Home › Connecticut › West Haven › Sandy Point Bird Sanctuary
Sandy Point Bird Sanctuary
4.5 ★★★★★ 301 Google reviews · Running trail in West Haven, Connecticut · Open 24 hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Boardwalk
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Open 24 hours
Confirmed from Sandy Point Bird Sanctuary's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Protected wetland & beach habitat teeming with birdlife, with footpath access & ample parking.
What runners say about Sandy Point Bird Sanctuary
“Beautiful park that has gone through a lot of revitalization these past few years.”
“With being just a stones throw from New Haven and West Haven this beach is surprisingly peaceful!”
This is one of my favorite places to be. There are many birds to watch as well as some beautiful almost seems private (how little people there are) mile of sandy beach I discovered this gem and now I love to go fishing there.
Parking lot and then there is a pier that you can walk out to. Very beautiful for sunrise views. Not a place to really walk the beach it's only a viewing spot. Alot of glass in the parking area so if u bring your pups please be careful og there paws.
Beautiful quiet spot for a walk along the beach. More beach than a bird sanctuary but still lovely.
Not a bad place for an afternoon walk/cycling in a hot summer day.. We visited at the end of a cloudy July weekend for a hope of watching birds but all we see is seagull. We definitely heard chirping of a few birds but were not fortunate to see any within our short stay.
Trail conditions & character
“Beautiful park that has gone through a lot of revitalization these past few years.”
“Parking lot and then there is a pier that you can walk out to.”
“With being just a stones throw from New Haven and West Haven this beach is surprisingly peaceful!”
“I suggest walking down the beach which leads to a boardwalk and more of the coastline.”
Plan your run at Sandy Point Bird Sanctuary
The practical stuff
- AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
- SurfaceBoardwalk — flat and scenic, and slick when wet, so watch your footing
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- Phone+1 203-937-3712
Hours
| Monday | Open 24 hours |
| Tuesday | Open 24 hours |
| Wednesday | Open 24 hours |
| Thursday | Open 24 hours |
| Friday | Open 24 hours |
| Saturday | Open 24 hours |
| Sunday | Open 24 hours |
Running trails near West Haven
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Morse Park
4.3 ★★★★☆ 330 reviews
Park with facilities for baseball and a beach, plus batting cages.
Long Wharf Nature Preserve
4.4 ★★★★☆ 176 reviews
Fiddler crabs and migratory birds frequent this small waterfront preserve featuring salt marshes.
Bradley Point Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 729 reviews
Park featuring a sandy beach with boating, fishing & supervised swimming, plus seasonal toilets.
Lighthouse Point Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 3,691 reviews
An 1847 lighthouse anchors this beachfront that is popular with swimmers & a prime birding spot.
East Shore Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 532 reviews
Harborside park offering facilities for baseball, soccer & tennis, plus a playground & paved paths.
Long Wharf Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 1,833 reviews
Narrow area on the water offering walking paths, benches & a pier with historic schooner replicas.