Visitor Opportunities
Great Bay offers a variety of recreational opportunities for visitors. The Ferry Way and Peverly Pond pedestrian trails are open daily from dawn to dusk and offer opportunities for wildlife watching and photography. The Peverly Pond Trail and restroom facilities are wheelchair accessible.
The refuge hosts seasonal deer hunts under federal and state regulations. For more information on deer hunting, please click here.
The following public use restrictions apply on the refuge:
* Bicycle and motor vehicle access is limited to the entrance road and parking lot
* Pets are not allowed
* Fishing and collecting or disurbing animals and plants is prohibited
The Nature Trails at Great Bay
Ferry Way Trail
* Round Trip: 2 miles
* Hiking time: 1 hour
* Difficulty: moderate
The trail begins as an asphalt path adjacent to the chain link fence across the road from the visitors parking lot. After following the fence line, the trail crosses a road and veers left onto an abandoned dirt road. Entering the woods, the trail passes by beaver ponds, an old apple orchard and a large field. The trail then loops down to Great Bay, past a marsh and through the field before backtracking to the parking lot.
Peverly Pond Trail
* Round Trip: 1/2 mile
* Hiking time: 20 minutes
* Difficulty: easy
The trail begins to the left of the visitor parking lot. After passing through a forested area, the trail borders Upper Peverly Pond. Veering left, the trail heads uphill along a stream and passes by several (seasonally wet) vernal pools before winding back to the parking lot.
Download a PDF of the Trail Map here
