General Information

The Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge is one of the nation's newest wildlife refuges. It is owned and administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The refuge is located along the Assabet River, and lies within the towns of Sudbury, Hudson, Stow and Maynard:

The Refuge is open from one half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset. Wildlife dependent recreation opportunities, including hiking, photography, interpretation, and environmental education, are permitted on designated trails shown on the refuge map (see below). Note that the trail system in the refugue was reworked in spring 2007.

Click here for a printable map of the refuge and the trails open in the refuge

To help you plan this and future visits to the refuge, please consider the following trail lengths:

	Trail A 0.9 miles		Trail U 0.8 miles
	Trail C 1.8 miles		Trail V 0.3 miles
	Trail E 1.0 mile		Trail W 0.5 miles
	Trail G 0.3 miles		Trail X 0.4 miles
	Trail H 0.2 miles		Trail Y 0.1 miles
	Craven Lane 1.5 miles		Trail Z 0.4 miles
	Patrol Road, south 0.8 miles		Patrol Road, north 1.8 miles
	White Pond Rd 1.5 miles S-1 through S-5 3.8 miles

The large wetland complex and the contiguous forested areas found here today are important feeding and breeding areas for migratory birds. We ask that you help conserve this unique natural habitat and minimize disturbance to wildlife by staying on designated trails

Currently no fees are charged for use of the refuge trails or parking areas.

There are no picnic areas or campsites on the refuge. Refuge lands are closed to horses, bicycles, and motorized vehicles. Kayak and canoe access is allowed off Craven Lane beginning in the summer of 2007 (carry in only at this time). Please note that dogs are not allowed on the refuge.

Fishing and hunting are allowed subject to refuge regulations, State and Federal laws and permit restrictions. Fishing is allowed at Puffer Pond on Trail Z at the Barron Fishing Access Site. The most intense hunt period is during the shotgun deer season. Most other times, hunt pressure is generally light. Please refer to information in the kiosks or on the refuge website for more information about the hunt season (see here for details on the 2007-2008 hunt season).

Facilities at the refuge will be substantially expanded in the near future. Construction of a 5,000-square foot visitor center, to be located just northeast of trail intersection 13, should begin by fall 2007.

Access to the refuge is through the main entrance off Hudson Road in Sudbury and from the north entrance on White Pond Road in Stow. To get to the main entrance from the east, in Sudbury Center head west on Hudson Road, turn north (right) into the parking lot of the Sudbury, Marlborough State Forest in Sudbury. From the west, from Hudson Center, head east on Main Street into Sudbury, passing the Massachusetts State Fire Academy, turn north into the State Forest parking lot. Parking at the main entrance is limited to the area immediately off the entrance road due to construction.

Use of the Nortn Entrance is somewhat difficult right now due to construction of a new bridge over the Assabet River. For information on how to use the North Entrance during the construction period see here.

Facts and Figures

The refuge comprises over 2,200 acres of varied woodland, wetland, fields, ponds and streams, with historical and archeological sites. The terrain is primarily flat but includes some prominent hills; elevations range from 170 feet near the river to 320 feet on Walnut Hill. Seventy percent of the refuge is forested with pine, oak and maple. There are over 470 acres of diverse wetland habitat including an Atlantic white cedar swamp. This jewel is connected to about 1,000 acres of other diverse protected space.

To date, biological surveys have identified over 650 plant species, 135 bird species, 25 mammals, 17 reptile species and 19 species of fish.

Refuge Background

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.

The long-anticipated transfer of the Annex to the Fish and Wildlife Service took place on September 28, 2000.

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. Potential public uses of the refuge include wildlife observation, photography, environmental education, interpretation, hunting and fishing.

The National Wildlife Refuge System

The Assabet River NWR is part of a comprehensive national system, including 538 different refuges totalling more than 93,000,000 acres. The mission of the system is to administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management, and where appropriate, restoration of fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.