Tag Archives: trees

October 27, 2016

Silvio O. Conte National Fish & Wildlife Refugee – Fort River Division (Hadley, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: September 7, 2016

Location: 69 Moody Bridge Rd, Hadley, MA

Hours: Open everyday, sunrise until sunset

Cost: Free

Parking: There is a lot at the entrance of the trail for about 20-30 cars

Dog Friendly: Yes

Handicap Accessible: Yes

Highlights: wildlife, easy trail, flowers

Web Site: Sylvio O. Conte National Fish & Wildlife Refuge

Named after Silvio Ottavio Conte, a 16 term Republican member of the U.S. House of Reprentatives from Pittsfield, MA, the Silvio O. Conte National Fish & Wildlife Refuge is and easy 1.1 mile trail dotted with trees, flowers and the occasional bird.

Broken into 9 divisions and 9 units across New England, the Sylvio O. Conte parks feature a variety of parks in Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire.

I chose to visit the Fort River Division in Hadley, Massachusetts during the week of the Labor holiday. So, the photos are not an accurate display of what the refuge looks like now. It is undoubtedly even more beautiful with all of the foliage this time of the year.

The refuge has mostly flat, well groomed trails with some raised platform walkways.

There are benches and lookouts along the way.

The views from the lookouts and on the trails are very pretty.

The flowers, plants and trees at the Sylvio O. Conte trail are also very pretty.

Although it was only the early part of September, I saw the signs of fall on the trail. Leaves covered parts of the trail and some of the leaves appeared to be turning color already.

As the name indicates, the Fort River runs through a portion of the trail.

The winding trails are very charming. They make you wonder what could be around the next corner. Even though it is only slightly more than a mile in length, the trail does provide a lot of surprises. One of the surprises you may find on the trail is wildlife. Deer, bobcats and coyote are said to populate the area. But, I didn’t see any of them during my visit. Oh, and then there are birds. There are lots of birds at Sylvio O. Conte trail. I photographed a few of them.

While it’s certainly not a challenging trail and you’re not likely to find too much wildlife or other surprises, I would still recommend this trail to anyone looking for a casual walk with some pretty scenery.

2 Comments | tags: birds, flowers, Hadley, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, plants, trails, trees | posted in birds, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, Uncategorized

October 1, 2016

Mount Monadnock (Jaffrey, NH)

By New England Nomad

Date Visited: September 17, 2016

Location: 116 Poole Rd, Jaffrey, NH

Trail Height: 3,165 feet

Trail Difficulty: Moderate

Time To Allot For Visit: 3-4 hours (up and down)

Cost: $5.00

Parking: There are several parking lots with ample parking but it does get busy and fills up during the spring summer and fall months

Dog Friendly: No

Highlights: scenic views, pretty flowers and trees, pretty rocky structures, birds, views of Boston skyline

Mount Monadnock Web Site: Mount Monadnock

Mount Monadnock Trail Map: Mount Monadnock Trail Map

Standing at 3,165 feet, Mount Monadnock is considered one of New Hampshire’s “easier” climbs (according to alltrails.com). But, before you lace up your hiking boots and pack up your car for the scenic drive to the majestic mountain in Jaffrey, New Hampshire, you may want to get a second opinion.

While it isn’t the hardest climb you will make, it also isn’t an easy climb, particularly for beginner climbers. I saw more than a few climbers taking breaks on the side of the trail to the top. But, it is worth all the hard work and time to get to the top when you see the views.

At the beginning of the trail, there is a reminder to not make or knock down the cairns on the trail.

The dirt trail at Monadnock starts off easy enough as a straight trail with a slight incline. From there, the trail gets tougher. The inclines become more drastic and the terrain turn rocky.

There are some pretty views on the way to the top. About three quarters of the way to the top of Mount Monadnock, there is an area to sit or stand and take in the views of the surrounding area. On a clear day, you can see the Boston skyline. You may be able to see it in some of these photos.

The trail gets slighly easier after the first 3/4 of the trail. But only slightly. Keep in mind this was my first hike up any mountain. So, it may be much easier for an experienced climber. In any case, there are several areas to take photos as you inch closer to the top.

Finally, I made it to the top. It took me about 2 to 2.5 hours to get to the top. Bear in mind I had a camera with me that I had to make sure I didn’t hit against a rock (I always keep the camera by my side and not in my backpack or carrying case because you never know when you might need to take a photo at a moments notice) and again it was my first time hiking anything this size. So, an experienced hiker without a camera would probably be able to complete the ascent in about an hour.

