WCKC Hikes: Assabet River Wildlife Refuge

Pick your path: The Assabet River Wildlife Refuge is a great spot for a short or long hike and a picnic by the pond.

We stopped here with about an hour to kill while in the area. We chose the Puffer Pond Trail (.5 miles) because it looked like it had the best pond views and was a short trail. We took a side trail, the Winterberry Trail, but it was a bit flooded and muddy so we went back. But we will certainly go back as this looked like a really pretty area to explore. It was pretty empty on this warm spring day, but we saw a few people out enjoying the trails and fishing off one of the docks.

We saw lots of evidence of beavers although we didn’t spot one. There were signs about other wildlife like rabbits, frogs, turtles etc. In the middle of the trail, a large teepee had been constructed – perfect for exploration and fun for kids.

Tips

• The trails were well kept and the easily accessible with a stroller with larger tires – easy for our jogging stroller.
• The Visitors Center on Winterberry Way is a great stop to get your questions answered. (May be still closed due to Covid).
• Reasons to Be Cheerful Ice Cream is nearby for a perfect treat after a hike (Open Seasonally)
• Downtown Hudson is also close by with lots of great dining options, a brewery to treat the adults or a micro-creamery to treat the kids.
• Make a day of it! Just a short five minute drive down the road is the American Heritage Museum. Check out our experience here.