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Caratunk Wildlife Refuge
Caratunk Wildlife Refuge

Caratunk Wildlife Refuge

Address: 301 Brown Avenue, Seekonk, MA, 02771

Hours:
Trails: 7:00 am to 5:00 pm; Parking lot gate is closed outside of these hours.
White Barn Saturdays: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm every Saturday, with free guided walks at 10:00 am & 1:00 pm

Acres: Nearly 200

Trails: 3.5 miles

Trail Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

Bathroom: Yes, Composting toilet is located at the trailhead open during trail hours.

Dogs are prohibited. Click here to learn why and review other trail guidelines.

From the white barn to the meandering trails and crystal-clear brooks, the Caratunk Wildlife Refuge is a place frequented by nature enthusiasts and wildlife alike. With nearly 200 acres of fields, forests, streams, and ponds, Caratunk offers miles of well-marked trails, making it one of Audubon's most popular properties. In addition to hiking and bird watching, it is an ideal destination in the winter months for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

Refuge Highlights

  • Habitat: fields, forests, streams, ponds
  • Wildlife to watch for: otter, muskrat, woodchuck, deer, frog, painted turtle
  • Birds commonly found: Eastern Bluebird, Purple Martin, American Woodcock, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Baltimore Oriole, Yellow Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Blue-winged Warbler, Wild Turkey, Screech Owl, Wood Duck
  • White Barn Saturdays: The barn is open 10:00 am - 4:00 pm every Saturday, with free guided walks at 10:00 am & 1:00 pm
  • Available for birthday parties, weddings and facility rentals. Contact Michelle Solis at msolis@asri.org or (401) 949-5454 x3014.

 

Wildlife Refuges

Caratunk Wildlife Refuge Seekonk Massachusett Audubon Society of Rhode Island Hiking Birds Birdwatching

  • Image by Phoenix Aviary

  • Image by Glenn Osmundson

Using the Trails: Refuge Guidelines

All Audubon Society of Rhode Island land is protected. Our public wildlife refuges are for everyone to enjoy. Please respect the natural habitats of Audubon's refuges and avoid disturbing their inhabitants. Also, respect the rights of others when using the trails.

In order to ensure that these areas remain as healthy habitats, we ask you please to abide by these simple rules, enjoying the natural settings with quiet enthusiasm and a respectful sense of adventure. By conserving these open spaces, Audubon Society of Rhode Island, along with its members and partners, is able to fulfill its mission of protecting the nature of Rhode Island.

To accomplish this, we kindly request the following:

  • Permitted (and encouraged!):

    • Hiking on the trails
    • Observing & learning about wildlife
    • Photography
    • Bird watching
    • Enjoying the area's natural ambiance and solitude
    • Picnicking only at the picnic tables at the barn.

  • Not permitted:

    • Dogs, horses and other pets
    • Motorized vehicles and bicycles beyond the parking lot
    • Hunting, fishing or trapping
    • Camping
    • Littering
    • Alcoholic beverages and smoking
    • Collecting plants or other natural objects
    • Geo-caching or Letterboxing
    • Jogging, running and excessive noise

  • Dogs can be best friends, good companions and even part of the family, but dogs are not allowed on Audubon Wildlife Refuges for a number of reasons. Read More.
    *Service dogs are welcome.

Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium

Visit Rhode Island's largest nature center and aquarium. Walk the trails through meadows and marshes to Narragansett Bay. Say hello to Zach, our Common Raven.

Plan Your Trip Today →

Shop Online: Audubon Nature Shop →

Birding in Rhode Island

Stay involved with Audubon's birding programs and resources:

Audubon Events Calendar →

Audubon Avian Research Initiative →

Audubon Avian Ambassadors →

Recent Bird Sightings (eBird) →

Red-bellied Woodpecker by Jason Major

Stormwater Innovation Center

Roger Williams Park is home to the Stormwater Innovation Center. The Center has been developed by the Audubon Society of Rhode Island and its partners! Learn more about the nature-based solutions we are using to learn about and protect urban water quality.

Learn More →