This river is now well marked and there are river cruises that take about an hour and a half. As a boating enthusiast I like to take a boat myself out in a setting such as this. The river is calm with not too much traffic. There are beaches you can anchor near and go for a swim. Have fun!
A Great park. it has a river for kayaking. Trails for hiking , a swing set, tennis court, Horseshoes and a skate Board park too. Even a little gazebo with picnic tables along with many others and benches strewn around. Also a little house that serves hot dogs snacks and ice cream. Bathroom facilities too. Also a baseball field and soccer field.
This was well worth the 4.00 entry fee. Great hiking trails, lots of wooded paths over the ponds and marshes, great animal viewing opportunities. Today we saw a water snake, sunning turles, ducks, geese on their nests, cranes, wood peckers and many other assorted birds. We saw chip monks, red squirels, an otter, beaver dams and 5 deer which just made out day.Great for some exercise and also to just sit and enjoy the views and listen to all the various noises the birds make.
Mass Audubon's Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary is wonderful. The folks in the visitor's center mapped out an excellent trail for our family that took us along ponds, through rock formations, alongside the Ipswich River and to a great observation tower. We ended with a stop at the outdoor nature play area. Sanctuary was well maintained and facility was very clean. We spotted lots of birds, turtles and frogs during our visit. Admission is nominal and Audubon members are free. Canoes are available for members to rent for a small fee and the route looks amazing. We can't wait to try it next time!
Excellent paddling river for canoeists and kayakers alike. Also lovely swimming all along the river.
The Ipswich is a great paddle. If you have your own canoe or kayak, there are several places to put in near Foote Boat rental - or rent a boat for the day. The water is slow and there is lots of wildlife. You can paddle through the Audubon Reservation for great bird watching. The water can get pretty low in the fall, but it is still worth a trip. If you paddle 15 minutes upstream, you will lose all of the inexperienced canoe renters and find a very beautiful and tranquil river experience.
A new bridge has been constructed, which spans the Ipswich River.Enjoy the murals painted on the walls of the old Mill Building Complex. Alan Pearsall's painted History of Ipswich is charming,and enlightening.
My boyfriend and I rented a canoe from Foote brothers and spent about 5 hours or so on the water, stopped a few times along the way to fish. We saw a lot of turtles, geese, and ducks. We didn't have any luck with fishing though one of the workers at Foot brothers told us he caught a trout right where the dam is.Rowing against the current was quite a workout and there were many trees that were submerged that made some points very tricky to navigate. We got a stuck a few times, but that was part of the fun. I was completely exhausted after all that rowing, but it was a beautiful day and experience.
Take a leisurely canoe trip for 4 or more hours down the Ipswich River stopping to bird watch or picnic along the way. See Foote Brothers for canoe rentals.
Ipswich is a great town to stroll around. Historic houses have historic markers, and there are several park/common areas. My favorite is the pedestrian bridge across the Ipswich river, featuring a fish ladder and views of historic buildings. A bit further up-river, there is a unique piece of history... the Choate Bridge built in 1764- one of the oldest bridges in the US.