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A serene lake next to bright green conifer trees and a blue sky
Ferry Way Trail Closed

Please note the Ferry Way Trail will be closed from June 2 - June 13 for trail maintenance. Our team will be using heavy equipment and rehabbing sections of trail. For your safety and the safety of our team, please do not use the trail until work is complete. Thank you!

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A golden-winged warbler singing from a tree branch
Refuge Seeks Public Comment for Compatibility Determinations

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) Complex is seeking public review and comment on Draft Compatibility Determinations for research at Parker River, Great Bay and Wapack NWRs and Wildlife Observation and Photography at Great Bay NWR. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) will accept comments received or postmarked on or before June 12, 2025.  For more information, visit our landing page. 

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A close up view of a groundhog sticking its head out of a hole in the ground.
Stay in Touch

The best way to stay up-to-date on all things refuge is by signing up for our newsletter. Monthly newsletters go out on the first of every month, with recent highlights, upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, and more! You can subscribe online here.

Visit Us

National wildlife refuges offer us all a chance to unplug from the stresses of daily life and reconnect with our natural surroundings.

The refuge provides visitors with opportunities for hiking, viewing wildlife, nature and wildlife photography, and hunting (within season).

Getting There

Though for the most part GPS is accurate in bringing visitors to the correct location, there are a few routes that you will want to avoid. Here are some tips for accessing the refuge:

  1. Enter the refuge from the traffic circle off of NH-16 (Woodbury Ave. exit) or from Arboretum Drive. 
  2. GPS sometimes takes visitors through the town of Newington to enter via Nimble Hill Rd. There is a closed gate here. This is not our gate and will not ever be open. You will need to turn around and reenter from NH-16.
  3. Be sure that your GPS is taking you to the Eastern side of Great Bay. There is no refuge access from the West.

Enjoy your visit!

Activities

Hunting
Wildlife watching
Hiking
Snowshoeing
Cross-country skiing
Photography

Related Documents

NEW Great Bay NWR fact sheet.pdf
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NEW Great Bay NWR fact sheet.pdf

Informational fact sheet about the refuge.

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Great Bay Brochure updated 2021.pdf
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Great Bay Brochure updated 2021.pdf

This is the general brochure for Great Bay NWR, last updated in 2021.

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Other Facilities in the Complex

A woman, with her back to the camera, surveys an enormous green expanse of marsh. Small hills and a cluster of trees are visible on the horizon.
Parker River National Wildlife Refuge
Located along the northeast coast of Massachusetts in an area of dense and expanding human development, Parker River National Wildlife Refuge has special significance and value to migratory birds, other wildlife, and people. The refuge also provides high-quality opportunities for nature-based...
National Wildlife Refuge
Newburyport,MA
A scenic view of a hilly, forested landscape with light blue skies and a handful of small clouds
Wapack National Wildlife Refuge
Wapack National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1972 through a donation from Laurence and Lorna Marshall, was New Hampshire's first refuge. The refuge is located about 20 miles west of Nashua, New Hampshire and encompasses the 2,278 ft. North Pack Monadnock Mountain.
National Wildlife Refuge
Greenfield,NH
A scenic view of grassy hills and a white lighthouse on the coast of Thacher Island, with the ocean in the background
Thacher Island National Wildlife Refuge
Welcome to the Thacher Island National Wildlife Refuge, where coastal habitat is actively protected and managed for migratory birds. Its location within the Atlantic Flyway, means the refuge provides an important resting, feeding, and nesting habitat for many species of songbirds and shorebirds....
National Wildlife Refuge
Rockport,MA

Rules and Policies

In order to safeguard both wildlife and refuge visitors, please be aware of the following rules and regulations.

Locations

Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge
(978) 465-5753
3 Arboretum DrNewington,NH03801-2903

Email: parkerriver@fws.gov