Sunkhaze Meadows National Wildlife Refuge

Year Established: 1988  |  Size: 11,435 Acres

Location: Milford, Maine

Season/Hours of Operation: 7 days per week, year-round (1/2 before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset)

Activities:

• Carter Meadow Road: Cross-Country Skiing, Hiking, Photography, and Snowshoeing
• Johnson Brook: Hiking, Photography, Snowshoeing

Trails: Sunkhaze Meadows NWR (Carter Meadow Road)

• Length: 2.5 miles, Loop
• Difficulty: Moderate, Advanced
• Surface: Dirt/Forest Floor
• Pets: Permitted
• Fees: No

Sunkhaze Meadows NWR (Johnson Brook)

• Length: 3.5 miles, Network
• Difficulty: Moderate, Advanced
• Surface: Boardwalk/Bog Bridging, Dirt/Forest Floor
• Pets: Permitted
• Fees: No

An easy 6.2 mile trail is also available for paddling. This is a route on Sunkhazen Stream that begins near the Penobscot River and ends at Sunkhazen National Wildlife Refuge.

Tours: No tours provided.

Mammal Species: Sunkhaze Meadows National Refuge is home to mammals that like spending time in the water including American beavers and North American river otters. While exploring the refuge on land, you may also encounter porcupines, muskrats, raccoons, and some domesticated cats. The largest wild mammals you’ll likely find on the refuge are moose. Different types of bats have also settled on the refuge including little brown bats, hoary bats, and silver-haired bats.

Bird Species: Numerous bird species have taken a liking to Sunkhaze Meadows National Refuge and they are easy to spot while walking around the area. You can expect to see different varieties of hawks, owls, swallows, sparrows, and woodpeckers during your travels. In terms of waterfowl, ducks, herons, and kingfishers are known to spend plenty of time along the refuge’s streams. The sheer variety of bird species living inside the refuge will delight any birders paying a visit.

Amphibian and Reptile Species: We cannot talk about the diverse species of Sunkhaze Meadows National Wildlife Refuge without mentioning the amphibian and reptile populations there. Frogs and salamanders are commonly found in the wetlands. Wood turtles can seldom be seen inside the refuge and they can be imposing figures. Note too that snakes are present in the area so keep an eye out for them.

Visit the Sunkhaze Meadows NWR web page or a complete list of species that inhabit the refuge.

Entrance Fees, Facility Rules & Policies: Please reach out to the Sunkhaze Meadows National Wildlife Refuge for information regarding their rules and regulations.