dutch island

If you like to kayak and are looking fir some gentle, open waters, head to Fort Getty in Jamestown, RI. Easy access to the bay and Sheffield Cove makes this a great place to kayak or SUP with the whole family. My 5 year old and I like to head towards the Dutch Island lighthouse and then turn back towards the cove. For kicks we kayak underneath the Fort Getty fishing pier to cut through. If you don't have a kayak or SUP, you can easily and affordably rent them through Jamestown Outdoors.

The island is closed to the public and carries a fine if caught there. It was closed because of "dangerous conditions posed by open and exposed bunkers and cisterns", many of which are either open or only covered with plywood. It's very difficult for local emergency crews to access and rescue those that ignore the warnings.DEM has made many attempts to clear these dangers and re-open the island to the public, but vandals have stolen the materials used to close and cover the bunkers. Tourists and vandals have also caused damage to the natural environment, threatening the wildlife there.Because of inconsiderate people, the island remains closed to the public for the indefinite future. Only those authorized should land there.

Dutch Island in the west passage of Narraganset Bay is a step into a forgotten past. Here is where the Dutch traded with the Indians before the Colonies were founded. The island is filled with over grown concrete fortifications dating from the Revolutionary War to World War I. Hundreds of troops used to be stationed on the island that was once briefly considered as a site for the Coast Guard Academy. Its history is detailed in the 1998 book 'Dutch Island and Fort Greble' by Walter K. Schroder and the fortifications are shown on a Youtube video when you Google it. It is now a wildlife preserve and can be reached only by boat or kayak. As you land on the island, be sure and hide your kayak because there is a $200 fine for trespassing on the island which also has the Dutch Island Lighthouse at its southern tip.

Dutch Island light is located on Dutch Island, a small island on the west side of Conanicut Island (Jamestown). The lighthouse is 42" feet tall and was built in 1875 and had a 4th order Fresnel lens. The lens was removed years ago and don't know where it is now. An earlier light was first built in 1826, but fell apart and was replaced by the present light. The lighthouse can only be reach by boat, but a good view can be had from Fort Getty in Jamestown.This area is a great place to kayak and landing on the island in a kayak presents no problems. I have been out there many times and besides the lighthouse the island has old ruins of a fort and some military type of buildings. The light used to be in absolutely horrible condition, with parts hanging off and pieces laying around the base. The door was open so you could climb inside, but the condition made this somewhat dangerous. Fortunately the lighthouse foundation got enough money to fix the light and the restoration was completed and the lighthouse relit in 2007. They did a fantastic job, and it now looks like it did when it was first built in 1875, but as far as I know is not open to the public. The lighthouse can also be seen looking south while crossing the Jamestown bridge.