Great Point & Wauwinet Guide

Understanding Great Point and Wauwinet

Here's what you need to know: Great Point and Wauwinet are connected but distinct. Wauwinet is a small village on the harbor side, home to a handful of private residences and the legendary Wauwinet hotel. Great Point is the spit of land that extends north from Wauwinet into the Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge, culminating at Great Point Lighthouse. You can stay in Wauwinet with relative ease. Getting to Great Point requires either a four-wheel-drive vehicle with an oversand permit, a guided tour, or a very long walk.

The entire northern barrier beach system - Coskata, Coatue, and Great Point - comprises roughly 1,117 acres managed by the Trustees of Reservations. This is protected conservation land, critical habitat for shorebirds, seals, and the rare species that depend on undisturbed coastal ecosystems. Access is restricted precisely because the area is so valuable - ecologically, recreationally, and spiritually.

Don't let anyone tell you this is just another beach. The water here is different - colder, cleaner, with currents that bring nutrients and the fish that follow. The sand is pristine because so few people reach it. The lighthouse stands alone against the sky because someone, decades ago, decided this place was worth protecting. It was. It still is.

Great Point Lighthouse

The lighthouse at Great Point has guided mariners around this dangerous point since 1784, though the tower you'll see today isn't the original. The first wooden lighthouse lasted until 1816. Its stone replacement stood for over 160 years before a winter storm in 1984 toppled it into the sea - a reminder that nothing built by humans is permanent against these elements.

The current lighthouse was erected in 1986, a faithful reproduction of the 1818 tower standing 60 feet tall. It's fully automated now, but the light still sweeps across the waters each night, warning vessels away from the treacherous shoals that have claimed countless ships over the centuries. The Nantucket Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum in town documents some of these disasters - it's worth a visit before you come out here, to understand why this light matters.

You can walk around the lighthouse exterior, though the tower itself isn't open for climbing. The real draw is the location - standing at Nantucket's absolute northern tip, with water on three sides and nothing between you and the open Atlantic. On clear days, you can see the mainland. On foggy days, you can barely see the water's edge. Both experiences are worth having.

Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge

If you're lucky, you might spot something extraordinary in the refuge - a piping plover chick following its parent across the sand, a northern harrier hunting over the dunes, or a harbor seal hauled out on the beach. Seal watching is a popular activity in this area. What makes this location special is the diversity of habitats compressed into a narrow strip of land: ocean beach, harbor shoreline, salt marsh, freshwater ponds, and maritime forest all exist within a few hundred yards of each other.

The Trustees of Reservations manage this land with a careful balance between access and protection. During shorebird nesting season (April through August), some sections close entirely. The piping plover - a small, sand-colored shorebird - nests directly on the beach, its eggs nearly invisible against the sand. One careless footstep can destroy a nest. This is why permits are limited, why vehicles must stay on designated routes, and why we all need to take this responsibility seriously.

The best time to see [species] is early morning or late afternoon, when wildlife is most active and most visitors have left. Bring binoculars - you'll want them not just for birds, but for the seals that congregate on the sandbars and the raptors that patrol the dunes. The refuge isn't a zoo; the wildlife here lives on its own terms. Your job is to observe without disturbing.

Wildlife You May Encounter

• Piping Plovers: Endangered shorebirds nesting April-August (keep distance, avoid marked areas)
• Harbor Seals: Often seen on sandbars, especially during low tide
• Grey Seals: Larger than harbor seals, increasing in numbers
• Ospreys: Nest on platforms throughout the refuge
• Northern Harriers: Hunt low over the dunes
• Terns: Multiple species including least terns and common terns
• Shorebirds: Sandpipers, plovers, and oystercatchers during migration
• White-tailed Deer: Yes, even on this narrow spit of land

Oversand Vehicle Permits and Driving

Let me be straight with you: driving on the beach to Great Point isn't for everyone. You need a four-wheel-drive vehicle (true 4WD, not just AWD), you need an oversand vehicle permit from the Trustees of Reservations, and you need to know what you're doing. I've pulled more stuck vehicles out of soft sand than I can remember, and every one of them had a driver who thought beach driving was just regular driving on sand. It's not.

The permit process exists for good reason. It limits the number of vehicles on the beach, protects the ecosystem, and ensures drivers understand the rules. Permits are available seasonally from the Trustees - typically from mid-April through mid-October - and they sell out, especially for summer weekends. Book early.

Permit Details

• Where to get permits: Trustees of Reservations (online or at Wauwinet gatehouse)
• Season: Approximately mid-April through mid-October
• Cost: Around $180 for season pass, $50 for day passes (prices change annually)
• Requirements: Valid driver's license, proof of vehicle registration, vehicle inspection
• Vehicle requirements: Four-wheel drive, shovel, jack stand, tire gauge, tow strap

Beach Driving Essentials

Here's what the locals know that visitors often don't:

• Air down your tires: 12-15 PSI for sand driving. This is non-negotiable.
• Bring a tire gauge and compressor: You'll need to re-inflate before driving on pavement.
• Check the tide: High tide can cut off sections of beach. Know the schedule.
• Drive in existing tracks: The sand is more compacted where others have driven.
• Keep momentum: Stopping in soft sand often means getting stuck.
• Carry a shovel and tow strap: Required, and you may actually need them.
• Respect closures: Nesting areas are marked and off-limits. Period.

Wauwinet Village and The Wauwinet Hotel

The thing about The Wauwinet is that it understands something most luxury hotels forget: sometimes the greatest luxury is access to wildness. Yes, the property is impeccable - the rooms, the service, the attention to detail. But what you're really paying for is the location. The hotel sits on a narrow strip of land between Nantucket Harbor and the open Atlantic, with private beaches on both sides. On calm days, you swim in the harbor. On wavy days, you walk five minutes to ocean surf. This kind of choice simply doesn't exist elsewhere on the island.

