Maudslay State Park

About this park

Maudslay State Park occupies 483 acres along the Merrimack River in Newburyport, preserving the landscaped grounds of the former Moseley family estate, developed in the early 20th century by Frederick Strong Moseley with the help of some of Massachusetts' leading landscape architects of the day. The result is a genuinely cultivated park landscape rather than untouched wilderness, with stone walls, ornamental plantings, carriage roads, and a flowering reflection pond still intact from the estate era. The park is home to one of the largest naturally occurring stands of mountain laurel anywhere in Massachusetts, which bursts into bloom each June alongside seasonal displays of rhododendron and azalea that draw visitors from across the region specifically for the flowering show. Rolling meadows, towering stands of white pine, and miles of carriage-road walking trails give the park a distinctly formal, parklike character distinct from the more rugged state forests found elsewhere in the system. Swimming is prohibited in the Merrimack River directly within the park, keeping Maudslay firmly a walking, picnicking, and nature-appreciation destination rather than a water-recreation park. Educational programs run through the summer months, and the park's combination of genuine 19th-century landscape design and riverside setting, just a short drive from downtown Newburyport, makes it a favorite for both casual walkers and more serious garden and horticulture enthusiasts.