Bear Mountain, Hebron Marsh, Paradise Point

The Newfound Audubon Center includes Paradise Point Nature Center and Wildlife Sanctuary, the Hebron Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Bear Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary. The nature center at Paradise Point and the Audubon Nature Store at the Hebron Marsh Sanctuary are open daily, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., from July 1 to September 1. The store is open 1-4 p.m. on Sundays. Educational programming is provided for adults and children at Paradise Point and Hebron Marsh in the summer; call the Center at 744-3516 (July-August) or 224-9909 (September-June) for information. Programs for groups are available. Sanctuary trails are open dawn to dusk year-round.

About the Hebron Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary

In 1860, the Hebron Marsh was farmland and pasture. The Ash Cottage was part of a large farm tract owned by the Crosby family. In 1935, this property was purchased by the Norton family. In 1979, Hope Norton Iaccaci donated the property in memory of her husband, Paul Thayer Iaccaci.

The Sanctuary includes 34 acres on both sides of North Shore Road and contains the only marsh on the lake. This wetland area was formed at the mouth of the Cockermouth River when the lake was dammed.

About the Bear Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary

The 73-acre Bear Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary, located on the north side of Bear Mountain, is a relatively rugged forested property with some fairly steep slopes. The trail gains 600 feet in elevation from its start on West Shore Road (elevation 640 feet) to the highest point on the Sanctuary (elevation 1,240 feet), where there are views of Newfound Lake through the treetops. Although the Sanctuary is generally closed-canopy mixed forest, the effects from the changes in altitude can be seen in tree species composition as one walks up the trail. For example, there is a noticeable increase in red spruce and balsam fir at higher elevations.

The Sanctuary was donated to NHA in 1999 by Jon McKee and Joan Belden, both summer residents of Hebron. The property had been purchased 30 years earlier by McKee and his business partner, Rod Belden, for the purpose of creating a modest five-home development. Sensitive to the increase in development in the Newfound Lake area, McKee and Belden decided to forego their plans in favor of protecting the property as open space. They chose to donate the property to NHA because the organization protects other land nearby, most notably the Paradise Point Nature Center.

 

 

Description of Trails

Field Across North Shore Road

(mowed trail, 1.1 miles, approximately 1/2 hour)

Follow the Beaver Trail into the field. The bluebird houses are popular, although the residents tend to be Tree Swallows rather than bluebirds. To keep the nesting birds at ease, please keep a safe distance from the boxes.

Note the varying vegetation. This field contains several swales, which are low-lying areas that tend to be wetter than the surrounding field. Look for different vegetation, such as boneset and other wetland plants, that prefer these wetter areas. The prevalence of mosses and ground pines indicate the acid soil. In spring, look for trout lilies as well as bobolinks and other birds that nest in the field. In summer, an abundance of wildflowers bloom.

You can get down to the Cockermouth River, a shallow river with a gravel bottom, in which you can wade. Deer, turkey, and raccoon tracks can often be found by the river, and there is evidence of ambitious beaver activity along the riverbend.

Field Adjoining Ash Cottage Lawn

(mowed trail, .4 miles, approximately 15 minutes)

Unlike soil managed for farming, this field is not fertilized and is therefore sandy and arid. Common vegetation here includes lichen, British soldier, lowbush blueberries, reindeer moss, ground pine, and grape fern. Bluebird houses are provided along the edges.

Trail to Hebron Marsh

Follow the mown path to the beginning of the trail to the marsh. This short trail descends through an oak forest to the edge of the marsh. Many species of ferns can be found here. Warblers are often found in these woods in the spring, summer, and fall. As you look out over the marsh, listen for the birds that nest here: Pied-billed Grebes, snipe, mallards, and Black Ducks have all been found, as well as muskrat and the occasional moose.

About the Paradise Point Wildlife Sanctuary

Paradise Point Nature Center and Wildlife Sanctuary, located on the north shore of Newfound Lake, includes 43 acres with 3,500 feet of rocky, unspoiled lakeshore.

In the early 1960s, Colonel and Mrs. Alcott Elwell gave this property to the New Hampshire Charitable Fund, who donated it to the New Hampshire Audubon in 1966. Through a challenge grant from the New Hampshire Charitable Fund, contributors, and volunteers, Paradise Point Nature Center was constructed in 1969 to offer environmental education services to people of all ages.

Newfound Lake is a glacial lake that is noted for its depth, clarity, and purity. A deep river valley before the glaciers, the ice sheet scoured it deeper and then filled the rest of the valley with glacial debris. The debris dammed the river to form a very deep lake-even deeper than it is now. Presently it reaches a depth of 180 feet. Evidence of the glaciers can be seen throughout the Sanctuary.