The views from the top are breath taking. Be sure to take a sweater with you, even if it is a warm day when you go, because the winds at the top of the mountain are very strong.

I had enough trouble hiking up to the top by myself, never mind doing it with someone strapped to my back like this guy!

Due to the geoloical makeup of Mount Monadnock, there are some little ponds of water and colorful grass at the top.

Keep in mind, Monadnock is a very popular attraction and the trail does get busy quickly, especially during ideal hiking days.

If you’re lucky, you may run into Larry Davis. Larry has been hiking Monadnock virtually everyday (rain, snow or shine). he has easily logged in thousands, probably tens of thousands, of hikes up and down Mount Monadnock. He also takes some beautiful photos from Monadnock on a camera with film. He was nice enough to pose for a few photos for me.

I found some other cool things on the trail. There is a flying insect of some kind that makes a clicking sound while it flies, signs of fall and some interesting rocks with names etched into them. The names etched into the rocks are the names of the families that lived at the bottom of the mountain or the surrounding areas and some are said to still live there today.

Mount Monadnock also has comfort stations and a general store at the base of the hill so you can refill the calories you will surely burn hiking.

In short, Mount Monadnock is the perfect hike for beginners and experienced hikers. Hopefully, I’ll see you up there soon!

Below are some videos from my hike at Mount Monadnock. You can hear the wind blowing in some of the videos.

7 Comments | tags: Hiking, landscape, landscapes, leaves, mountains, New England, new hampshire, photographs, Photography, photos, pretty, scenic, trees | posted in hiking, New England, new hampshire, photographs, photography, photos, Uncategorized

September 29, 2016

Northwest Park (Windsor, CT)

By New England Nomad

Date Visited: September 10, 2016

Location: 145 Lang Rd, Windsor, CT (15 mins north of Hartford, CT and half an hour south of Springfield, MA)

Hours: Open everyday, sunrise to sunset

Parking: There is ample parking(about 100 parking spots) in the main parking area as you enter by the soccer and baseball fields. There is also a smaller parking area by the dog park on your right as you enter the park that can accommodate about a dozen cars.

Cost: Free

Size: 473 acres, 12 miles of trails

Trail Difficulty: Easy to somewhat moderate in some areas

Time To Allot For Visit: 2 to 3 hours

Dog Friendly: Yes

Highlights: dog park, ponds, trails, flowers, reservoir, ball fields, wildlife, animals, tobacco museum, venue for events during the spring and summer

Web Site: Northwest Park

Trail Map: Northwest Park Trail Map

Since summer is winding down, I decided to take in one last trip to one of New England’s more popular parks while the weather was still warm.

With over 12 miles of trails, a reservoir and miles of trails, Northwest Park is a scenic, family friendly park that is a great place to take your dog.

At the entrance of the park, there is a small, penned in dog park called the Windsor Dog Park.

In a way, it is odd to have a dog park in a park that is essentially a dog park. I do suppose the penned in dog park would be good for dogs that may be too aggressive to be around other dogs or might be too shy or not yet socialized.

Along the trail past the main entrance, there is a pond with an overlook. The pond is full of turtles, frogs and even Koi fish. One of the visitors at the park threw some bread into the pond. Who knew turtles liked to eat bread!

There is also an organic and community garden at the park.

There is also a barn with farm animals and other animals at the park.

One of the special parts of the park is the art scattered around the park.

The trails at the park are pretty much flat and easy to negotiate with some slight inclines.

There are several trails at Northwest Park. We took the Brookside and Rainbow Reservoir trails. The Brookside trail is heavily wooded without much to see except a few chipmunks. The name Brookside seemed a bit misleading as there really wasn’t a brook to be found from the trail.

Eventually, we found ourselves by the Rainbow Reservoir. The surface of the water was a strange shade of lime green.

There were some boats in the water and even a water skier.

The trails are full of pretty trees, colorful flowers and a few abandoned barns.

You ever notice what the inside of an abandoned barn looks like? Then, wonder no longer. It’s actually pretty boring. The video below gives a better look inside.

There were also a lot of critters to see along the trails. This chipmunk thought she could hide from me.

This squirrel wasn’t any better at hiding.

This bird was a bit better at hiding.

Finally, on our way out of the park, we decided to check out the tobacco museum. The museum shows the history of the tobacco crop industry and the tools and machines they used.

