State Parks and National Parks

The Block Island National Wildlife Refuge occupies part of a former U.S. Coast Guard light station and protects 66 acres of sandy beaches and rolling dunes.

The bird-watching is outstanding. The refuge is an important resting stop for neotropical migrating birds and raptors. The intertidal shoreline supports a significant roosting area for migratory shorebirds, including the black-bellied and semi-palmated plover, sanderling and dunlin during both the spring and autumn migrations. The refuge also supports a gull colony of 1,000 pairs and a colonial wading bird rookery consisting of 30 black crowned night heron nests.

Although no developed trail system exists, the site is accessible by foot over sandy terrain. Surf fishing is permitted along Block island's shoreline.