parker river national wildlife refuge

If you like to bird watch, this is a great place to go. We have seen Snowy Owls, Eagles, Falcons and a lot of others. Even in the winter it's a great place to explore. Bring your camera.... we have even seen seals resting on the beach and the sides of the road.

This is why we go to Newburyport! Very protected area for wildlife. Trails, birds, nature protected for miles.

A great hike and nice boardwalks by the ocean. Such pretty scenery and wild life all around. Definitely worth the hike and your time.

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge is a terrific place to go bird-watching, beach walking or kayaking. It's got a nice paved drive, and several short trails through the marsh. I was there in early December and even in the cold weather, it's a nice place to visit. This time of year, keep an eye out for Snowy Owls!

Loved the boardwalked interpretive walk that loops through the dunes! The guide is extremely well written in highlighting the big picture about the ecological importance of the plant species in each section of the dunes. Some marvelous turkey sightings on the road and along the trail, too! And we loved watching the birdwatching humans watch the birds, from the experts with their big spotting scopes to the folks just following along behind the turkeys and gobbling at them.

It's just plain beautiful. the light is special and ever changing. The birds are plentiful. There's marsh, there's beach, there's river. And there's 8 miles of it.

This is a must for anyone who is either in the area or who loves birds, dunes, boardwalks and the sea. Hellcat Swamp trail is the very best, and both the Audubon and Parker River Visitor Centers have great features without duplication.

We came to walk the long and splendid beach this Veterans' Day. It was a beautiful day, sun, sand and sparling ocean waves, white spindrift against the blue ocean and sky.. Sandpipers darted in and out of the waves. Lots of birders, nature trails. wow.

Wonderful spot. Beaches are great - when you can get in. Except for the 1st parking lot, the beaches are closed from April thru August to protect the Plover Birds - it is a wildlife refuge after all. Some of the rangers missed their time in history - Nazi Storm Troopers would have been their dream job.

It was my birthday and the wife and I were trying to think of a nice walk near the beach. We read online that Plum Island has some nice trails through marsh with wildlife. We decided to take the drive through Newburyport, pay the $ 5.00 parking fee and the entrance gate and have a walk. It was well worth it. We started at the beach, where we watched the waves crashing onto the sand. We walked close to the dune and then we headed to the refuge area, mainly the Hellcat Wildlife area. We got a nice view from an observation tower, which gave great views of the North Pool. We also took the boardwalk trails around the area, through the Dune Loop. The boardwalk was safe and well maintained (although a bit buggy in some areas). Lots of tall grass and thick brush throughout. On the way out, we got to see the sun set over Plum Island sound, whilst watching a Great Egret look for its supper. It was a nice way to end my birthday. Well recommended to others who like wildlife walks.

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge is by far one of my very favorite nature places. I've been coming here for many years. At best I now get here once a year, as I live in Maine, with no car. I made a recent visit while visiting my family in the area. The preserve is a wildlife sanctuary where one can find many bird species, both indigenous and migrating, including water foul and raptors. It is also not unusual to see fox, white-tailed deer, wild hare, seals and many other species of mammal. The refuge is ranger-monitored and managed and tends to keep out the typical beach-goer in favor of those who are there to appreciate the solitude, quiet and simplicity of nature. The refuge offers 6.5 miles of unspoiled beach abutting dunes, the Parker River wetlands and inner marshes within the towns of Newbury, Newburyport, Rowley and Ipswich. Therefore, the landscape and environment are varied and abundant. Often, the endangered piping plovers are nesting, so many areas of the preserve can be off-limits to foot traffic. On some occasions there have been swarms of swallows, filling the air, diving and soaring often low to the ground in an insect-feeding frenzy. The preserve has seven parking lots, most with beach access. Other lots are on the marsh side, offering wildlife viewing stations, and bird towers, most with well-maintained boardwalks. There are restrooms located at the start, middle and end of the preserve.... which also leads into the adjoining Sandy Point Reservation, at the south end of the long peninsula, in Ipswich. The preserve is only paved about half way in. From there it is dirt/gravel road. Because the preserve closes at dusk, and has an entrance fee and room for only so many vehicles, access is restricted when vehicle lots are full, and after dark. Four-wheel drive vehicles, with permits, are (unfortunately) allowed on the beach, bringing their pollution and beer-drinking fisherpersons to the land. While the preserve generally is clean of trash, it is still seen in some spots.... because humans manage to ruin nature wherever we go. If you don't want to drive it, or don't have a car, the refuge is accessible also by foot or bicycle. On this particular visit I spotted a seal off the beach, a lone deer crossing the dirt road, many bird species including Canada Geese and white cranes. I took a short walk on the far end of the beach and climbed the bird tower near lot # 6 as the sun set to the west. Sunrise and sunset times are posted at the main gate, as are the tides. The gate was not staffed on this visit. There is a drop box for the entrance fee, and camera observing who pays and who doesn't. For a measly $5.00 the entrance fee was well worth it, and the funds go toward preserving the park and other associated costs. I love Parker River Wildlife Reservation, and plan to return again and again.

Beautiful area . A lot of walking but boardwalks are very nice. Beach areas are very clean and sandy. Stay away from the beach area at the farthest point of Plum Island near the Merrimac River. People walk their dogs and the beach smells putrid. Shame. Such a nice island. Bob's Lobster also has great food.

1st day in the refuge we saw a huge eagle and many other shore birds. We kayaked the river trail and had fun riding the incoming tide.

We are not experienced birders but we were there in mid September on a gloriously sunny and warm day and saw tons of birds wherever we looked. We were there mid-day, too, which apparently isn't prime time for bird watching. We have been to several National Wildlife Refuges along the Atlantic Flyway at about the same time each year and this is by far the best.

I really do love this beach, it is beautiful. However, the staff, volunteers, rangers, etc. and their pompous attitudes really ruin the experience. On our most recent visit, we asked the payment kiosk employees when the other parking lots would be open and basically got a death stare and attitude. We just asked a question. No need for an attitude. We also saw a ranger screaming at a family packing up their car to leave for having a kite. I get it, there are protected birds here that quite possibly taste like chicken, but screaming at a family? Totally unnecessary ranger power trip. The employees here really need an attitude adjustment and maybe training in how to smile and how to play nice with others.