Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary

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Hours:	Hours Vary see below
Ages:	Toddlers, Kids, Teens, Adults
In/Outdoor:	Indoor, Outdoor
Cost:	$$ see below
Category:	Hiking/Walking

Other Ideas: Minuteman Trail National Park; Massachusetts DCR State Parks; Breakheart Reservation; Appleton Farms; Garden In The Woods: Native Plant Trust

Ipswich River, Mass Audubon’s largest sanctuary, offers more than 10 miles of interconnecting trails that invite you to explore the forests, meadows, and wetlands. Canoe along eight miles of the Ipswich River that run through the sanctuary and camp on Perkins Island, located a half-mile up the river (members can rent canoes from May through November).

In March, celebrate the coming of spring with a maple sugaring tour. In April, listen for the chorus of American toads and pickerel frogs. Watch for river otters, painted turtles, and great blue herons at various times throughout the year. Climb the drumlin and esker, landscape features created by a glacier 15,000 years ago. Huge rocks and exotic trees and shrubs that were part of a former arboretum provide an adventurous walk along the Rockery Trail.

View Events Schedule.

Members can also rent a cabin that is conveniently located close to the sanctuary’s office and program facilities and sleeps four.

HOURS

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May 1-Oct 31: Tuesday-Friday 9 am-4 pm, weekends and Monday holidays 9 am-5 pm
November 1-April 31: Tuesday-Sunday and Monday holidays 9 am-5 pm
Trails: Dawn to dusk when center is open.

COST

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$4 nonmember adults; $3 nonmember children (3-12) and seniors

WEBSITE

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www.massaudubon.org/Nature_Connection/Sanctuaries/Ipswich_River/news.php

LOCATION

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87 Perkins Row, Topsfield, MA map
Phone: 978-887-9264

From Boston and the south: Take Rt I-95 north to exit 50 and follow Rt 1 north. At the junction of Rt 1 and Rt 97, turn right onto Rt 97 south (toward Beverly and Danvers). Follow Rt 97 south and take the second left onto Perkins Row. Follow Perkins Row for 1 mile, and the sanctuary is on the right.

From the north: Take Rt I-95 south to exit 53A and follow Rt 97 south. At the junction of Rt 1 and Rt 97 in Topsfield, stay on Rt 97 south and take the second left onto Perkins Row. Follow Perkins Row for 1 mile, and the sanctuary is on the right.

REVIEWS

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Wonderful camp week

My daughter did a Bugs camp last week. She loved it. The staff was great, very informed and committed, and they all had a great sense of humor. Gave teh kids lots to hunt for, experiment with, think about, talk about.

REVIEWS BY STUDENTS

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Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, Grade 3 Student

I went to camp here for a week. I caught a snake, dragon fly, salamander, and turtles( even saw "Godzilla Jr." the turtle). I liked building forts with sticks there. I really liked "fielding". When we went fielding we caught dragonflies. I went canoeing to Perkins Island. We made Gnome homes on Perkins Island. We saw turtles while we were canoeing. I liked paddling the canoe. We went tide pooling. We found mussels, hermit crabs and periwinkles. This camp was a lot of fun.