About Tidmarsh

Tidmarsh view with egrets

Once a working cranberry farm, this landscape underwent the largest freshwater ecological restoration ever completed in the Northeast. Now Tidmarsh Wildlife Sanctuary is 481-acre property that's home to a vast expanse of cold-water streams, ponds, forest, and woodlands—all permanently protected and open for everyone to enjoy!

Its previous owners, the Schulman Family—along with the Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration, U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service, and many other organizations—re-created nearly three and a half miles of meandering stream channel, sculpted the land's surface, and removed nine dams to reconnect the headwaters of Beaver Dam Brook to the ocean for the first time in more than a century.

As a result of the collective actions of the collaborators, this entire landscape is now on a dramatic trajectory of change—a spectacle that will play out for decades, and even centuries, to come. Walk the trails to learn about the landscape's transformation and the importance of habitat protection, ecological restoration, and climate change response.

Location

60 Beaver Dam Road, Plymouth, MA 02360
Get directions or contact us >

Mailing Address 
137 Bartlett Road, Plymouth, MA 02360

Hours

  • Trails: Open daily, dawn to dusk
  • Restrooms: Outdoor, portable restrooms are available

→ For your safety and to avoid conflicts with wildlife, please follow our sanctuary guidelines during your visit. Please leave dogs and other pets at home.

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

Acres

481

Trail Mileage

3 miles
Details & map >

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. 

Sanctuary Highlights

  • Many thriving habitats including grasslands, Atlantic White Cedar swamp, pine-oak forest, cold streams, and more.
  • Educational programs for school groups (Pre-K through Grade 12), as well as for Scout troops, that teach the interconnections between land, air, water, and wildlife.
  • A variety of programs and workshops for all ages and interests, including nature walks, sunset hikes, and family excursions.
  • River Herring and Muskrat returning to the stream after a long absence.
  • A variety of birds including common species (Red-shouldered Hawks and Orchard Orioles) and rarer visitors (King Rails and Caspian Terns).

Video

Get an overview of the history, habitat restoration, and continuing conservation taking place at Tidmarsh Wildlife Sanctuary.