Planning Your Visit

Refuge headquarters is located at 6 Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport , MA, right before the bridge to Plum Island. It is directly across the road from the Massachusetts Audubon building. The administrative office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30am-4pm, and the visitor center & exhibits are open 11am-4pm, 7 days a week. For more information, please call 978/465-5753.

The refuge is open daily from sunrise to sunset but is subject to temporary closures. Closures that routinely occur are discussed below.

During the warmer months, the Plum Island section of the refuge sometimes fills to capacity. Public entry is then restricted typically for several hours. Plan on arriving early in the morning to avoid this inconvenience.

This juvenile piping plover will soon depart the refuge for wintering areas south.

During the fall, a controlled deer hunt may be conducted on the Plum Island portion of the refuge. For your safety and to reduce user conflict, this refuge section is closed to all other public entry at this time.

The Nelson Island section of the refuge is closed Monday – Saturday generally from early September – early February (commercial clammer permittees and waterfowl hunters during state seasons excepted) but is open daily during the remainder of the year.

A daily entrance fee is in effect year-round at the Plum Island section of the refuge. When the refuge entrance gatehouse is not staffed envelopes and an “iron ranger” pipe safe are available for fee deposition.

Annual passes are available at refuge headquarters and the entrance gatehouse when staffed.

Rest rooms are located in parking lots 1 (seasonal) and 4 (year-round) and are wheelchair accessible. Potable water is available only at the lot 1 rest rooms.

The Plum Island section of the refuge is accessible by way of a 6.5 mile (10.5 kilometer) roadway. The first 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometers) is of an asphalt surface while the remainder is of gravel. Designed for scenic travel, this roadway meanders by shrub/thicket, dune, salt marsh, and other habitats and provides outstanding wildland scenery. For your safety, roadside parking is prohibited and a 25 mph (40 kmph) speed limit is in effect.

The Nelson Island section of the refuge is accessible by foot only via a 0.8 mile (1.3 kilometer) gravel trail.

The white-tailed deer can be observed on the refuge year-round.

Poison ivy is common on the refuge and is contagious during all seasons. To avoid this and other hazards, stay on established trails.

A greater yellowlegs takes advantage of lowered refuge impoundments water levels to search exposed mud flats for food.

When the refuge beach is open, ocean swimming is generally permitted. However treacherous undertows, currents, and heavy surf may be present and lifeguards are not provided. When in the water or walking the beach, always keep children within reach and never turn your back on the ocean!

The refuge road and its shoulders are generally narrow with limited sight clearance. Be alert for other motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians and obey all traffic laws.

Loss of or damage to personal belongings can ruin an otherwise memorable outing. Valuables should not be left unattended. Carry them with you or leave them at home. Report any suspicious or criminal activity immediately to a refuge officer.

The refuge has established a Carry In – Carry Out refuse policy. Please properly dispose of all your trash, and any litter you remove, off the refuge.

Typical of New England coastal sites, the refuge experiences a wide range of meteorological conditions with weather best described as changeable. Springs (March – May) are generally cool with snow storms occasionally into April. Summers (June – August) are usually warm with periodic heat waves and thunderstorms. Falls (September – November) typically begin warm and stable then turn cool to cold, and winters (December – February) can be mild to severe with bitterly low temperatures and much snow. Windy conditions are common throughout the year and have a significant cooling effect.

Information on nearby lodging, restaurants, and other amenities is available from the Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 29 State Street, Newburyport, MA 01950. Telephone: 978/462-6680.

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management, Division of Forests and Parks, offers both tent and RV camping at nearby Salisbury Beach State Reservation, PO Box 5303, Salisbury, MA 01952. Telephone: 978/462-4481.