Northwest Park is a great place to take your dog. The trails are not very hard to walk and there are lots of open spaces for your dog to roam. I found two very friendly dogs to photograph during my visit.

Tally is an 11 year old Shephherd mix.

Lada is a 1 year and 7 month old German Shepherd.

Below is a video of the water skier I saw at Rainbow Reservoir and a video of the inside of the abandoned barn I saw along the trails.

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6 Comments | tags: animals, connecticut, dogs, flowers, frogs, New England, Park, photographs, Photography, photos, trees, turtles, windsor | posted in connecticut, dogs, New England, photographs, photography, photos, pond, Uncategorized, windsor

September 18, 2016

Bridge Of Flowers (Shelburne Falls, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Visited: September 6, 2016

Location: 22 Water St, Shelburne Falls, MA (1 hour west of Springfield, MA, 1.5 hours east of Hartford, CT and about 2 hours west of Boston)

Hours: Open April 1 – October 30, 24 hours a day

Cost: Free

Parking: There is available off street parking (the 2 hour unmetered parking limit on Bridge St is strictly enforced) and a free parking area off Baker Ave with about 30 -40 free spots (take care not to park in the spots reserved for businesses and other tenants in the area) and additional off street parking. Parking is difficult during peak times.

Size: 400 feet long, 18 feet wide

Time To Allot For Visit: 30 minutes an hour.

Dog Friendly: No

Highlights: pretty flowers, scenic views, memorials, works of art, a master gardener is available on the bridge during peak weekends to ask questions about your own plants and gardens

Lowlights: bridge can get congested since it is narrow

Website: Bridge Of Flowers

Built in 1908 for a measley $20,000 (roughly $500,000 in current day’s money) by the Shelburne Falls and Colrain Street Railway, the Bridge of Flowers is now home to a wide variety of flowers, trees and even some works of art.

Originally, the bridge was used as the main mode of transportation for the community. However, once cars became more popular, the train was used less and the company went out of business. Since the bridge could not be destroyed because it carried a water main between the towns of Colrain and Shelburne Falls, it was decided to do something with the bridge. Then, in 1929, the Shelburne Women’s Club sponsored Antoinette Burnham’s idea to transform the bridge into a garden.

More than 35,000 people visit the bridge ever year. Yet, it is still something of an unknown attraction, even in New England.

Much to the consternation of my company, I can be very particular about my photos (although my guest on this day didn’t complain). I tried my best to take photographs of the bridge without any visitors on the bridge or with as few people as possible on it and wow did it take a while to get those shots which just goes to show how much foot traffic it can get. But, I did eventually get my shots of an empty or close to empty bridge.

This post is photo-heavy. As much as I tried, it was very hard to choose flowers to include and which ones to not include.

The hardest part of this photo shoot was selecting the best photos to post. The flowers are so pretty and the view nothing short of jaw dropping. The flowers are also beautifully arranged. I especially liked how the flowers complimented the landscape.

Birds and bees like the flowers, too.

Flowers and trees aren’t the only attractions at the Bridge Of Flowers. Memorials and art are scattered throughout the bridge.

One of the works of art at the Bridge of Flowers is a stained glass window designed by Nancy Katz and created by Mark Liebowitz at the Garden House. It is illuminated during the evening.

This water fountain is also at the area past the bridge.

I noticed this in one of the flower beds. What is it? A coded message? A plan for a secret rendezvous?

Also, and not least, there are war memorials on the bridge. This memorial honors the veterans of World War I and World War II of the Buckland and Shelburne areas. While it honors all of the veterans of these wars, the names of those made the supreme sacrifice from these areas are engraved on the plaque on the stone.

This memorial honors the veterans of Korean and Vietnam wars. The names of the peolpe from the community who lost their lives in these wars are engraved on the plaque on the stone.

Another great thing about the bridge is they plant flowers each month and it is “peak season” for different flowers at different times (their planting schedule is on their web site). So you’re sure to see something new and pretty any time you go. However, I would suggest going during the summer or, preferably, the fall.

