Fort River Trail (Silvio O. Conte Refuge)
Eight lookouts across wetlands, grasslands, and river forest, all fully accessible
A fully accessible loop through the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge in Hadley. Eight lookout points offer views of young forest, floodplain, restored wetlands, and the Connecticut River Valley from crushed-stone paths and boardwalks with benches every 100 yards.
- Length
- 0.9 mi
- Time
- 19 min
- on foot
- Stops
- 8 stops
Starts at Trailhead Gazebo, ends at Wetland Overlook · Directions
Unlock the Fort River badge
The route, stop by stop
On this route:Fort River Trail· 0.9 mi
Numbered pins are the stops.
Walk it with Shift, free
A map of the route, directions to each stop in your maps app, and automatic check-in when you arrive. Finish to unlock the Fort River badge.
Stop 1: Trailhead Gazebo
Start
The trail's welcoming shelter at the start of the accessible loop
About this stopNext: Walk to Young Forest Lookout
0.2 mi · 4 min
Stop 2: Young Forest Lookout
Overlook into young forest habitat, managed to support early-succession wildlife species
About this stopNext: Walk to Riverbend & Riparian Forest
0.2 mi · 4 min
Stop 3: Riverbend & Riparian Forest
Views of the Fort River's bend through mature riparian forest
About this stopNext: Walk to Shrublands & Restored Wetlands
0.1 mi · 2 min
Stop 4: Shrublands & Restored Wetlands
Wetlands restored by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, now teeming with wildlife
About this stopNext: Walk to Floodplain & River Edge
<0.1 mi · 1 min
Stop 5: Floodplain & River Edge
The closest point to the Fort River, where floodplain meets scrub-shrub habitat
About this stopNext: Walk to Mature Secondary Forest
0.3 mi · 5 min
Stop 6: Mature Secondary Forest
A canopy of mature oaks shading the boardwalk through second-growth forest
About this stopNext: Walk to Expansive Grasslands Lookout
0.1 mi · 2 min
Stop 7: Expansive Grasslands Lookout
Views across open grasslands managed for ground-nesting birds and pollinators
About this stopNext: Walk to Wetland Overlook
<0.1 mi · 1 min
Stop 8: Wetland Overlook
Finish
Final lookout over the refuge's central wetland complex before returning to the trailhead
About this stop
Getting there
How it works
A roam is a self-guided route you follow at your own pace in the free Shift app.
Follow the route
Open this roam in the Shift app and follow it at your own pace.
Check in at each stop
The app checks you in when you arrive. No scanning, no codes. Visit all 8 stops and the roam is complete.
Unlock the Fort River badge
Finish the roam and the Fort River badge is yours. Finish all 0 routes in the MassTrails 10 for a bonus badge.
Part of the MassTrails 10. Finish all 0 routes to unlock the Trail Master badge.