Parker River National Wildlife Refuge

Established in 1941, Parker River National Wildlife Refuge is located in the NE corner of Massachusetts on a coastal barrier (Plum Island). Parker NWR contains 6.5 miles of sandy beach, 3,000 acres of salt marsh, and one of the few unspoiled dune-beach complexes in the Northeast. It serves as a habitat for migratory waterfowl, especially American black duck; it is also an important nesting area for the Federally threatened piping plover and least tern. It is an important resting/feeding habitat for shorebirds, wading birds, raptors, and passerines.

Visitors enjoy hiking trails, observation towers, surf fishing, nature study and cross country skiing. The beach is closed from April through August. The Refuge provides wildlife-oriented recreation, including waterfowl and deer hunting, surf fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and shellfishing. Beach use (swimming, sunbathing, beach combing), bicycling is also available. The Refuge has about 275,000 visits per year.