Topper's, the hotel's restaurant, deserves its reputation. The New American menu emphasizes local seafood and seasonal produce, served in a setting that manages to be elegant without being stuffy. Jackets are no longer required (the dress code has relaxed somewhat), but this isn't a place for flip-flops. Make reservations well in advance for summer dining - the restaurant draws guests from across the island, not just hotel visitors.

The hotel runs complimentary jitney service to and from town, which matters because Wauwinet is genuinely remote. There's no village center here, no shops, no casual stroll to dinner. This is the point: Wauwinet offers seclusion that downtown Nantucket cannot. Whether that's a feature or a bug depends entirely on what you're seeking.

The Wauwinet Hotel At A Glance

• Season: Typically May through October
• Rooms: 32 rooms and cottages
• Dining: Topper's restaurant (reservations essential)
• Beaches: Private harbor and ocean beach access
• Activities: Tennis, kayaking, sailing, naturalist tours
• Great Point access: Hotel offers guided excursions for guests
• Transportation: Complimentary jitney to/from town
• Price range: $$$$ (rates from approximately $800-2,500+ per night in peak season)

Fishing at Great Point

In my 25 years on the water, Great Point remains my favorite surf fishing destination on the island. The rip where the currents collide at the point creates a natural feeding zone - baitfish get caught in the turbulence, and the stripers know it. I've caught bass here over 40 pounds, fish that make your arms shake and your heart pound. That doesn't happen everywhere.

The best fishing happens at the rip itself, where Nantucket Sound meets the Atlantic. Timing matters: the hour before and after tide changes tend to produce the most action. Dawn and dusk are prime, as with most fishing, but I've caught good fish here in full midday sun when the conditions were right.

You'll need to bring everything - there's no tackle shop at the Point. Standard surf setups work: 10-12 foot rods, spinning reels loaded with 20-30 pound braid, and a selection of plugs, soft plastics, and maybe some eels if you're serious. Wire leaders for bluefish, which will absolutely destroy anything else. The blues here are aggressive and plentiful through summer.

Target Species

• Striped Bass: May through October, best May-June and September-October
• Bluefish: June through September, often aggressive feeders
• Bonito and False Albacore: Late summer into fall, if you can reach them from shore
• Fluke: Summer months, from the harbor side

Fishing Tips

• Licenses: Massachusetts saltwater fishing permit required (free, but required)
• Best tides: Moving water, especially the two hours around tide change
• Watch the birds: Diving terns and gulls often mark feeding fish
• Early morning: Beat the crowds and fish the best light
• Respect the resource: Follow catch limits, handle fish carefully, release responsibly

Tours vs. Self-Drive Options

Don't have a 4WD vehicle or an oversand permit? You can still experience Great Point. Several outfitters offer guided tours that handle all the logistics - and honestly, for first-timers, this might be the better option. You'll learn more from a knowledgeable guide than you would navigating on your own, and you won't risk getting stuck in soft sand with the tide coming in.

Guided Tour Options

• Trustees of Reservations Natural History Tours: Naturalist-led trips focusing on ecology, wildlife, and history. Educational and excellent for families.
• Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge Tours: Offered through the Trustees, these tours include vehicle transportation and guided walks.
• The Wauwinet Hotel: Guests can arrange private Great Point excursions through the concierge.
• Private Charter Services: Several island outfitters offer custom tours; ask at the visitor center.

Self-Drive: Is It Worth It?

If you're an experienced off-road driver with the right vehicle, a season permit makes sense for multiple visits. You'll have flexibility to fish at dawn, stay for sunset, and explore at your own pace. But for a single trip, the guided tour option often makes more sense - the per-person cost is comparable to a day permit, and you don't risk the headaches of beach driving inexperience.

One middle option: rent a Jeep. Several island rental companies offer 4WD vehicles, and some can add oversand permits to the rental. This gives you independence without needing to trailer your own vehicle to the island. Just be honest with yourself about your skill level - stuck vehicles damage the ecosystem and require expensive tows.

How to Get There

To Wauwinet Village

• By Car: Take Polpis Road east from town, then turn north onto Wauwinet Road. About 8 miles, 20 minutes driving.
• By Bike: The ride from town is scenic but challenging - approximately 8 miles with some hills. Not recommended for casual cyclists.
• By Taxi: Available from town, approximately $30-40 each way.
• Wauwinet Hotel Jitney: Complimentary for hotel guests and dinner reservations at Topper's.

To Great Point

• By 4WD Vehicle: Requires oversand permit from Trustees. Access point at Wauwinet gatehouse.
• By Guided Tour: Various operators offer vehicle-based tours. Book in advance, especially in summer.
• On Foot: You can walk to Great Point from Wauwinet - approximately 5 miles one way along the beach. Bring water, sun protection, and realistic expectations about the distance.
• By Kayak: Advanced paddlers can access via Nantucket Harbor, though this is a serious undertaking requiring experience with tidal currents.

Best Times to Visit

• May-June: Shoulder season means fewer crowds. Shorebirds nesting (respect closures). Striped bass fishing peaks.
• July-August: Peak season with warmest weather, but also most visitors. Book permits and tours early.
• September-October: Many consider this the best time - warm water, thinner crowds, excellent fishing, fall bird migration. Weather can be unpredictable.
• Early Morning: Any time of year, sunrise at Great Point is spectacular and virtually empty.
• Shoulder Hours: Avoid midday crowds by arriving before 9 AM or after 4 PM.