Welcome: Oasis

for Wildlife

Sunset at Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge

Just twenty miles west of Boston

lies an oasis for wildlife—the Great

Meadows National Wildlife Refuge.

Roughly 85 percent of the refuge’s

more than 3,600 acres is composed

of valuable freshwater wetlands

stretching along 12 miles of the

Concord and Sudbury Rivers.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

protects and manages Great

Meadows as nesting, resting, and

feeding habitat for wildlife, with

special emphasis on migratory birds.

The diversity of plant and animal

life visible from refuge trails

provides visitors with excellent

opportunities for wildlife viewing

and nature study.

Great Meadows NWR is one of eight

national wildlife refuges that

comprises the Eastern Massachusetts

National Wildlife Refuge Complex.

The eight ecologically diverse

refuges include Assabet River, Great

Meadows, Mashpee, Monomoy,

Nantucket, Nomans Land Island,

and Oxbow. Protected inland and

coastal wetlands, forests, grasslands,

and barrier beaches provide

important habitat for migratory

birds, mammals, plants, reptiles,

and amphibians.

This blue goose,

designed by J.N.

“Ding” Darling,

has become the

symbol of the

National Wildlife

Refuge System.

Paul Olsen

Great Meadows National

Wildlife Refuge is one

of more than 530 refuges

in the National Wildlife

Refuge System which is

administered by the U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service.

The National Wildlife

Refuge System is a network

of lands and waters

managed specifically for

the protection of wildlife

and wildlife habitat and

represents the most

comprehensive wildlife

resource management

program in the world.

Units of the system stretch

across the United States

from northern Alaska to

the Florida Keys, and

include small islands in

the Caribbean and South

Pacific. The character of

the refuges is as diverse

as the nation itself.
Great Meadows NWR consists of

two units of land bordering on eight

historically significant towns—

Billerica, Bedford, Carlisle, Concord,

Framingham, Lincoln, Sudbury, and

Wayland. Minute Man National

Historical Park and Thoreau’s

Walden Pond are located nearby.

The goal of refuge management is to

provide habitat for a diversity of

native fish and wildlife. Management

tools include exotic plant control,

water level and vegetation

manipulation, and farming practices.

Exotic plant control helps maintain

the natural diversity present in an

ecosystem. Water level manipulation

can change habitat and provide food

and cover for fish and wildlife.

One of the major wildlife

management efforts underway

at Great Meadows NWR is the

control of exotic plants. Plants such

as purple loosestrife (the tall purple

flower seen in disturbed areas) and

water chestnut (the small green

plant that forms a carpet over open

water) have little to no wildlife value

and are out-competing our native

vegetation. Several methods of

control have been attempted at the

refuge: everything from hand-pulling

plants, to chemical applications, to

flooding the marshes. For purple

loosestrife, the release of weevils and

beetles native to the European home

of loosestrife, seems to be the best

management solution. These insects

feed only on purple loosestrife.

Working for

Wildlife

Eastern Bluebird

A great diversity of birds have

been recorded at Great Meadows

NWR; an annotated list of over

220 species is available upon request.

White-tailed deer, muskrats, red fox,

raccoons, cottontail rabbits, weasels,

squirrels, and various small

mammals are common along the

marsh borders and can also be found

in the uplands. Amphibians and

reptiles can be observed in the

warmer months, but no poisonous

snakes are found on the refuge.

Several species of waterfowl,

including mallards, black ducks,

wood ducks, and blue-winged teal

nest here. Nesting boxes are

provided for wood ducks in

refuge wetlands.

Wildlife Abounds

Aquatic weed harvester at work.

Muskrat

assisting in

management

on the refuge.

Bruce Flaig

USFWS

K. & L. Brown
Recognizing their value, Samuel

Hoar, a hunter, purchased a part of

the Meadows in 1928. He built

earthen dams or dikes to hold the

water within these marshlands,

enhancing their value as waterfowl

habitat. In 1944, Hoar donated 250

acres of this land to the U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service. To provide

greater protection for the area’s

wetlands and wildlife, the Service

began buying additional land during

the 1960s. Today the two units of the

Great Meadows NWR contain over

3,600 acres of prime wildlife habitat.

As for water chestnut, a combination

of harvesting the plants and draining

the pools appears to be the most

promising control.

Many relics of early people found in

the vicinity date back to 5500 B.C.

Thousands of stone artifacts have

been found in Concord alone. River

meadows and plains were burned

over to provide cropland and pasture

for game, and the waters provided

fish in great quantity for both food

and fertilizer. The river provided

transportation for the Native

American’s annual summer

movement to the sea, where the

greater portion of their winter food

was gathered and dried.

