Event · Outdoors

Choate Island Day at the Crane Wildlife Refuge

When

Sat, Oct 17 · 10:00 AM–3:00 PMSaturday, October 17, 2026, 10 am-3 pm; guided sessions 10 am-12:30 pm and 12:30-3 pm

Where

Choate Island, Crane Wildlife Refuge on the Crane EstateCrane Estate/Essex River Estuary, Essex, MA 01938 (park at Crane Beach, end of Argilla Road, Ipswich)Open in Google Maps ↗

Ages

Child and Adult ticket categories; no age range defined

Cost

Self-Guided Tour: Nonmember Adult $40 / Member Adult $32; Nonmember Child $30 / Member Child $24. Guided Experience (morning or afternoon): Nonmember Adult $50 / Member $40; Nonmember Child $35 / Member $28.Shuttle bus plus short ferry; island hiking.

Organizer

The Trustees of Reservations

A one-day celebration of Choate Island on the Crane Wildlife Refuge in the Essex River Estuary, run by The Trustees. Visitors park free at Crane Beach at the end of Argilla Road, take a shuttle bus (under 5 minutes) to the boat dock, then a ferry of under 10 minutes to the island; shuttles run continuously 10 am-3 pm and the last boat returns from the island at 3 pm. Guided (morning 10 am-12:30 pm or afternoon 12:30-3 pm) and self-guided options cover the island's Indigenous, Choate family and Crane family history, with the Proctor Barn open house, Choate House tours, hikes to the Crane Burial Site, a self-guided walking tour, a kids' scavenger hunt and shoreline beachcombing. Light refreshments served; outside food allowed, no alcohol.