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Stone bridge over water with trees in background
Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, Topsfield

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary

  • Topsfield
  • 1982 Acres

Plan Your Visit

Explore forests, meadows, wetlands, drumlin, and esker and travel down the namesake river, which meanders through the sanctuary, by canoe.

Directions to Ipswich River
Hours
Visitor Center
  • Tuesday-Friday, Monday holidays
  • 10:00 am–3:30 pm
  • Saturday & Sunday
  • 9:00 am-4:00 pm
Trails
  • Tuesday-Sunday, Monday holidays
  • dawn to dusk
  • 12 miles
See Trail Maps

Connect with Ipswich River

Property Regulations

  • Foot travel only; please stay on trails (day passes are available for powered mobility devices)
  • Dog walking and horseback riding are prohibited; please leave all animals and pets at home (service animals welcome)
  • Camping, collecting, smoking, hunting, fishing, releasing of animals, and feeding wildlife is prohibited.
  • Commercial photography needs prior approval; please see all photography guidelines.

Facilities

  • Parking
    Parking
  • Nature Center/Museum, Universally Accessible
    Nature Center/Museum, Universally Accessible
  • Restrooms, Universally Accessible
    Restrooms, Universally Accessible
  • Picnic Tables
    Picnic Tables
  • Electric Vehicle Charging Station
    Electric Vehicle Charging Station
  • Canoeing / Kayak (call ahead)
    Canoeing / Kayak (call ahead)
  • Camping
    Camping

Featured Experiences

  • Three canoes with two people in each paddling down a river. Dead trees and green vegetation on the banks are in front of them.
    Ipswich River, Topsfield

    Canoe Rentals

    Rent a canoe to travel down the Ipswich River. 

  • Woman standing in front of red cabin holding a chickadee

    Cabin Rental

    The rustic Innermost Cabin is available for rent to current Mass Audubon members. 

  • Forest with wide path through it
    Perkins Island © Gina King

    Perkins Island Camping

    Perkins Island is the wildlife sanctuary's only camping area that provides a wilderness-type setting for canoeists.

  • Teen Conservation Club members on excursion

    Teen Programs

    Teenagers on the North Shore looking to help build and strengthen a strong environmental ethic can get real behind-the-scenes conservation experience.

Latest News

More News
Family walking through narrow stone grotto on trail
© Jared Leeds
News February 26, 2025

Climb the Rockery Trail and Become a Nature Hero at Ipswich River Nature Camp

Keep Reading
Tractor in the distance, behind a grove of maple trees
News December 19, 2024

How the North Shore Continues the Age-old Tradition of Maple Sugaring

Keep Reading
Bradstreet House under a light layer of snow
News December 18, 2024

North Shore Sanctuaries Lead by Example in Energy Efficiency Efforts

Keep Reading

Explore Ipswich River

  • Yellow-rumped Warbler on a stick, looking off into the distance.
    Ipswich River, Topsfield © Maceo Susi
  • Purple flowers on a green bush in front of a red, wooden barn door.
    Ipswich River, Topsfield © James Doucett
  • A small waterfall running over a rock with green trees in the background.
    Ipswich River, Topsfield © James Smolinsky
  • Three canoes with two people in each paddling down a river. Dead trees and green vegetation on the banks are in front of them.
    Ipswich River, Topsfield
  • A winding wooden boardwalk on the edge of a marshy pond. Pine trees off to the left side of the water.
    Ipswich River, Topsfield
  • A wooden bridge crosses over a small pond, surrounded by lush, green shrubs and trees. The pond is full of lily pads.
    Ipswich River, Topsfield
  • Large tree stands in the foreground of a grassy field and meadow with yellow flowers.
    Ipswich River, Topsfield
  • A puffy white and gray bird on the edge of a fence, the visitor center in the background.
    Ipswich River, Topsfield © Danielle Rodgers
  • Wooden boardwalk in a marshy area leading to a slightly elevated overlook station to look out over marsh.
    Ipswich River, Topsfield
  • Great Blue Heron wading in grassy waters with a fish in its beak.
    © Cari Brennen
  • A child with a blue striped shirt and blue sun hat sits on a rock overlooking a pond.
    © Liz Cumming
  • Two wet river otters facing touching snouts on a log surrounded by lily pads.
    © Greg Nadeau
  • Great Egret wading in grassy waters.
    © Melanie Baldini
  • Ten children and an adult standing on an L-shaped boardwalk covered in a dusting of snow. A snowy grassland and forest extends in front of them.

Upcoming Programs on the North Shore

See More
See More