Native Americans named the

Concord River “Musketahquid,”

meaning grassy banks. Settlers

named the grasslands the “Great

River Meadows.” Hay was harvested

annually and provided an important

income for early settlers. With the

advent of industrialization in the

early 19th century, a mill dam was

built in Billerica. The dam caused the

river’s water level to rise and to

extend into the Meadows. The newly

created habitat became increasingly

attractive to waterfowl. In fact, the

wetlands became highly valued for

hunting and fishing.

An Ancient

History

Sunset view

through trees.

Great blue heron.

American

Goldfinch

on Cattail.

Bruce Flaig

Bruce Flaig Bruce Flaig
Wildlife Watching Tips

Dawn and dusk are the best

times to see wildlife.

In warmer climates, little is

moving on hot summer

afternoons or on windy days.

Observe from the sidelines.

Leave “abandoned” young

animals alone. A parent is

probably close by waiting for

you to leave. Don’t offer snacks;

your lunch could disrupt wild

digestive systems.

Cars make good observation

blinds. Drive slowly, stopping to

scan places wildlife might hide.

Use binoculars or a long lens for

a closer look.

Try sitting quietly in one good

location. Let wildlife get used to

your presence. Many animals

that have hidden will reappear

once they think you are gone.

Walk quietly in designated

areas, being aware of sounds

and smells. Often you will hear

more than you will see.

Teach children quiet

observation. Other wildlife

watchers will appreciate your

consideration.

Look for animal signs. Tracks,

scat, feathers, and nests left

behind often tell interesting

stories.

Great Meadows NWR provides

visitors with many wildlife-oriented

recreational opportunities. The

refuge has long been a favorite

stop for bird watchers. Noted

ornithologists consider the Concord

Unit of the refuge to be one of the

best inland birding areas in the state.

Visitors can hike the nature trails

and observe, photograph, and study

wildlife and plants.

Snowshoeing and cross-country

skiing on the trails in the winter can

provide wonderful wildlife viewing

opportunities. Interpretive and

environmental education programs

are available upon request and are

listed in the quarterly refuge

newsletter. Please contact refuge

headquarters for more information.

The trail at Weir Hill takes visitors

on a 3/4-mile long walk around

marshes, uplands, woodlands, fields,

the river, brook, and pond. The trail

begins in front of the Visitor Center.

Refuge trails are connected to a

more vast trail system. Please come

inside and look around the Visitor

Center before or after your hike and

ask us any questions you have about

the refuge. The visitor center is

wheelchair accessible.

The refuge office, visitor center

(open daily 8 a.m. to 4 p.m; closed

weekends during the winter), and

educational facilities are all part of

the headquarters, located adjacent to

the Sudbury River at the base of

Weir Hill. This hill—a 12,000 year old

glacial deposit—was used by Native

Americans who trapped fish in the

river by constructing fish weirs;

hence the name “Weir Hill.”

Things to do

at the Refuge

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Sudbury Unit –

Weir Hill Trail

and Refuge

Visitor Center

Stop by the

Refuge Office

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To reach the office and visitor

center at Weir Hill, follow Route 27

(1.7 miles) from Wayland and turn

right onto Water Row Road. Follow

Water Row Road (1.2 Miles) until it

ends and turn right onto Lincoln

Road. Travel one half mile, turn left

onto Weir Hill Road and follow to end.

Teachers and other group leaders

may receive assistance in using the

refuge as an educational resource.

With help from the refuge staff,

leaders can plan and lead visits that

will enable their students or groups

to learn directly about the natural

world by studying wildlife habitat

and observing wildlife.

This original 250-acre area that

belonged to Samuel Hoar is still

known as the “Great Meadows,” and

is open to visitors. Several trails are

available for wildlife observation,

including the Dike Trail, a 2.7-mile

loop around one of the marsh pools.

Trailside interpretive signs and an

observation tower provide visitors

with additional views and

information about the refuge, its

management, and its wildlife.

Concord Unit –

Dike Trail Area

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Sudbury River; Weir Hill Area.

Travel to this area by following

Route 62 east from Concord Center

toward Bedford. After about one

mile, turn left onto Monsen Road.

Continue on Monsen Road until you

see the refuge entrance on your left.

This 126 acre unit was added to the

Great Meadows NWR in 1998. The

trail system winds visitors through

open grasslands, wet marshes and

mature forests. The property

provides visitors with great birding

and wildlife watching opportunities.

There is no direct road access to the

Refuge for the public. The trail

system can be accessed through the

Foss Farm off Bedford Road (Route

225) to the south or through

Greenough Land off Maple Street to

the northwest of the refuge. Both

Greenough Land and Foss Farm are

Town of Carlisle conservation lands

and are open to the public.

Nature study with kids and staff.

Additional Trails

O’Rourke Trail

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USFWSSteph Koch
A Few Simple

Rules

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Public use of designated trails within

the refuge for nature study, hiking

and photography is permitted from

one-half hour before sunrise to onehalf hour after sunset. There are no

picnic areas or campsites on the

refuge.

