Canoe & Kayak Rentals

Yes, you can rent a canoe or kayak at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary. Mass Audubon's 2026 season runs May 23 to October 12, 2026, with check-in at the visitor center from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm. Members pay $30 for the first two hours and nonmembers $40, plus $15 for each extra hour, per boat. Boats can't be reserved; it's first come, first served, and availability is limited. Paddles and life jackets are included.

The boats wait on locked racks at the sanctuary's canoe landing on the Ipswich River, a 0.4 mile walk from the visitor center. From there you paddle a quiet, winding stretch of river through wetlands where Mass Audubon's trail guides point out beavers, otters and waterfowl.

How Renting Works

1. Arrive between 9:00 am to 3:30 pm and check in at the visitor center. Every person in your group signs Mass Audubon's watercraft waiver at check-in; a parent or guardian signs for a minor.
2. Pay and pick up the paddles, life jackets and the key to the boat lock.
3. Walk 0.4 mile down the Bunker Meadows Trail to the Ipswich River Trail and the canoe landing. Mass Audubon says it takes about 10 to 15 minutes.
4. Unlock your boat from the rack. Canoes weigh 70 to 80 pounds, so it takes two adults to lift one off the rack and carry it to the water.
5. Paddle, return the boat to the rack, and bring the gear and key back to the visitor center.

Rental Prices

Prices are per canoe or kayak. Mass Audubon members pay $30 for the first two hours; nonmembers pay $40 for a two-hour rental. Either way, each additional hour is $15. Nonmembers also pay sanctuary admission. If you plan to paddle more than once a summer, or to camp on Perkins Island, a membership can pay for itself, since members get in free.

Who Can Rent, and Boat Sizes

• The renter must be at least 18. Each rental is limited to two boats.
• A canoe holds up to 3 adults, or 2 adults with 2 small children.
• A kayak holds 1 adult.
• Everyone must wear a U.S. Coast Guard-rated Level III life jacket sized for their weight while in a canoe. The sanctuary supplies them.

Rules on the Water

• Only Mass Audubon canoes and kayaks are allowed. You can't launch a private boat at the sanctuary's landing.
• Boats may not enter Bunker Meadows, the big wetland next to the landing. It's where Mass Audubon's birding page says thousands of waterfowl shelter on fall evenings.
• No fishing, no swimming and no feeding wildlife.
• No dogs or other pets; service animals are welcome.
• Carry out everything you carry in.

Which Way to Paddle

Mass Audubon's advice is to paddle upstream first and come back with the current, so the easy half of the trip is the end of it. The Ipswich is a slow, flat-water river here, but conditions change through the year with water levels and beaver activity. You may meet a fallen tree or a beaver dam that blocks the channel or forces a short carry. For more on the river beyond the sanctuary, see paddling the Ipswich River and the Ipswich River.

What to Bring

• Closed-toe shoes that can get wet (Mass Audubon's advice).
• A dry bag for your phone, keys and wallet.
• Sunscreen, insect repellent and plenty of water.

Weather and Closures

Rentals stop during severe-weather warnings, including thunderstorms, high winds and extreme heat, and Mass Audubon can refuse a rental for safety reasons. Its website listed the sanctuary as "call ahead" for canoeing, so phone the visitor center at 978-887-9264 before you drive over. Beginning October 4 in 2026, the sanctuary closed on Mondays (except holidays) for the rest of the season.

Good For / Maybe Skip If

• Good for first-time paddlers: flat water, boats and life jackets supplied, and a short walk to the launch.
• Good for wildlife watching from water level, away from the trails.
• Maybe skip if you have your own boat — the sanctuary doesn't allow private boats. Use a public landing instead; see paddling the Ipswich River.
• Maybe skip if you need a guaranteed boat on a summer weekend; there are no reservations, so arrive early.