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Cape Poge Wildlife Refuge

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Hours:Hours Vary see below
In/Outdoor:Outdoor
Cost:$ see below
Category:Parks & Nature
Other Ideas: Rose Kennedy Greenway; Purgatory Chasm State Reservation; Breakheart Reservation; Walden Pond State Park; Bradley Palmer State Park & Wading Pool


Cape Poge Wildlife Refuge is a wildlife refuge on Chappaquiddick Island (Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts) owned and managed by The Trustees of Reservations. The refuge consists of 516 acres and includes the 1893 Cape Poge Lighthouse.

Chappaquiddick Island's eastern edge is a barrier beach formed thousands of years ago by offshore currents that deposited tons of sand. Today this beach extends for seven miles from Wasque Point past the Cape Poge Lighthouse to the Gut.

Tidal waters support extensive salt marshes, especially around Poucha Pond. The Cedars is a grove of century-old, low-growing eastern red cedars sculpted by salt spray and wind. Cape Poge Elbow is home to a gull rookery and nests of piping plovers, least terns, and oyster catchers. West of the dunes lies Cape Poge Bay, where calm, clear waters serve as a nursery for finfish and shellfish. Powerful currents push through the Gut, flushing Cape Poge Bay with oxygen-rich water and attracting striped bass, bluefish, bonito, and albacore.

Seasonal tours allow visitors to explore the lighthouse, diverse upland and marine habitats, and world-renowned fishing spots. Annual over-sand vehicle permits are available for qualified vehicles, providing access to 14 miles of dune roads. The lighthouse can also be reached via a 3.5-mile hike from the Dike Bridge.

HOURS↑ top

Open year-round, daily, 24 hrs.
Gatehouse open May 30 - Oct. 15, daily, 9:00am to 5:00pm.


COST↑ top

May 30 to Oct. 15: Trustees members free.
Nonmembers: adult $3, child (15 & under) free.
Free to pedestrians at other times of the year.


WEBSITE↑ top

www.thetrustees.org/pages/286_cape_poge_wildlife_refuge.cfm

LOCATION↑ top

Dike Road, Marthas Vineyar, MA map
Phone: (508) 627-7689

From Edgartown-Chappaquiddick ferry, take Chappaquiddick Road 2.5 mi. At sharp right curve, continue straight on Dike Road (dirt road) 0.5 mi. to Dike Bridge. Continue over Dike Bridge to Cape Poge gatehouse and entrance.

Free town parking lot (20 cars) located on town-side of Dike Bridge. Additional parking (15 cars) is located at Mytoi on the left side of Dike Road 0.2 mi. before Dike Bridge. Limited handicapped-accessible transportation; call 508/627-3599 for details.

Tour participants may utilize a complimentary shuttle service that runs all day, with pickup 15 minutes before tour time at the Edgartown-Chappaquiddick ferry landing on the Chappaquiddick side.

Note: there is no longer over-sand vehicle access to Cape Poge Wildlife Refuge via Wasque due to severe beach erosion at Wasque Point.

RELATED LINKS↑ top

Info changes frequently. We cannot warrant it. Verify with Cape Poge Wildlife Refuge before making the trek. If you find an error, please report it...
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