About Oak Knoll

Visitor Center at Mass Audubon Oak Knoll Wildlife Sanctuary

Looking out over Lake Talaquega, it’s hard to imagine that this serene setting was once a buzzing entertainment destination, complete with a casino and hotel. 

Now Oak Knoll Wildlife Sanctuary, just minutes from downtown Attleboro, offers a natural respite with wooded trails and boardwalk winding through a red maple swamp, upland forest, and freshwater marsh, and around the lake’s perimeter.

Location

1417 Park Street, Attleboro, MA 02703
Get directions or contact us >

Hours

Nature Center: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 am-3 pm
Trails: Daily, dawn to dusk

→ For your safety and to avoid conflicts with wildlife, please follow our sanctuary guidelines during your visit.

Admission

Members: Free
Nonmembers: $2 suggested donation 

As a way to increase access to nature, Mass Audubon also offers several free admission programs at our wildlife sanctuaries.

Facilities

  • Parking
  • Universally Accessible Nature Center
  • Universally Accessible Restrooms
  • Picnic Area

Acres

75

Trail Mileage

1.5 miles

Sanctuary Highlights

  • Native turtle species, invertebrates, and other exhibits in the Nature Center, a former residence built in 1759.
  • Fragrant and colorful gardens, with native plants offering food and shelter to birds and butterflies.
  • Easy-to-see tracks and signs of wildlife such as Eastern Cottontail rabbits and foxes.
  • Salamanders and frogs in and around the vernal pools.
  • The Nature Play Area, where kids can use found objects to build fairy homes, play nature tic tac toe, and hop along Sid the Snake Stump Jump.
  • Summer day camp where children can have fun and learn about nature.

Property Regulations

All of the land at our wildlife sanctuaries is protected. By conserving these open spaces, Mass Audubon, along with our members and partners, is able to fulfill its mission of protecting the nature of Massachusetts. When visiting, please take note of the following regulations: 

  • No dog walking or horseback riding; please leave all animals and pets at home (service animals welcome) 
  • No walking off trail  
  • No collecting or picking natural items
  • No bike riding or operating motorized vehicles; day passes are available for powered mobility devices   
  • No running, swimming, or camping 
  • No operating drones or other remote-controlled vehicles   
  • No fishing, hunting, trapping, or releasing of animals   
  • No feeding wildlife   
  • No smoking 

Photography Guidelines

Mass Audubon welcomes visitors to capture the beauty and wonder of our statewide network of wildlife sanctuaries through photography. If you would like to use a wildlife sanctuary for commercial photography purposes, please review the complete guidelines and learn how to schedule a time