REFUGE INFORMATION
PARKER RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
6 Plum Island Turnpike
Newburyport, Massachusetts 01950
(978) 465-5753

Welcome to Parker River National Wildlife Refuge! The Refuge is open daily from sunrise to sunset and offers a variety of wildlife-oriented recreational and educational opportunities. Refer to the map on the reverse side for the location of available facilities. Rest rooms are wheelchair accessible and are located in parking lots 1 (seasonal) and 4. During the warmer months, the Refuge often fills to capacity. At these times all motor vehicle entry is prohibited for several hours. Plan on arriving early to avoid this inconvenience.

Wildlife Observation & Photography: nearly 300 bird species seasonally inhabit the Refuge along with a diversity of other wildlife. Several miles of designated trails meander through dune, marsh, and other Refuge habitats. Observation towers afford commanding views of the Refuge and surrounding lands and waters. The 6.3 mile Refuge access road provides several pull-offs for your viewing convenience. The Pines Trail, Salt Pannes Wildlife Observation Area, and observation platforms at parking lots 1 & 7 are wheelchair accessible

Surf Fishing: the Refuge offers some of the area's finest surf fishing. In season you may catch striped bass, bluefish, and several other species. A Refuge permit is required for night fishing and vehicle access to the beach.

Hunting: during the fall and winter, opportunities to hunt waterfowl are available in designated salt marsh areas of the Refuge. Also during the fall, a controlled deer hunt is conducted on the island section of the Refuge with hunters chosen by lottery. At this time this Refuge section is closed to all other public entry.

Shellfishing: the Refuge tidal flats are open to both commercial and recreational clamming. Town (Newbury, Rowley, or Ipswich) and Refuge permits are required.

Environmental Education: the Refuge serves as an outdoor laboratory for teachers and students from various educational institutions. A Refuge permit may be required.

To help protect Refuge resources and ensure you have a safe visit, the following are PROHIBITED:

* alcoholic beverages * camping * collecting or disturbing plants * collecting or removing beached buoys or lobster pots * collecting or removing cultural resources * collecting or removing sand or any other inorganic materials (human-generated litter excepted) * dogs, horses & all other domestic animals (seeing eye dogs and others that assist the physically impaired excepted) * erection of tents, etc. * feeding or disturbing wildlife * firearms (shotguns excepted for waterfowl hunting purposes during state seasons at which times, outside of the designated hunting areas, they must be unloaded, and broken down, encased, or in a vehicle trunk) * fires (small, contained cooking fires on ocean beach excepted) * fireworks * kite flying * launching or landing watercraft (waterfowl hunters & motorless boaters contact Refuge Headquarters for exceptions) * metal detector use * model airplane flying * nudity * parking outside designated areas * pit digging * releasing wild or domestic animals * rollerblading, rollerskating, rollerskiing, etc. * skateboarding * snowmobiling * use of lights (including vehicle headlights) to locate wildlife.

The Refuge access road is designed for scenic travel with a strictly enforced 25 mph (40 kmph) speed limit. Walking along the road is also permitted. Bicycles are permitted only on the Refuge road and in designated parking areas. Bicycle racks are available at Parking Lots 1, 2, 3, 4, and at the Pines Trail lot. Public use is restricted to designated trails, boardwalks, roads, parking areas, observation areas and the beach. All other areas, including the dunes, are closed. The Refuge beach is closed April 1 to mid-late August to provide undisturbed nesting habitat for the piping plover, a threatened shorebird. Sections of the beach not being used by nesting birds are reopened beginning July 1. When the Refuge beach is open, ocean swimming is permitted but no life-guards are on duty. Undertows and currents are strong and dangerous.

During the warmer months mosquitoes and other biting flies can be abundant. Also, ticks are common on the Refuge and can transmit Lyme disease and other serious human infections.

A daily entrance fee ($5/vehicle, $2/walk-on or bicycle) is in effect year-round at the Plum Island section of the Refuge. Use the provided envelopes and drop-safe when the gatehouse is not staffed. Annual passes are available. Enjoy your visit!