The Sanctuary's varied habitats entice many neotropical bird migrants each spring and summer. Many warblers, thrushes, vireos, and Scarlet Tanagers have been found here.

The marked trails at the Sanctuary are open year-round from dawn to dusk.

Description of Trails

Ridge/Lakeside Trail

Ridge Trail: Yellow markers
Lakeside Trail: Blue markers
Approximately 1 mile, 1 hour round-trip

In contrast to the other two trails on the Sanctuary, which are dominated by softwoods, this trail passes through a hardwood forest. Continue past the red markers for the Elwell Trail to a foot-plank bridge over a small swamp. This shallow pool is a superb breeding spot for a number of insects. There are also cinnamon and sensitive ferns here.

A steep but short climb takes you past numerous rugged, rocky outcrops. Notice the variety of lichens on some of the boulders. The trail continues to The Point, a rock ledge that looks out to a panoramic view of the lake and mountains beyond.

From The Point, the trail follows the shoreline back to the Nature Center. Many of the trees and shrubs here are forest edge species, which favor the open conditions of the shoreline.

The trail will bring you to the dock with the Nature Center in sight behind you.

Loop Trail

White markers 1/3 mile round trip

This is the Sanctuary's shortest trail. From the Nature Center, it takes you to the shore of the lake. Looking out at the lake, look and listen for the Common Loons and Common Mergansers that are frequent visitors to the area during warmer months. The trail then heads back through the woods along the edge of a small swamp. During the spring and summer, look for wildflowers such as trillium, wintergreen, clintonia, and partridgeberry, as well as bracken fern.

Elwell Trail

Red markers
3/4 mile round-trip, 1 hour round-trip

This relatively easy trail soon takes you to a cathedral of hemlock trees. You then descend to a small vernal pool area, where numerous species of frogs and salamanders deposit their eggs to hatch each spring. In summer, this area may be quite dry. Notice the number of deciduous trees here, such as red maple and beech. Just before you reach The Point, you'll find the giraffe tree, a yellow birch that has grown in an interesting way. Yellow birch is famous for sprouting on old logs and stumps. The Point is a rock ledge that looks out to a panoramic view of the lake and mountains beyond.

Back on the trail, bear right to head north along the trail, looking for the red markers (just before you cross a small brook), that direct you back to the Nature Center. This section of the Elwell Trail parallels a wetland. You may even feel a change in temperature as you approach the swamp. Look for indian pipes, mayflower, goldthread, partridge berry, hobblebush, bunchberry, and cranberry on this section of the trail. Notice the spongy carpet of sphagnum moss among the cinnamon ferns. There are also sour-gum trees, which are also known as tupelo or black gum, that grow only in swamps and watercourses and are not often found in the northeast.

Proceeding through this old-growth forest, you'll approach two majestic trees that are well over 100 years old-the Elwell Memorial Pines, which honor Colonel and Mrs. Elwell, donors of this property.

Continue following the red markers to return to the Nature Center.

Visitor Guidelines

1. Please do not collect or in any way disturb plants or animals.
2. Please keep to marked trails.
3. Please respect private property.
4. Only foot travel is permitted
   (No horses, bicycles, or motor vehicles).
5. Motor boats are prohibited.
6. Pets must be on a short leash and controlled at all times.
7. Hunting, firearms, camping, fires, and swimming are prohibited.
8. Please carry out all trash and litter.
9. Be prepared for country walking.

Driving Directions to Hebron Marsh

From Bristol:
1. Go north on Route 3A for 9 miles through East Hebron.
2. Turn left onto North Shore Road.
3. Drive 2.5 miles to the Hebron Marsh Sanctuary.

From Plymouth:
1. Take Route 25 west to Route 3A south. and
2. Travel 5 miles south, turn right onto North Shore Road
3. Drive 2.5 miles to the Sanctuary.

Driving Directions to Paradise Point

From Bristol:
1. Go north on Route 3A for 9 miles through East Hebron.
2. Turn left onto North Shore Road.
3. Paradise Point sign is on left after one mile.

From Plymouth:
1. Take Route 25 west to Route 3A south. and
2. Travel 5 miles south, turn right onto North Shore Road
3. Paradise Point sign is on left after one mile.

Driving Directions to Bear Mountain

1. From Bridgewater, drive north on Route 3A for 9 miles toward East Hebron. Just past East Hebron, turn left onto North Shore Road.
2. From Plymouth, drive South on Route 3A to the juncion of North Shore Road just north of East Hebron, and turn right onto North Shore Road.
3. Drive about 2.6 miles on North Shore Road (past Audubon's Paradise Point and Hebron Marsh Wildlife Sanctuaries) to Hebron.
4. In Hebron, turn left onto West Shore Drive and drive 0.4 miles; the trailhead is on the right.
5. Park on Cross Street, one-tenth mile north of the trailhead.

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