Through the Rushes

The Parker River winds its way through the flatlands north of Boston, working towards the sea in undulating loops and coils. The river itself never quite makes it there, instead running into the Plum Island Sound, just short of the open ocean. Standing in its path, which runs from the mouth of Newburyport Harbor at the north to the aptly named Sandy Point at the south, are the boggy marshes and beaches of Plum Island.

The Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, located at the island’s midpoint, contains a series of boardwalked trails that cut through the marshland and forest. Scenic overlooks abound, providing plenty of opportunities to stop and watch the various birds and animals that inhabit the refuge.

On a long layover in Boston, in the middle of the summer, I caught the Rockport Commuter train northward, out of the sweltering city. An hour later, my dad picked me up at the station and we drove east towards Plum Island and beyond.

Plum Island, Massachusetts 2024

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