Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge

National Wildlife Refuge System The National Wildlife Refuge System is a collection of United States lands and waters managed specifically for wildlife. Units of the system stretch across the continent, from the icy north shore of Alaska to the balmy Florida Keys, and beyond to tropical islands in the Caribbean and South Pacific.

Over 550 refuges - more than 95 million acres - are included in the National Wildlife Refuge System. They range in size from Minnesota's tiny Millie Lacs (less than an acre) to Alaska's sprawling Arctic (almsot 20 million acres.) Small or large, each refuge provides vital habitat for America's wildlife populations.

Enjoy your National Wildlife Refuges!
Mission

"The mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System is to administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management and where appropriate, restoration of fish, wildlife, plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and futures of generations of Americans."
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997

Trails through Time...
Both natural and man-made forces have shaped and impacted the surrounding coastal landscape. As you walk along the trails, look for evidence of the area's history. Time and history unfold in a story of the land now known as Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge.

Cross Refuge Trail
This 1.1 mile trail connects Foster Cove and Grassy Point Trails. It offers the casual hiker the most comprehensive introduction to the different habitats of the Refuge.

As you walk through upland woods, coastal grasslands and shrublands, and along fresh and saltwater wetlands, look for traces of past land uses and watch for signs of the wildlife that inhabit these refuge lands.

Foster Cove Loop Trail
This 1.1 mile barrier-free trail winds through coastal shrublands and upland forests along Foster Cove, a historic shellfish gathering site of the Narragansett Indians.

Relic runway lights along the trail serve as a reminder of the U.S. Navy pilots who pioneered nighttime flying techniques during the Refuge's days as a military base.

"Charlietown" Runway Trail
This .8 mile barrier-free trail was carved from Runway 30, a remnant of the Charlestown Naval Auxiliary Landing Field, also known as "Charlietown."

Observant hikers will hear and see signs of the many migratory birds and wildlife that find "refuge" in the native grasses and coastal shrublands.

Grassy Point Trail
Take a walk back through time on this 1 mile trail interpreting former land uses and changes from the last ice age to the present. The level terrain trail winds through coastal shrublands and ends at Grassy Point observation platform, where you can enjoy a relaxing view of Ninigret Pond.

As you look back at the 100 ft. remnant bluffs that parallel the coastline, imagine gigantic glaciers, ten times that size, that once stood there melting into the sea.