Similar Places I Have Visited In New England:

Glacial Potholes And Salmon Falls (Shelburne Falls, MA)

Eindsor-Cornish Bridge (Windsor, VT and Cornish, NH)

Wiggly Bridge (York, ME)

17 Comments | tags: attractions, birds, bridge, Bridge of Flowers, flowers, Massachusetts, Nature, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, trees | posted in art, attraction, bridge, flowers, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, Uncategorized

September 15, 2016

Glacial Potholes & Salmon Falls (Shelburne Falls, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Visited: September 6, 2016

Location: Deerfield Ave, Shelburne Falls, MA

Hours: Open everyday, 24 hours a day

Cost: Free

Parking: There is off street parking with a 2 hour limit and police do take notice

Dog Friendly: Yes

Highlights: waterfall, glacial potholes, flowers, birds, shops, attractions

The Salmon Falls and Glacial Potholes attraction in Shelburne Falls, MA, is a beautiful “two-fer.” “Three-fer” if we include the bowling alley adjacent to the Salmon Falls and Glacial Potholes attractions. IN fact, it is more accurately described as a “many-fer”s there are many attractions and beautiful attractions to the Salmon Falls area.

Although it may be best known for The Bridge Of Flowers (post to come shortly), beauty and grandeur abound Salmon Falls/Glacial Potholes area on Deerfield Ave.

The glacial potholes were ground out of granite during the high water of the Glacial Age. The whirlpool action of the waves and the gyrating stones created the prominent holes in the stones. It is said some of the grinding mills can still be seen in the smaller potholes. Over 50 potholes exist in the confined area known as “Salmon Falls” when the the Native Americans resided here. The potholes vary in size from 6 inches to 39 feet in diameter. The 39 inch diameter pothole is considered the largest pothole on record. And you thought the potholes on our roads were bad.

Salmon Falls, as it was dubbed by the Native Americans, was a common area for hunting and fishing. The waterfall still gives some pretty views against a once industrialized scenery as the backdrop.

What makes the Salmon Falls and Glacial Potholes area are the small shops and antiquated buildings that give the area a very old fashioned small town feel. This is true for pretty much the entire community of Shelburne Falls.

There is a bench for sitting, feeding the birds and just taking in the beauty around you.

Almost as a prelude to the much heralded Bridge of Flowers (which is located only a short walk or drive from the Salmon Falls and Glacial Potholes area), flowers and trees bound the Salmon Falls area.

If you’re lucky you might even find a feathered friend to photograph.

Deerfield Ave, the road that leads to Salmon Falls and the Glacial Potholes, still has the old town feel that adds tot he charm of the area. In fact, the entire Shelburne Falls area still has many “mom and pop” shops and independent businesses rather than chain stores. It was nice walking around without being bombarded by convenience stores and restaurant chains that seem to scar so many other towns.

The Shelburne Bowling Alley is one of the oldest bowling alleys in the country. In operation since 1906 (and yes it is still open for business currently), the Shelburne Bowling Alley could easily be mistaken for a barn or some other structure from a different time.

There is also a variety of art throughout the area. Some of the art I noticed looked different from the art I have seen in previous visits. So it appears they do change it up every so often. The art honors the history of the area and gives information about the area.

Below is a video of the falls at Salmon Falls. It was an overcast and somewhat windy day when we first arrived at the Falls so you may hear the wind in the video. But, most of the sound is from the rushing waters of the Falls.

Similar Places In New England I have Visited:

Wadsworth Falls State Park (Middletown, CT)

Cascading Waters (Worcester, MA)

Bash Bish Falls (Mount Washington, MA)

25 Comments | tags: art, attractions, birds, flowers, glacial potholes, Massachusetts, Nature, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, potholes, rocks, scenic, trees, views, water | posted in art, birds, flowers, glacial potholes, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, Uncategorized, waterfall

September 14, 2016

Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary (Pittsfield, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Visited: September 3, 2016

Location: Holmes Rd, Pittsfield, MA (it is not clearly marked – it is about 2 miles down the road on the right hand side if you coming from the east)

Cost: Free but donations are appreciated

Parking: There is room for about a dozen cars (see photo below)

Trail difficulty: Easy

Park Size: 253 acres, 3 miles of trails

Time To Allot For Visit: 1 to 2 hours

Dog Friendly: No, dogs aren’t allowed on MA Audubon trails.

Highlights: pretty plants and flowers, a lot of wildlife, ponds, home to a community garden

Lowlights: Park is a little hard to find, some trails may be inaccessible or difficult to hike particularlywhen it rains

Web Site: Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary

Trail Map: Canoe Meadows Trail Map

I am always surprised at how some of the more beautiful areas to visit seem to be tucked away in the most unlikely places. It’s almost as though they are meant to be kept a secret for just the few people who are adventurous enough to find it. Such is the case with Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary. Tucked away on a busy side street in the otherwise sleepy town of Pittsfield, MA, Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary (ironically, you can’t launch a canoe or any watercraft there) is a haven for birds, the occasional water faring mammal or amphibian and beautiful flowers.

The paths at Canoe Meadows are clearly defined and there are benches, bridges and boardwalks along the trail.

What stood out most to me about Canoe Meadows are the colorful plants and flowers and the trees. The colors of the plants are so vibrant and the trees are nothing short of majestic. I love the mix of pink, purple, white and yellow flowers as you can probably tell by my photos.

There are also a lot of bees at Canoe Meadows pollinating this time of the year. There is a bee inside this flower. You may be able to barely see the bees sticking outside of the flower.

There are plenty of birds at Canoe Meadows. They do like to hide. So it is hard to get good photos of them.

I spotted this heron as he was flying away. I just wish I saw the bird earlier.

I also saw this chipmunk, one of the more common residents of the meadow.

There were also lots of frogs at the meadow.

Unfortunately, I did not see any of the otters, beavers and other critters that are said to inhabit this meadow (although I did see evidence of their existence there). If you go early in the day or are very quiet, you may have better luck. Good luck if you do try!

Similar Places I Have Visited In New England:

Dorrs Pond (Manchester, NH)

The Nature Trail And Cranberry Bog At Patriot Place (Foxborough, MA)

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2 Comments | tags: birds, ducks, flowers, Massachusetts, Nature, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, pond, scenic, trees | posted in birds, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, scenic, Uncategorized

September 10, 2016

Richardson Brook Wildlife Sanctuary (Tolland, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Visited: August 20, 2016

Location: New Boston Rd. (Route 57) Tolland, MA

Hours: Open everyday, 24 hours and day

Parking: There is not a designated parking lot or parking area. You have to pull over to the side of the road on Route 57.

Cost: There is no fee but donations are appreciated

Trail Difficulty: Easy

Size: We took the 1.6 mile Brook nd Charlotte trail loops

Dog Friendly: Technically, no, MA Audubon does not allow dogs on their trails. But, I suspect people do bring their dogs.

Highlights: brook, secluded, trails are not very steep, short and easy trail

Lowlights: trails are a little hard to follow (look for the blue and yellow marked trees), lack of visible wildlife, hard to find especially if you don’t have a passenger to help you look for it

Richardson Brook Wildlife Sanctuary

Richardson Brook Wildlife Sanctuary Trail Map

Richardson Brook is not the easiest trail to find. In fact, it took a few turnarounds and nifty parking to find a safe place to park and enter the trail.

The trail for Richardson Brook is pretty easy. The only catch is looking for the marked trees to follow since the trail is not clearly defined all the time and it can get a little confusing, even with the markings on the trees to follow. It could be very easy to get lost. Visions of Camp Crystal Lake flashed before my eyes a few times.

The big payoff is the brook which was not running very hard during my visit. But it was still very pretty.

We saw some little critters and colorful mushrooms along the way.

Water bugs, frogs, salamanders and baby salamanders were abundant, even if they did try to camouflage themselves.

Although we did not see many birds we did hear them and we did see evidence of other animals. I am also convinced that if you were determined to find other wildlife you wouldn’t be disappointed. If you had a lot of time to spend and you went off trail you could definitely find bigger wildlife. Just look out for Jason!

The video below of Richardson Brook really captures the beauty of the trail.

Similar Places I Have Visited In New England:

Cascading Waters (Worcester, MA)

6 Comments | tags: brook, frogs, Massachusetts, Nature, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, salamanders, trees, wildlife | posted in Massachusetts, nature, New England, photographs, photography, photos, salamanders, Uncategorized, wildlife

September 5, 2016

Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary (Natick, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Visited: August 13, 2016

Location: 280 Eliot Street Natick, MA

Hours: Tues-Fri, 9 am-5 pm
Sat, Sun, & Mon holidays, 10 am-5 pm
Closed Mondays

Trails:
Tues-Sun, & Mon holidays, dawn to dusk
Closed Mondays

Cost:

(MA Audubon) Members: Free
Nonmembers:
$5 Adults
$4 Children (2-12)
$4 Seniors (65+)

Parking: There are about 50 0r so parking spaces in the parking lot

Trail Difficulty: Easy to moderate

Size: 9 miles of trails

Time To Allot For Visit: 2 to 3 hours

Highlights: abundant wildlife, clearly defined trails, lookouts and bridges, several pond areas

Lowlights: One of the ponds (Little Farm Pond) is only accessible via motor vehicle and is not accessible from the sanctuary, according to one of the staff workers at the sanctuary

Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary Web Site

Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary Trail Map

From the moment I drove into the parking lot for Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary (a MASS Audubon sanctuary), I could tell it was going to be a special place. The pretty trees and stocks of grass reminded me of some rural, country farm.

