Wasque

/Home/

Wasque
Wasque Road, Chappaquiddick Island, Martha's Vineyard, MA

Telephone:
508-627-7689

E-mail:
capepoge@ttor.org

Property Description 200 acres | Established 1967
The geology of Wasque ("way-squee") provides an excellent example of a glacially-deposited land form. Its dry, acidic, sandy soil creates conditions favorable for an oak and pitch pine woodland, sandplain grasslands, and coastal heathlands. These habitats are part of a sand barrens ecosystem that exists in patches from New Jersey to Maine. The grasslands and heathlands are globally rare communities that are maintained through active habitat management—prescribed burning, grazing, mechanical mowing, and clearing. Many rare species of plants and animals depend on these open areas at Wasque.

Bird watchers can observe many species, including ospreys (a large raptor that nests on poles high off the ground and plucks fish from the ocean). Poucha and Swan Ponds contain marshes that offer habitat for great blue herons, egrets, migrating shorebirds, and ducks. Monarch butterflies feed on wildflowers before migrating south, while mourning cloaks, sulphurs, and red admirals appear annually.

Native Americans camped at Wasque (from "wannasque," an Algonquin word meaning "the ending") during the warmer months of the year. Settlement did not arrive on this part of Chappaquiddick Island until at least 1750. Land speculation in the late nineteenth century resulted in several large, upscale development proposals that never came to be. One, dubbed "Chappaquiddick-by-the-Sea," included 750, quarter-acre plots laid out in a grid system and set along streets and broad avenues with parks and clubhouses and docking facilities for yachts. In the end, only a handful of homes were built in the area before the Reservation was established.

View the Management Plan for Cape Poge Wildlife Refuge and Wasque.





Trails
Due to recent beach erosion, there is only one half mile of oversand-vehicle trails. There are 4.5 miles of walking trails and sandy roads in upland area.


Facilities
Public restrooms. Picnic tables. Bike rack. Soda machine at Wasque Gatehouse. Fresh water by hand pump in the parking area. Limited handicapped-accessible transportation; /1975_e-mail or call 508/627-3255 for details.


Tours
The Trustees of Reservations offers a selection of guided and self-guided tours that help adults and children alike explore the natural wonders of Wasque Reservation and Cape Poge Wildlife Refuge. All guided tours are led by expert naturalists.

Natural History Tour
The Natural History Tour by over-sand vehicle includes Wasque rip and part of Poucha Pond before going across the remote sands of Chappaquiddick to Cape Poge Lighthouse. Learn about the rare shorebirds and hawks like the piping plover, least tern, and northern harrier. Photograph egrets, herons, or the American oystercatcher. Discover unusual beach wildflowers.

Duration: 2.5 hours


Departure Point: Mytoi parking area.


Days/Times: Memorial Day to Columbus Day weekend, 9am and 2pm.


Limit: 12 per tour (including children)


Reservations: Recommended. Call 508/627-3599. Messages returned.


Tickets: Trustees members: adult $30, child (15 & under) $15; nonmembers: adult $35, child (15 & under) $18.


Literature
Printed trail maps are distributed free from the bulletin board in the parking area. Please understand that supplies periodically run out. You may also download trail maps from this web site or mail order trail maps in advance of your visit.

Some publications are also available for purchase at the Islands Regional Office at 508/693-7662.



Claire Saltonstall Education Program (CSEP)
Educational programs for Martha's Vineyard school children are offered throughout the year. For more information, contact the Education and Interpretation Program Coordinator Sarah Trudel at /21_strudel@ttor.org.


Property Acquisition History
Purchased in 1967.

When to Visit:
Year-round, daily, 24 hrs. Over-sand vehicle access is subject to occasional closures (June and July) to protect rare nesting shorebirds. Allow a minimum of 1¬? hours, longer if also visiting Cape Poge Wildlife Refuge and/or Mytoi.


Admission Fees & Permits:
May 30 to Oct. 15: Trustees members free. Nonmembers: adult $3, child (15 & under) free. Free to pedestrians at other times of the year. Over-sand vehicle permit fees:$180 PLEASE NOTE: One Trustees of Reservations complimentary Family-Level membership is included with your Oversand Vehicle Permit purchase. Permit is valid Apr. 1 to Mar. 31 and can be purchased from patrolling ranger or gatehouse attendant May 30 to Oct. 15, daily, 9AM-5PM. Membership in The Trustees of Reservations is not transferable; member cards may not be used by nonmembers.


Regulations / Advisories:


Dogs must be kept on a leash at all times.
Bikes are permitted on trails only - not on the beach.
How to Get There:
From Edgartown-Chappaquiddick ferry, take Chappaquiddick Road 2.5 mi. At sharp right curve in road, bear right onto School Road and follow for 0.8 mi. At second sharp right curve in road, bear left onto Wasque Road (becomes a dirt road) and follow for 1.2 mi. to Wasque Reservation entrance and parking area (150) cars. Note: there is no longer over-sand vehicle access to Wasque via The Trustees' Cape Poge Wildlife Refuge due to severe beach erosion at Wasque Point.