The Walking Tours of Plum Island,  led by Bill Sargent of Plum Island Outdoors are wonderful way to explore and learn about this beautiful and fascinating barrier island. The 2023 tours will run every Sunday from 10 – 11:30 am from March through Memorial Day weekend. The summer schedule may have some modifications and will be released in May. These 90-minute walking tours, start at the North Point of the Island by the Plum Island Lighthouse, guide participants down to the South Jetty and return back to the North Point. The Walking Tours of Plum Island are held rain or shine so be prepared with rain gear if necessary. In the instance of cancellation due to severe weather, event changes will be communicated on the Plum Island Outdoors facebook page. Given the length and significant walking, this tour may not be appropriate for young children.

During these beautiful walks there is much to explore and discover.  You will see horseshoe crabs, woolly mammoth, terns, and striped bass. Investigate the Coast Guard archaeology site and speculate on whether some of the artifacts could have been used to set U-boat nets across the Merrimack River.

Visit the Sand Machine where up to an acre of sand flows through natural weirs in the South Jetty during high course tides and view impacts of beach erosion and the dredging project that is being done to protect and restore the Reservation Terrace area of Plum Island and the Newburyport Harbor. Learn about ongoing collaborative efforts of: local residents, the Army Corps of Engineers, local nonprofits and politicians at all levels; as they have joined together to implement both short and long term solutions to rebuild and preserve this cherished beach and home.

Walking Tours of Plum Island participation cost is $10 per person, payable to The Coastlines Project at the start of the tour. Participants can park in the North Point Newburyport Beach parking lot. The weekend parking lot cost is $20 for non-residents and $12 for Newburyport residents with a valid Plum Island Beach Parking lot sticker. The What should you bring for the trip? We recommend a camera, sensible shoes and a keen sense of humor!

Bill Sargent is well respected as an authority on this beautiful area of Plum Island and has been featured by many local and regional publications.  Bill is the author of over 20 books about science and the environment, including “Islands in the Storm”, “Plum Island 4000 Years on a Barrier Beach,” and “Plum Island 2016.”

Aerial View of Plum Island: