Mass Audubon Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary
Mass Audubon Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary
Mass Audubon Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary
4.5
About
Located just one mile from the center of Pittsfield, Canoe Meadows brings wilderness to Berkshire County’s largest city, attracting warblers, turtles, ospreys, otters, and the occasional bear at different times of year. Gentle, flat trails wind through the sanctuary’s scenic woods, fields, and wetlands, and along the edge of the Housatonic River.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
54 reviews
Excellent
31
Very good
15
Average
5
Poor
2
Terrible
1
leifneve
Bethesda, MD184 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
This park offered everything. Incredible nature of both the animal and flora type. Wonderful scenery, and great quiet. Really an amazing abundance of flora types. Make sure to take your bug protection on with you.
Written 22 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cinoor2
Lenox, MA6 contributions
Nov 2013 • Couples
Please be advised when hiking through Canoe Meadows that is was a former dumping ground for General Electric's PCB's. I was appalled to discover this ON MY WAY OUT of the park. I have been a decades long member of the Audoban Society, and long term Berkshire resident, The Audoban Society has a responsibility to the public to better post that the area contains contaminants. Rather than posting in the "fine print" of a small area map offered at the kiosk. There is a huge map and info about the site, and most environmentally conscious folks don't take the small paper leaflet. In it the Center says " Area contains PCB's do not let soil come into contact with your car, or home". WHAT? How does that work? Since I don't have glass bottom shoes, pretty hard for soil from my boots not to come into contact with my car- they don't even have the common sense to provide a hose to wash shoes off. Needless to say, I won't walk there again EVER and am writing to Audbon Headquaters.Chernobyl Park is off my list, I'd rather not glow green after my hikes .
PS No Pets
PS No Pets
Written 5 November 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tammy C
Pittsfield, MA59 contributions
Nov 2015 • Family
We love this wildlife sanctuary which actually abuts our home on the opposite side! Trails are mostly flat making it a great choice for little ones and grandparents and everyone in-between. There is no attended building so admission is free (donations accepted on the honor system.) If you turn right along the Sacred Way Trail, and keep bearing right along the trail, you will make a peaceful and beautiful loop overlooking the Housatonic River and views of the mountains (about 30 minutes.) Look for recent activity by the beavers about 10 minutes into your walk - trees that have been gnawed completely down - a light tan color on the exposed tip and wood shavings on the ground probably are clues of the beavers' previous night's work! If you take the trail to the left from the entrance, look for signs of the old Graves estate which burned down in the 70's - As you walk along the eastern bank of the stream, you are actually traversing the original carriage drive to the estate, lined on one side by white pines, and on the opposite, red pines. As you approach the trailhead for the Wolf Pine Trail, look left and you will discover the old staircase hidden among the trees along with a plethora of wild pachysandra and rhododendron, no doubt offspring of the original landscaping! If you travel straight along the carriage road, you will walk right through the pond, a great place to stop and listen for the varied wildlife - Keep going on the carriage road and you will eventually discover a bridge, a dam and waterfall on the left! Turn back down the carriage road and turn right on the Wolf Pine Trail, with an optional loop on the Owl Trail. As you turn down the last leg of the Wolf Pine Trail in your loop back towards the entrance, look closely through the trees on the right (northern side) and see if you can spot the original electrical poles that ran to the estate, hidden in the woods!
Written 13 January 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wildini
Pittsfield, MA10 contributions
Nov 2010
A secret treasure of Pittsfield & the Berkshires! Never crowded, and actually easy to miss because it is not well-signed (but worth looking for!) Very gentle trails through woodland, wetlands, riverside & more.
Written 6 March 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nikita1221
williamstown ma1 contribution
This is such a wonderful place to relax and take in nature. There are many well groomed hiking trails in a gorgeous wildlife setting. Nothing is better than a warm summer morning doing yoga along the housatonic river, or x-country skiing through the fields!
Written 24 October 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SUEM125
PORTSMOUTH19 contributions
Aug 2020
This is a great place to walk. There are several loops in different lengths. You can do a mile or several miles. We saw lots of wildlife - blue herron, a glimpse of a beaver and many types of birds. If you check out their website, there are activities planned by the Audubon Society like bird watching.
Written 11 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
travellingfamily400
Boston, MA7 contributions
Aug 2018 • Family
This was a pretty walk and the trails were decent. It didn't have a ton to see but we still enjoyed it. Overall not our favorite Audubon but still worth a walk if you have extra time with nothing else to do. Make sure to bring and use lots of bug spray!
Written 13 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MAConvert
Berkshires, MA489 contributions
Aug 2017 • Couples
This is one of the best locations I've found for bird watching. While it can have a LOT of mosquitos in the summer, if you use some repellent, this location is wonderful for a calm walk and unique bird sightings.
Written 10 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
karebear70
MA79 contributions
Jun 2016 • Solo
Lovely, easy trails. Lots of wildlife to be observed, some trails have benches to rest and take in the scenery. Small parking area. Long trails and short ones
Written 10 April 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carolyn G
Stockbridge, MA9 contributions
Nov 2015 • Couples
Gentile trails through varied terrain make for a leisurely and lovely afternoon. Fine for seniors in good shape - not too many seating spots. Not overbuilt at all, truly a wildlife sanctuary. Be sure to wear insect repellant in season - our family fondly calls this "bug meadows".
Written 27 April 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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