Phone

(413) 245-1264

Email

info@norcrosswildlife.org

Opening Hours

Trails will reopen for the season on Saturday, April 20, 2024

Closed for the Holiday Weekend

Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary Wales, MA

Our public trails will be closed over the Labor Day Holiday Weekend, Saturday, September 2 through Monday, September 4.  Trails will reopen to the public on Tuesday, September 5 at …

Wednesday Walks

Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary Wales, MA

Join us on a walk through our Sanctuary every Wednesday morning beginning June 21 and ending on September 6.
Observe a variety of habitats along the way as we travel on paths not typically available to the public. You never know what types of flora and fauna we will see!
These walks are geared for adults and are generally 3-4 miles at a medium to quick pace.
Meet at the Visitor Center kiosk.  Walks begin promptly at 8:00 am.

Saturday Hike to Vineca Pond – RESCHEDULED to Saturday, October 28, 2023

Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary Wales, MA

Join us for a hike to the beautiful Vineca Pond deep in the Sanctuary!
Observe a variety of habitats as we hike past the canal and dams on paths not typically available to the public.
This moderate hike is geared for adults, is at a moderate pace, and is approximately 3.5 miles long.
Dress in appropriate clothing and footwear; be prepared for roots, rocks, and maybe even some mud!
Dogs are not allowed.
Please meet at the Trailhead kiosk by 9:30 am to sign in.
If there is inclement weather, please call 413-245-1353 to confirm that the hike will be taking place.

Saturday Hike to Bear Hill

Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary Wales, MA

Join us for a hike to the top of Bear Hill deep in the Sanctuary!
Observe a variety of habitats as we hike up Tupper Hill to Bear Hill on trails not typically available to the public.
This moderate to difficult hike is geared for adults, is at a moderate pace, and is approximately 4.2 miles long. 
Dress in appropriate clothing and footwear; be prepared for elevation, roots, and rocks.
Dogs are not allowed.
Please meet at the Trailhead kiosk by 9:30 am to sign in.  
If there is inclement weather, please call 413-245-1353 to confirm that the hike will be taking place.

Closed for the Holiday Weekend

Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary Wales, MA

Our public trails will be closed over the Holiday Weekend, Saturday, October 7 through Monday, October 9.  Trails will reopen to the public on Tuesday, October 10 at 8:30 am.

LaFond Oak Forest Program – Hike to Bear and Tupper Hills

Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary Wales, MA

Norcross Wildlife Foundation is proud to present the annual LaFond Oak Forest Program in memory of Eugene W. LaFond and Helen Mason LaFond
Saturday, October 14, 2023 at 9:30 am
Join staff members for a hike in the Sanctuary.  This is a moderate, 4-mile hike through parts of our sanctuary not typically open to the public.

Saturday Hike to Vineca Pond

Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary Wales, MA

Join us for a hike to the beautiful Vineca Pond deep in the Sanctuary!
Observe a variety of habitats as we hike past the canal and dams on paths not typically available to the public.
This moderate hike is geared for adults, is at a moderate pace, and is approximately 3.5 miles long.
Dress in appropriate clothing and footwear; be prepared for roots, rocks, and maybe even some mud!
Dogs are not allowed.
Please meet at the Trailhead kiosk by 9:30 am to sign in.
If there is inclement weather, please call 413-245-1353 to confirm that the hike will be taking place.

Welcome to the Graveyard!

The Gravestone Girls - Registration is now open!

Welcome to the Graveyard! is a 90-minute illustrated ‘virtual tour’ chronicling cemetery art, history and symbolism.  From colonial New England burial grounds of the 1600 & 1700s, through the nation-wide rural cemetery movement of the 19th century and into 21st century locations, the program examines why we have cemeteries and gravestones, why they look like they do and how styles and art have evolved over almost 400 years.  The presentation is robust with photographs of original gravestones and burial grounds from cemeteries visited by Gravestone Girls over many years.

Closed for the Holiday Weekend

Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary Wales, MA

Our public trails will be closed over the Holiday Weekend, Saturday, November 11 and Sunday, November 12. Trails will reopen to the public on Monday, November 13.

2024 Winter Lectures: Introduction to Foraging

Join Rachel Goclawski as she explains the basics of sustainable foraging in the wild. Foraging is a great way to incorporate local, nutrition-packed foods into your diet. It’s a fun way to get outdoors with friends and family, and sustainable foraging has a positive impact on native ecosystems. Get started on your wild food foraging journey by learning how to select a guidebook and how to forage through the seasons. Learn about the identification of some common wild edibles in New England, their preparation and preservation tips.

2024 Winter Lectures: Geological History of Wales and Vicinity

Professor Richard Little will present a program on the geological “deep history” of Wales and its vicinity. Included in the program will be a story of the birth and death of the Pangea Supercontinent which includes continental collisions and great rift faults that created the Connecticut River Valley Region, dinosaur footprints, glaciers, and Lake Hitchcock. Professor Little is also the discoverer of rare, Jurassic armored mud balls seen only in Franklin County and is presently working to have these “interesting, photogenic, and fun geological oddities” become the “official sedimentary structure” of Massachusetts!

CANCELLED: 2024 Winter Lecture Series: Spring Butterflies

This event has been cancelled and will NOT be taking place on Saturday.
Join naturalist Dave Small and celebrate the arrival of spring as he discusses emerging Spring and early Summer Butterflies. Learn where to look for various butterflies, their life histories, and how to identify them.