Boston Kayaker

Kayaking on Plum Island Sound - from Newburyport MA to Ipswich MA


Rating: Two-and-a-Half Stars - Have to pay entrance fee to Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. Launch is very easy and close to parking lot. Water fowls abound in Plum Island Sound, so are big boats. You should spend sometime in the refuge anad the shops in nearby Newburyport MA town center.

  Put in near the Parking Lot 1
  inside the wildlife refuge.
Paddle south along the east bank of
  the Plum Island Sound and return.
Estimated round trip
  distance = 4 miles
  Parker River National
  Wildlife Refuge (NWR)
Refuge Information Center
  with toilet facilities
Sandy Point State
  Reservation Beach
  Plan to paddle during high tide to
  avoid being stranded by low tides.
Observation Towers inside
  the Refuge
Public beaches

Disclaimer: It is your responsibility to determine the legality, suitability and safety of this route for yourself.

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Kayaking on Plum Island Sound - from Newburyport MA to Ipswich MA

Other resources:
US Fish & Wildlife Service: Parker River National Wildlife Refuge
US Fish & Wildlife Service: Parker River NWR Canoeing - Kayaking Map and Information Brochure
US Fish & Wildlife Service: Parker River NWR Canoeing - Kayaking Map and Information Brochure (cached copy)
Plum Island Kayak rentals
Plum Island Kayak Plum Island Tour map
Plum Island Kayak Plum Island Tour map (cached copy)
Wikipedia: Plum Island
US Harbors: Tides in Plum Island Sound


Number of original photos on this page : 44
All photos in this website are original and copyrighted.



At the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. September 2011.


The information center and Parking Lot 1.





This is the footbridge to the Atlantic Ocean beach just east of the parking lot 1.


A fine beach day.





Dunes,














Driving along the main road in the refuge.


Observation Tower near the North Pond.


The launch site just off the Parking Lot 1.








Just launched.


Looking back at the launch point. I always try to remember so I can recognize it later.





The Plum Island Sound seems to be a favorite for motorized boats.





Continuing with my southward paddle . . .





A couple of kayakers.














One of the many inlets of the sound.

















A couple in a tandem kayak.


His toy is much bigger than mine. :)





One can easily get lost getting into one of these many inlets and branches of the sound.








Back to where I started. Those 2 poles are good markers indeed.