Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary Day Trip
Welcome to Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary in Princeton, Massachusetts
Situated on a former, historic farmstead in Princeton, Massachusetts now owned by The Massachusetts Audubon Society, Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary is a beautiful preserve with 1,100 acres of diverse nature, plentiful wildlife viewing opportunities, farm buildings, a scenic pond and educational programs.
This blog is from my March 2024 visits exploring the sanctuary’s South Meadow Trail, farm buildings and pond.
How to get to Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary in Princeton, Massachusetts |
Located at 113 Goodnow Road, you can drive onto the property and park for free across from the visitor center in a large paved lot.
The trails are open daily from dawn to dusk, and there is a small fee for non-members ($4 for adults, and $3 for children 2-12 years of age). It’s always free for Mass Audubon members, and there are bathrooms in the visitor center.
What to see at Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary
Whether you want to walk leisurely, hike rugged trails, watch for wildlife or simply see the farm buildings and sheep grazing, Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary is a great destination for family and solo adventures.
I started my day trip by hiking the South Meadow Trail that is accessed directly at the right edge of the parking lot. You’ll hike on a mowed path around the edge of an open meadow with a gradual decline to the right of a solitary tree.
As you leisurely hike the first part of the South Meadow Trail, you’ll see a small wooden observation deck with two benches overlooking marshes. It’s such a quiet and beautiful spot to relax and look for birds and other wildlife.
MDT Tip: Wachusett Meadow is known for it’s plentiful population of hawks and warblers that make their home in this sanctuary so if you enjoy birding, be sure to bring binoculars.
Continuing on the short semi-circle loop back towards the farm buildings, you’ll also see a peaceful stream. It was flowing fast after the March rains when we visited.
One of the best parts of visiting Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary is seeing the sheep graze outside at the farm buildings. There are a couple of areas where you can walk right up to the pasture railings and pet the sheep, and they often graze in the late afternoon and evenings under the setting sun.
MDT Tip: Be sure to walk all the way around the farm buildings to see the sheep as it’s likely a few are out grazing even if you don’t see them when driving onto the property or parking.
There is a scenic pond behind the arm buildings to enjoy serene views and kayak too. I like to end my day trips here at one of the two overlook platforms.
The South Meadow Trail is an easy and quick introduction to this beautiful sanctuary, and avid hikers can adventure on and interconnect to a network of trails that offer more rugged, wooded experiences with narrow, bumpy and steep sections. There are benches placed at ponds and in sections of the trails for resting and viewing wildlife, and scenic overlooks with sweeping vistas.
MDT Tip: Visit on a bright day with clouds for the best landscape views.
Even if you plan only to explore the short trails, wear sturdy hiking shoes with traction to safely walk or hike through the diverse landscapes, especially if it has rained recently.
Have you visited Mass Audubon’s Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary? What’s your favorite Mass Audubon preserve or sanctuary?
