Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge (Concord)

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Similar · Fresh Pond Loop

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Similar · Larz Anderson Park

Photo: Daderot · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

🥾 Hike · Concord

1.5 hours · Free · No reservation needed

age fit

0–1 yr

★ 5.0

1–3 yrs

★ 5.0

3–5 yrs

★ 5.0

5–10 yrs

★ 5.0

🚗
About 30 min drive
From Newton · Parking: Free lot at the end of Monsen Rd
🍼
Stroller-friendly
Flat surfaces — bring the stroller
🌳
Little shade
Great on sunny days · Good on cool days · Wind-OK
⏱️
Typical visit: 1.5 hours
Best seasons: Spring · Summer · Fall

A huge reedy wetland along the Concord River, split by a dead-straight flat dike trail with water on both sides: herons, ducks, turtles, and muskrats come close enough that you need no binoculars, the observation tower at the entrance gives a full view, and a 2-year-old can walk a long way on their own.

💡 Tips

The dike loop is about 2 miles of gravel, fine for a stroller; there is no shade, so bring hats and water. Mosquitoes and ticks are heavy in late spring and early summer, so use repellent and wear long pants. Early evening has the most birds.

What this place offers

✓bird watching

✓turtles

✓observation tower

✓flat dike trail

✓wetland

✓muskrats

✓basic restrooms

Featured in these guides

This weekend's weather in Concord

Forecast at the destination itself (coast and hills often differ from home)

🌧️

Sat 10/17

Rain · 35–60°F · 73% rain

☁️

Sun 10/18

Overcast · 34–59°F · 1% rain

Location

Concord, Massachusetts

Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge (Concord)

🥾 Hike · Concord

What this place offers

Featured in these guides

This weekend's weather in Concord

Location

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