Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge Fall Hike

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Join us on Saturday, October 7th at 10 a.m. to explore the trails at the Assabet Valley Wildlife Refuge in Sudbury, MA. Water and snacks will be provided. We’ll be passing by interesting wildlife, several abandoned military bunkers, and a great water feature with a spectacular view of the foliage. A great location for photos! Come alone or with the family.  Peak leaf season in Massachusetts is expected to be on October 10th, so we should see some nice colors on the 7th.

This trail is approximately 2 to 2.5 miles.  The trails are mostly flat and wide, however, are unpaved and are occasionally blocked by fallen small trees or other similar obstacles.  This trail is considered family friendly.

Note: If using GPS or Google Maps to find the location, use the phrase “Assabet River Wildlife Refuge WELCOME CENTER”.  There are several parking areas at various trailheads that your GPS may lead you to (my GPS took me to three different parking locations before I found the right one).  The entrance is approximately 0.5 miles from the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services.  Once at the entrance, follow the road to the big red Welcome Center and you’ll see us there. The trail head that we’ll be taking starts to the left of the Welcome Center.

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We always strive to be good guests at any park or venue that we visit, so it’s important that we abide by their rules and be respectful of other visitors. More information for this location may be found at https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Assabet_River/visit/plan_your_visit.html . Rules to know at the Assabet Valley Wildlife refuge are:

No Pets: Service Animals Allowed, but must remain leashed

Leave No Trace: take out your trash with you (take in, take out)

No picking or disturbing wildlife or vegetation

Trails close at sunset

ATVs/horses are not allowed

The property, once known as the Fort Devens Sudbury Training Annex, had been placed off-limits by the Army since 1942 when they acquired it for an ammunition storage facility. Before World War II, the area consisted of small family farms and wood lots, some dating back to colonial times.

Assabet River NWR was established on September 28, 2000 when the U.S. Army transferred 2,230 acres to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to be part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. The refuge opened to public access in March of 2005, followed by an official Dedication and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on October 23, 2005.

The refuge’s specific objectives are determined in the Comprehensive Conservation Planning process. The objectives include the conservation and management of migratory bird species; the restoration of wetland, grassland and forest habitats; and natural resource related education.

Learn more about the history of this location at https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Assabet_River/visit/plan_your_visit.html .

Keep an eye on the email you use to register for any updates.

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