Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary —
Your Complete Guide
Mass Audubon's 1,978 acres on the Ipswich River in Topsfield: 12 miles of trails, boardwalks over beaver wetlands, and a river you can paddle.
What is Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary?
Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary is a 1,978-acre nature preserve at 87 Perkins Row in Topsfield, Massachusetts, owned and run by Mass Audubon (the Massachusetts Audubon Society).It has 12 miles of linked trails through forest, meadow and wetland, a visitor center, and its own landing on the Ipswich River, where Mass Audubon rents canoes and kayaks in summer. Admission is $7 for adults, $4 for seniors and $4 for children 2 to 12; Mass Audubon members get in free. The trails are open dawn to dusk, Tuesday through Sunday, plus Monday holidays. Dogs are not allowed.
Mass Audubon acquired the first parcels in 1951, and the sanctuary marked its 75th year in 2026. Much of what visitors walk through today was shaped earlier, in the era of the "gentleman farmer" Thomas Proctor: the arboretum and the Rockery, a man-made rock grotto built in 1905. The glaciers did the rest. Mass Audubon's trail guide sends you up a drumlin, along the top of an esker and past a vernal pool.
This is a wildlife sanctuary, so the rules are stricter than at a state park. Mass Audubon allows foot travel only: no bikes, no horses and no dogs. Collecting, smoking, hunting, fishing, releasing animals and feeding wildlife are all prohibited. Stay on the trails, and you'll see why: beavers, otters, muskrats and nearly 250 kinds of birds use these wetlands.
Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary at a Glance
What to Do at Ipswich River
Canoe & Kayak Rentals
Rent a boat at the visitor center and paddle the Ipswich River from the sanctuary's own landing. $30 for members, $40 for nonmembers, first two hours, May to October.
Rental Details →
Trails & Hiking
12 miles of linked trails through forest, meadow and wetland, with boardwalks, a drumlin, an esker and a stone bridge over beaver water.
Hiking Guide →
The Rockery
A rock grotto of narrow passages and caves built in 1905, at the end of the sanctuary's most-visited trail.
About the Rockery →
Birding
A sanctuary bird list approaching 250 species, with loaner binoculars at the visitor center and waterfowl on Bunker Meadows every fall.
Birding Guide →
Perkins Island Camping
Three tent-only sites on an island you reach by canoe. Members only, $120 a night with the canoe and firewood included.
Camping Details →
Innermost Cabin
A rustic 1915 cabin near the parking lot, off the grid, for Mass Audubon members at $65 a night.
Cabin Details →A First Visit
Park in the visitor lot, pay or show your membership card at the visitor center, and pick up a map. The classic short walk is the Rockery Trail, half a mile from the top of the hill over wetland boardwalks and bridges to the stone grotto. Mass Audubon calls it the sanctuary's most-visited trail. Add the Stone Bridge Trail for a look at beaver lodges, then loop back on the wide Drumlin Trail, an old carriage road. Lengths for every named trail are on the trail map page.
On the River
The Ipswich River winds through the sanctuary's wetlands on its way to the sea. From late May to mid-October, Mass Audubon rentscanoes and kayaks at the visitor center; the boats wait on racks at a landing 0.4 mile down the trail. Mass Audubon suggests paddling upstream first and riding the current back. If you'd rather launch your own boat, the river has public landings up and down its length; see paddling the Ipswich River.
Staying the Night
Two overnight options, both for Mass Audubon members: Perkins Island, three primitive tent sites reached only by canoe ($120 a night), and the Innermost Cabin, a rustic 1915 cabin near the lot ($65 a night). Neither has electricity or running water.
Looking for Ipswich River Park?
If you were searching for the town park with ball fields, a playground and a paved walking loop, that'sIpswich River Park in North Reading, upstream on the same river and run by the town. It's a different place from this sanctuary, with different rules.
Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary FAQ
How much does it cost to visit Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary?
Mass Audubon charges nonmembers $7 for adults, $4 for seniors 65 and over, and $4 for children 2 to 12. Mass Audubon members get in free. Canoe rentals, camping and the cabin cost extra.
Are dogs allowed at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary?
No. Mass Audubon's property rules prohibit dog walking and ask visitors to leave all pets at home. Service animals are welcome.
What are the hours at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary?
The trails are open dawn to dusk, Tuesday through Sunday, plus Monday holidays. The visitor center is open 8:30 am to 4:30 pm on the same days. The sanctuary is closed on ordinary Mondays.
Where is Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary?
The entrance is at 87 Perkins Row in Topsfield, Massachusetts. Mass Audubon's directions from Boston follow I-95 north to Route 1, then Route 97 south to Perkins Row; the sanctuary is about a mile down Perkins Row on the right.
Can you kayak at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary?
Yes, in a Mass Audubon boat. The sanctuary rents canoes and kayaks from late May to mid-October; private boats are not allowed at its landing. Check-in is 9:00 am to 3:30 pm at the visitor center, first come, first served.
Can you fish or swim at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary?
No. Mass Audubon's regulations prohibit fishing, and its paddling and camping rules add no swimming. Fishing on the Ipswich River is possible elsewhere on the river, outside the sanctuary.
Is Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary the same as Ipswich River Park?
No. Ipswich River Park is a 49-acre town park in North Reading with sports fields and a paved walking path, run by North Reading Parks & Recreation. The sanctuary is Mass Audubon's in Topsfield, farther down the same river.