North River Wildlife Sanctuary is a wonderful place for any nature lover.

This sanctuary is a lovely little spot on the south shore. It abuts the North River and provides ideal conditions for birdwatching. The trails are level and short, easy enough for any age.

When you first enter into the North River Wildlife Sanctuary, you follow a long drive up through the forest. After a few minutes, you arrive at a looped parking lot in front of a building. The building was originally a farmhouse, and the surrounding area was farmland. Mass Audubon turned the land into a sanctuary about 50 years ago, when the forest began to grow again.

The trails span about two miles on this property. One loop circles down by the wetlands, and the other loop takes you to the banks of the North River. All of the trails are flat, and one has a sensory, accessible trail complete with a rope for the visually impaired. At the beginning of this trail there is a small play area with a tunnel, some structures, and a playhouse. The River Loop Trail is also very easy, leading through a grassy field filled with birdhouses. We had multiple opportunities to watch the large osprey that has a nest there. Some other hikers told us that they have even seen an eagle fly overhead.

The day we visited this site I had a 7 year old, a 4 ½ year old, and a 21 month old with me. We moved slowly and took many breaks, but the trail was easy for them. I did end up carrying my toddler for a bit, which wasn’t a problem on this trail. But I did wish I had a carrier with me! Unfortunately there are no bathrooms, but there are picnic tables near the parking lot.