The refuge was established in 1941, and today consists of more than 4,700
acres of diverse upland and wetland habitats including sandy beach and dune,
maritime shrubs and forests, cranberry bogs, man-made impoundments, salt marsh
and associated creek, river, and mud flat. These refuge habitats support
varied and abundant populations of resident and migratory wildlife including
more than 300 species of birds and additional species of mammals, reptiles,
amphibians, insects, and plants. The refuge also provides critical habitat for
the federally threatened piping plover.

The refuge was established in 1941, and today consists of more than 4,700 acres of diverse upland and wetland habitats including sandy beach and dune, maritime shrubs and forests, cranberry bogs, man-made impoundments, salt marsh and associated creek, river, and mud flat. These refuge habitats support varied and abundant populations of resident and migratory wildlife including more than 300 species of birds and additional species of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and plants. The refuge also provides critical habitat for the federally threatened piping plover.

Bird's eye view of the park

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge

The Essex National Heritage Area begins just 10 miles north of Boston and
covers 500 square miles of eastern Massachusetts to the New Hampshire border.
The Area includes hundreds of historical sites, miles of intact landscapes,
glistening coastal regions and lifetimes of rich experiences that chronicle
the history of our region and of our nation.

The Essex National Heritage Area begins just 10 miles north of Boston and covers 500 square miles of eastern Massachusetts to the New Hampshire border. The Area includes hundreds of historical sites, miles of intact landscapes, glistening coastal regions and lifetimes of rich experiences that chronicle the history of our region and of our nation.

Essex National Heritage Area

Located just thirty miles north of Boston, Thacher Island NWR is home to
herring and great black-backed gulls. The refuge serves as a stopover site for
songbirds and other migrants to rest and feed during their seasonal migration.
Off-shore habitats are used by seals, waterfowl, loons, grebes, cormorants and
alcids.

The refuge was established in 1972 to provide feeding, resting and nesting
habitat for migratory birds, located approximately one mile off the coast of
Rockport, Massachusetts.

Thacher Island also has a rich cultural history, perhaps best symbolized by
the twin lighthouses that continue to grace its rocky landscape.

Located just thirty miles north of Boston, Thacher Island NWR is home to herring and great black-backed gulls. The refuge serves as a stopover site for songbirds and other migrants to rest and feed during their seasonal migration. Off-shore habitats are used by seals, waterfowl, loons, grebes, cormorants and alcids.

The refuge was established in 1972 to provide feeding, resting and nesting habitat for migratory birds, located approximately one mile off the coast of Rockport, Massachusetts. 

Thacher Island also has a rich cultural history, perhaps best symbolized by the twin lighthouses that continue to grace its rocky landscape.

Thacher Island National Wildlife Refuge

Located on the New Hampshire and Maine border, Great Bay estuary is a complex
embayment and New Hampshire's largest estuarine system. The Great Bay Reserve
offers a diversity of land and water area, including upland forest, salt
marsh, mudflats, tidal creeks, rocky intertidal, eelgrass beds, channel
bottom/subtidal and upland field habitats. The reserve encompasses 10,235
acres, including approximately 7,300 acres of open water and wetlands. The
Bay's cultural heritage is equally diverse, from paleo-Indian villages 6,000
years ago to colonial transportation and industrial use and ultimately
protection in the face of a proposed oil refinery in 1973.

Located on the New Hampshire and Maine border, Great Bay estuary is a complex embayment and New Hampshire's largest estuarine system.  The Great Bay Reserve offers a diversity of land and water area, including upland forest, salt marsh, mudflats, tidal creeks, rocky intertidal, eelgrass beds, channel bottom/subtidal and upland field habitats. The reserve encompasses 10,235 acres, including approximately 7,300 acres of open water and wetlands. The Bay's cultural heritage is equally diverse, from paleo-Indian villages 6,000 years ago to colonial transportation and industrial use and ultimately protection in the face of a proposed oil refinery in 1973.

View from the Discovery Center at Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, New Hampshire

Aerial view of Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, New Hampshire.

Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

Established on March 17, 1938 as the first National Historic Site in the
United States, Salem Maritime National Historic Site consists of nine acres of
land and twelve historic structures along the Salem waterfront, as well as a
downtown visitor center. Located in the urban setting of Salem, the park
preserves and interprets over 600 years of New England's maritime history and
global connections.

Established on March 17, 1938 as the first National Historic Site in the United States, Salem Maritime National Historic Site consists of nine acres of land and twelve historic structures along the Salem waterfront, as well as a downtown visitor center. Located in the urban setting of Salem, the park preserves and interprets over 600 years of New England's maritime history and global connections.

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge

Directions

Reviews

Nearby Parks

Essex National Heritage Area

Thacher Island National Wildlife Refuge

Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

Salem Maritime National Historic Site