hunters, according to MassWildlife regulations during hunting season, from ½ hour before sunrise all day until ½ hour after sunset, Monday through Saturday. Hunting is not allowed on Sundays. Signage is posted at the property listing safety precautions, requirements, and rules for the benefit of all visitors. Learn more about hunting on Trustees properties.

Warning! Seals are wild animals and can be dangerous. Seals in this area will chase fish caught on a line. Seals are attracted to fish that are being filleted. Stay Safe.

• If fishing: bury any fish remains and be careful at the water’s edge if cleaning anything with fish remains.
• DO NOT APPROACH OR FEED SEALS (STAY 50 YARDS AWAY)
• Be aware of your surroundings, seals will come up to your vehicle if you have fish.
• Watch children. Children playing at the water’s edge are at risk of cutting off a seals escape. Seals can weigh up to 800 pounds, move quickly, and have serrated teeth.
• Consider fishing at a different location on the property where seals are not so prevalent: Marker 5, Marker 4, or the North Parking lot.

The Trustees reserves the right to photograph or video visitors and program participants for promotional use, and usage of our properties implies consent. Please read our photo and video policy.