Parker River National Wildlife Refuge Complex

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United States
Newburyport, MA
Parker River National Wildlife Refuge Complex

Federally managed conservation area. Enjoy opportunities to hike, bike, and view wildlife within a wide variety of habitats. OPEN SUNRISE TO SUNSET.
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Free nature based programs and field trips offered every week. Visit our online calendar to learn more! For official information about the Parker River NWR Complex: www.fws.gov/refuge/parker-river

For more information about the Fish and Wildlife Service: www.fws.gov

For more about our social media efforts: www.fws.gov/home/socialmedia

The refuge consists of 4,662 acres of diverse upland and wet

land habitats including sand beach and dune, shrub/thicket, bog, swamp, freshwater marsh, salt marsh and associated creek, river, mud flat, and salt panne. These and other refuge habitats support varied and abundant populations of resident and migratory wildlife including more than 300 species of birds, along with mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and plants.

06/13/2026

That's a wrap! Thanks to all who joined our annual 'Let's Go Outside ' celebration! Special thanks to our staff, volunteers, and partners who provided everything from face paint to fishing tips to sea creatures to safe views of the sun. See you next year!

06/12/2026

🌞Let's Go Outside🌞

It's almost here! Join our 11th annual outdoor celebration on Saturday from 10am - 2pm. Try your hand at surf fishing, meet tide pool critters, make art, view the sun through solar scopes, learn about dark skies for wildlife, and more! This FREE event has something for everyone. Parking available at Lot 1 and the visitor center with a free shuttle in between. The refuge road will be otherwise closed to vehicles so you can bike, walk, roll, or stroll without worrying about traffic!

Please note: the refuge will delay opening on Saturday until 9:45am and there will be NO beach access except fishing until after 2pm. This means NO swimming, beach walking, sunbathing, etc. until after the event ends.

06/10/2026

Did you know our visitor center is the northern terminus for the Bay Circuit Trail and Greenway? Stewarded by the Appalachian Mountain Club, this 230-mile route links the north and south shores of Massachusetts. As part of Let's Go Outside this Saturday, you can join a special tour with AMC Trail Coordinator Sarah Dolan! Just a few spots are still available! Participants will be dropped off at Old Town Hill and hike the trail back to the refuge, including a stop for a special tour at Historic New England's Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm.

This is a free program, but registration is required: https://activities.outdoors.org/s/oc-activity/a5UUN000001klZd/act00016317

06/09/2026

Happy paddling! Water trail markers are IN for the season. Paddle the salt marsh past chatty willets, nesting osprey, and resting horseshoe crabs. Updated maps will be available on our website and at the boat launch kiosk next week. Both the orange and yellow trails have a total of 8 markers, and take about 2.5 to 3 hours to complete out and back. We recommend launching and returning within 2 hours of high tide. For example, if high tide is at noon, plan to launch around 10am or later and be back to the boat ramp around 2pm or earlier. Only non-motorized boats can be launched at the refuge ramp.

Safety first! Life jackets are required for children under the age of 12 in Massachusetts. However, the refuge recommends visitors of all ages wear a life jacket. Accidents happen fast on the water, and even strong swimmers can become fatigued and disoriented quickly. When in doubt, don't go out.

06/08/2026

Ope mind if I sneak right past you there? Mourning doves are often derided for their measly nests, the product of historically nesting on rocky outcrops that required just a few sticks to keep eggs from rolling away. Modern mourning doves are adept at making do! This includes using man-made pots and planters, natural and man-made outcroppings, and sometimes even borrowing another bird's nest like this soon-to-be mother!

06/07/2026

Same roads, same rights! Sharing the road on the refuge means more than just accommodating other human road users. Thanks to all who observe the speed limit and brake for the wildlife who call this place home. Roadsides can be particularly attractive to wildlife, so please travel with caution to keep our furry and feathered friends safe!

06/06/2026

One week away! Don't miss our annual outdoor festival next Saturday June 13 from 10am - 2pm. This free event has activities for visitors of all ages to explore all Plum Island has to offer. Activity spotlight: touch tanks! Get up close and personal with tide pool critters alongside educators from Explore the Ocean World. Learn about the importance of protected beaches for wildlife!

06/05/2026

Update: congrats to everyone who correctly identified a sturgeon! Bonus points to Jake B. for being the first to specifically identify the scutes. Scutes are made of keratin and protect sturgeon by acting as an extra layer of protection. You can learn more about sturgeon scutes and snoots here: https://www.fws.gov/story/sturgeon-snoots-and-scutes #:~:text=Sturgeon%20scutes,Sturgeon%20(careful%20handling%20them!).

Freaky Friday! Can you identify this beach find?

06/04/2026

We've had lots of questions about how nesting plovers fared in Saturday's squall. The good news first! At least a dozen nests weathered the storm and are still active on the shore. Unfortunately, approximately 20 nests were lost due to flooding or being buried in sand. Plovers are adapted to live on the ocean's edge, storms and all. Plover pairs will nest up to three times a season if eggs are lost, and young birds often learn to identify better nesting locations through experience. Stay tuned!

06/03/2026

Happy World Bicycle Day! Want to explore the refuge by bike but nervous about sharing the road? Join us Saturday June 13 between 10am - 2pm for our annual 'Let's Go Outside' celebration. During this open streets event, the refuge road is closed to vehicles beyond Lot 1 and open only to biking, walking, strollers, and other non-motorized uses to provide a safe and comfortable exploring experience for visitors of all ages and abilities. Bring your best light-up sneakers and handlebar streamers for a unique roll! Bonus: visit our bike safety station for a free 'ABC' safety check and helmet fitting. No registration required, but you can sign up for reminders and weather notices at: bit.ly/parkerriversignup.

Address

6 Plum Island Turnpike
Newburyport, MA
01950

Telephone

+19784655753

Website

http://www.fws.gov/refuge/parker-river

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