Seaside Trail to Dune Trail Loop

The Seaside Trail begins just next to the visitor center and parking areas. A wooden boardwalk takes hikers through the sand dunes and out onto the beach. To continue to the loop trail, turn right and hike south along the beach. Enjoy the peaceful atmosphere while looking for dolphins, pelicans and other wildlife. You may see fishermen along the way as well. Approximately a third of a mile from the Seaside Trail, follow the Dune Trail sign and hike over the first dune to access the trail. Continue on the boardwalk and enjoy the view from the platform halfway through the dunes. Once you exit the Dune Trail boardwalk, take a right and continue north to the visitor center and parking lot on the gravel path.

Fun Fact: The dunes you see are man-made structures. Around the time of the establishment of the wildlife refuge the Civilian Conservation Corps (part of Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal) planted dune grasses and constructed dune fencing to build up dunes in this area. Almost a century later, the dunes have completely cut off ocean washover to Back Bay and are now an ecosystem in their own right.