Dogs are allowed, but must be on a

short hand-held leash during the

entire visit. No other domestic pets

are allowed.

Horses are not permitted.

Motorized vehicles and bicycles are

restricted to entrance roads and

parking areas. Bicycles are not

allowed on trails.

Hunting, shooting, building fires,

swimming and ATVs/ORVs are not

permitted.

Boating and fishing are allowed in

the Concord and Sudbury Rivers,

but not in the refuge pools.

The disturbance, destruction, or

removal of wildlife, vegetation, and

facilities are prohibited.

Cattail on a lily pad.

White-tailed deer in fall.

Billerica Trail

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In 2000 a new trail and parking area

were added to the refuge through

cooperative efforts with the Sudbury

Valley Trustees. The parking area is

located on the east side of the Route

4 bridge in Billerica. Hikers will

eventually be able to follow this

river trail to Two Brothers Rock

in Beford.

Canada Geese

on trails.

Carole D’Angelo Carole D’Angelo

Sandy Selesky
This is your refuge to enjoy. Please

respect the wildlife and other visitors.

Remember to take only memories or

photographs and leave only

footprints.

For further information, contact:

Eastern Massachusetts

National Wildlife Refuge Complex

73 Weir Hill Road

Sudbury, Massachusetts 01776

978/443 4661

978/443 2898 Fax

r5w_gmnwr@fws.gov

http://greatmeadows.fws.gov

Yellow iris in bloom.

Bruce Flaig

Great Meadows

NWR Facts

Where is it?

When was it

established?

How big is it?

Why is it here?

Great Meadows NWR is located

20 miles west of Boston,

Massachusetts. The Refuge

headquarters can be reached by

taking Route 20 to Route 27 North.

Follow Route 27 (1.7 miles) from

Wayland and turn right onto Water

Road Road. Follow Water Row

Road (1.2 miles) until it ends and

turn right onto Linclon Road.

Travel one half mile, then turn left

onto Weir Hill Road.

Samuel Hoar donated the first tract

of land to the Fish and Wildlife

Service in 1944.

Over 3,600 acres

Great Meadows NWR was

established to protect and manage

freshwater wetlands for migratory

birds.

Grasshopper
Great Meadows 

National Wildlife 

Refuge

Concord/Sudbury Units

LEGEND

Rivers/Stream

Intermittent Stream

Aquaduct

Lake or Pond

Marsh, Wetland, Swamp or Bog

Primary Route

Secondary Route

Road or Street

Sudbury Division

Concord Division

Refuge Boundary

Refuge Headquarters

Parking Lots

Comfort Station

Observation Tower

N

0 1.5 3 miles

Concord 

Division

Concord River

62

2A

4

4

225

AssabetRiver

Monument St

River Rd CONCORD

BEDFORD

Concord 

Impoundments

Sudbury

R iver

Walden 

Pond

2

62

Sudbury Rd

WALDEN

 POND

 STATE

 RESERVATION

2A

95 Bedford Rd LINCOLN

to Route 128

Heard 

Pond

126

126

27

Pelham 

Island Rd

SOUTH

SUDBURY

126

W A YLAND

White 

Pond

117

NORTH 

SUDBURY

Fairhaven

Bay

Farrar 

Pond

Lincoln Rd

27 Concord Rd

Sherman Bridge 

Road

Lincoln Rd

Weir Hill Rd

Sudbury 

Division

SUDBURY

Sudbury R iver

20

3

Concord R

0 9 18 27 Miles

495

93

90

95

128

117

128

27

27

2

126

126

285

20

1

1

3 CONCORD

AREA

SUDBURY

AREA

CONCORD

AREA

Bedford

Burlington

Framingham

Cambridge

Lynn

Quincy

Brookline

Lowell

Billerica

Carlisle

N. Reading

Wakefield

Stoneham

Melrose

Malden

Everett

Dovers

Chelsea

Wakefield

Stoneham

Melrose

Malden

Everett

Saugus

Peabody

Swampscott

Beverly

Salem

Winthrop

Revere

Reading Lynnfield Dovers

Wilmington

Natick Wellesley

Norwood

Dedham Braintree Weymouth

Hingham Milton

Newton

Watertown

Woburn

Winchester

Lexington

Waltham

Belmont

Watertown

Somerville

MedfordChelsea

Lincoln

Needham

Concord

Maynard

Wayland

BOSTON

Sudbury R

Massachu s etts Bay
Eastern Massachusetts

National Wildlife Refuge Complex

73 Weir Hill Road

Sudbury, Massachusetts 01776

978/443 4661

978/443 2898 Fax

r5rw_gmnwr@fws.gov

http://greatmeadows.fws.gov

Massachusetts Relay Service

1 800/439 2370 T

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

http://www.fws.gov

For Refuge Information

1 800/344 WILD

June 2001

Cover photo © Bruce Flaig