Sandy Point State Reservation

August 30, 2020 Sunny

Sandy Point State Reservation is located on the southern tip of Plum Island on the north shore. Access to the Reservation is through the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, which also charges an entrance fee. There are several parking areas in the Wildlife Refuge, but only a small parking lot for the State Reservation. Many people parked in the Refuge and biked in.

The Wildlife Refuge features beaches, sand dunes, and saltwater marshes. We first stopped by one of the beaches there and tried to have lunch. It was really windy and we had sand in our sandwiches. So we decided to drive to the State Reservation and check out the beaches there.

The parking lot leads directly to the beach. The beach is wide but very rocky.

This area is called the Bar Head Rocks. At high tide the rocks are hidden under water, and in the past it was a well known maritime hazard as many ships had capsized here.

The water here was very clear. The kids enjoyed scrambling and finding crabs and other creatures under the rocks. There were fish, seagulls, and probably the famous piping plovers that come to nest there.

As we round the tip of Plum Island, the rocks gradually disappeared and we found a very inviting sandy beach.

The water was chilly, as can be expected on the north shore, but the kids jumped in nonetheless, and had the water all to themselves.

From where we were, we could see Crane Beach. The views were exceptional. The beach was very beautiful with nice clear waters and fine sand. The tide was calm.

Afterwards, as we drove back through the Wildlife Refuge, we stopped at some observation towers and took some walks through the marshes.

Plum Island is such a special place, with different natural features and wildlife, that it’s worth spending a whole day exploring and relaxing.

• The beach had beautiful, fine sand. The area near the Parker River outlet was very calm and shallow, great for young children, but the water was a little cool.
• Beautiful beach on the tip of a wildlife sanctuary. Such a treat!
• It was so windy the sand pounded against our sandwiches and made them hard. But at least the sand was nice.
• It was super windy, and the water was cold, but playing in the sand was better.
• The water was freezing and our subs got sandy because of the wind. But the water highways that we made out of sand were good.

For more information: Sandy Point State Reservation official site.