Prized Properties: Staff and Board Go-tos for Recreation

By Ryan Smith

It should come as no surprise that when Forest Society staff aren’t on the job, they still spend a lot of time outdoors on Forest Society properties hiking, walking the dog, f ishing, and appreciating these special places. Although most staff members said it was tough to pick their favorite property out of the more than 190 properties across the state, some felt drawn to a specific location over others. Well-known properties, such as Lost River and Mount Major, are go-tos for many, but some of the lesser-known haunts, including McCabe Forest and Moody Mountain, stood out for their unique attributes. So grab a pen and paper to take notes as staff share their top Forest Society properties Who knows? You just might find your new favorite property to visit as well

Anna Berry

Direc tor of Communications and Digital Outreach

One of my favorite Forest Society properties is Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves. I first brought my family in June 2020 It was the first time we had visited a recreation property outside of where we lived in Manchester due to the pandemic. My then four-year-old twins were giddy crawling through the lush caves. They didn’t need to be coaxed to climb the 1,000-plus stairs because they were excited to see what was around every corner. The day we visited was pretty quiet, and we almost felt like we were the early explorers traversing the glacial boulders when the gorge was “discovered” in 1852 The experience made me appreciate raising my children in the Granite State, where forests and fresh air are never far away.

I love to hike mountains and I’m often trying to get my friends and family to love it as well Hiking Mount Major has been my surefire approach to achieving this mission. I first hiked the mountain in high school when I was looking for a relatively easy mountain to summit with great views Since then, I’ve hiked it in the winter and fall, with beginning hikers, and even with a toddler. Anytime I want to try a new type of hiking, I test my skills first on Mount Major, including my first sunrise hike (pictured above). Hiking with headlamps was a fun experience, and the panoramic views from the top made for a spectacular show early in the morning I even heard a few owls on the way up. No matter the time of year or time of day, Mount Major makes for a rewarding hike and offers a new experience each time.

Paddling at Grafton Pond is one of my favorite ways to spend a summer or warm fall day The Forest Society has protected more than 900 acres at Grafton Pond, including most of the shoreline and, as a result, it feels wilder than your typical camp-ringed pond in central New Hampshire! There are so many islands and coves to explore that even when it’s crowded on a hot day, you can still find solitude. Although there are many beautiful spots and many great islands, my family has a favorite spot on one of the islands where we often bring hammocks, plenty of reading material, and snacks. We spend the day alternating between books, naps, and jumping off the rocks into the cool, clear water. Loons regularly appear from beneath the water, and the sun bakes the island’s pine needle carpet providing natural aromatherapy It’s heaven!

With 10-plus miles of marked trails tha wind through a mixture of habitat type the Heald Tract (pictured at right) is hidden gem Several forest and habita management projects have taken place i the last 5 years, so you will see areas wit stumps and young growth Heald an Castor ponds are great places to vie wildlife, and the trails at Heald connec with those on other conserved lands It’s great spot to get away from the crowd take a long walk through the woods, an enjoy a diverse mix of wildlife habitats.

Lost River Gorge is always a favorit and visiting the property puts me in good mood It is steeped in early Fore Society history, and it has long served as a family tradition for generations. As a kid, I visited the White Mountains with my family in a wood-paneled station wagon. Decades later, I can see how gateway experiences like mine influence and shape interests and make lasting memories. Lost River is where the “forest echoes with laughter,” to quote a famous Led Zeppelin song Here, families safely enjoy a spectacular natural setting owned by the Forest Society and protected in 1912.

One of my go-to properties is Gap Mountain. It’s pretty quiet in comparison to its towering neighbor, Monadnock, but the views are still spectacular. When I was young, our family friends from Belgium sent their eldest daughter, Capucine, to stay with us to work on her English. My dad took her, my brother, and me to Gap to hike and to pick blueberries at the summit. Gap is covered in blueberr y bushes, and we stayed at the top for nearly an hour picking. Our dog, Finch, loved combing through the bushes with his teeth like a bear, eating as many berries as he could.

My favorite property is the Morse Preserve in Alton It's quiet and never too crowded, which makes for a peaceful walk through the woods The hike to Pine Mountain is relatively easy and it offers a great view of the mountains and lakes I love taking my shoes off at the summit and soaking in the mountain through my toes It’s minimal work for a high reward and did I mention there's rarely anyone around? My fondest memory of the Morse Preser ve was on the Forest Society’s staff picnic to the property a few years ago. I had so much fun taking in the views with my colleagues. I was proud of the great work the Forest Society had done to preserve a gorgeous place like this

By far, my favorite property is Lost River Gorge Although it’s one of the more touristy places in New Hampshire, it has a special place in my heart and each visit is just as amazing as the last. I’m always stunned by its beauty! Ever y year for my birthday, my husband and I go to Lost River. I love it because you get such an interactive experience from the deep caves to the boardwalks by the river to the incredible vistas Whenever I'm there, I truly connect with nature and the Earth It feels otherworldly as if I were on Mars. One of my favorite memories from Lost River was when the Pease Air National Guard Base was running training flights through Kinsman Notch The planes flew right over us as we were standing at one of the vistas My husband tried to film the flyover but accidentally pressed stop when he meant to press record! We laugh about it now, but he was so disappointed

Sarah Kern

Creek Farm Education Program Coordinator

My favorite property is Creek Far m. Depending on what I need and what my schedule allows, I enjoy the fact that I can either do a quick lunchtime walk with my dog Bennie (pictured) or take more time to slow down and enjoy the trail, water, and other features I also love the fact that if

I remember to pay attention to the tides, I can enjoy a paddle on Sagamore Creek listening to the kingfishers and watching the eagles.

Ever yone I run into on the Little Harbor Loop Trail seems genuinely happy to be there As the tides come in and greet the trees and then go out again, it’s a wonderful reminder of the constant changes that occur around us and how simple and easy it is to slow down, take a breath, and soak it all in!

Anne Truslow

Vice President for Development

McCabe Forest in Antrim is a hometown favorite of mine The trail that meanders beside the Contoocook River is fun in all seasons, but I especially love a good spring flood the whispering of the water as it flows through winding oxbows and eddies around fallen trees is truly