The 10 trails at Broadmoor are fairly easy to negotiate (the Charles River Loop is probably the most challenging). There are a few trails that cross over ponds and marsh land.

Overall, the trails are easy with a few moderately difficult trails such as The Charles River Loop. The trail on the Charles River Loop is somewhat narrow in some places and it can be hard to follow the trail (look for the yellow and blue marked trees).

There was a lot of activity, such as turtles, in the ponds. Can you spot the turtles in this photo? There are three.

What if I get closer?

How about now?

Broadmoor is teeming with wildlife. I found these critters during my hike.

There is also a lookout area where you can sit and look out upon the pond where I found this heron hiding.

There is a lot to see at Broadmoor. There are lots of turtles, butterflies, birds and evidence of other wildlife.

I found this beautiful swan as I was walking along the park.

All that swimming and looking for food can make you tired. So, she decided to take a nap.

There are also beautiful views of the park. The flowers, plants and trees make for a beautiful backdrop.

Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary is the perfect visitors of all ages (I even saw some visitors in strollers). It can be buggy but, as lucky would have it, that won’t be a problem for much longer in New England as fall descends upon us.

Similar Places I Have Visited In New England:

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary (Topsfield, MA)

Borderland State Park (North Easton, MA)

9 Comments | tags: birds, butterfly, ducks, flowers, Massachusetts, Nature, New England, Park, photographs, Photography, photos, pond, sanctuary, trees | posted in birds, massachusetts, New England, park, photographs, photography, photos, swan, Uncategorized, wildlife

September 4, 2016

Bear Brook State Park (Allenstown, NH)

By New England Nomad

Date Visited: August 27, 2016

Location: 157 Deerfield Rd, Allenstown, NH

Cost: $4 for adults, $2 for children (ages 6-11), children 5 and under get in for free, NH residents 65 and older are also admitted free of charge

Hours: Open daily, sunrise to sunset, campground schedule: May 6 -Oct. 29 (2016), Sun-Thu 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., Fri 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Size: 10,000 acres

Time To Allot For Visit: 2 to 3 hours

Parking: There are about 50-60 parking spaces in the main parking area (see photo below)

Additional parking can be found at Hayes Field (see attached map)

Dog Friendly: Yes

Highlights: Very popular with cyclists, several large ponds and marshes, teeming with wildlife, campgrounds, archery target area, fishing (fly fishing only)

Lowlights: too big to hike or bike all in one day

Bear Brook State Park

Bear Brook State Park Trail Map

A haven for cyclists and nature lovers, Bear Brook State Park in Allenstown, New Hampshire is the largest developed state park in New Hampshire. Boasting 10,000 acres, over 40 miles of trails, several ponds and other bodies of water and marsh lands, Bear Brook is the biggest state park I have hiked.

Although there were many frogs and turtles visible at Bear Brook, birds, deer and other wildlife proved to be more elusive.

Bear Brook also has a fishing area, two of them actually. There is the Archery Pond, which also has an archery target area. Only fly fishing is allowed in the pond.

The archery target practice area is to the right of the pond.

Across the paved road from Archery is a kids fishing pond for children 12 years old and younger. A fishing pond for children! How cute is that?

What my visit to Bear Brook lacked in deer, birds and other more typically photographed wildlife, it made up for in smaller critters.

I did see a few runners and hikers but the overwhelming majority of the visitors at Bear Brook were cyclists. The trails vary from flat and easy to steep, rocky and challenging. I would consider some trails to be very challenging even for the advanced cyclist and I did not see any cyclists on some of the more steep and rocky trails.

You never know what you’ll find at Bear Brook State Park. While walking along the main trail, I came across this grave site for an unknown soldier from the Civil War. There is no marker for the Union or Confederacy. The only flag or designation displayed is an American flag.

There is also a stream running under a bridge at the entrance

There are also several ponds, marshes and creeks.

There are also beautiful, vividly colored trees, plant life, spiderwebs (ok, maybe that’s not so beautiful) and a sign that summer is soon ending.

Speaking of beautiful trees and plants, one that thing is hate to see at parks is the cutting down of trees or, as the parks call it”sanitation timber harvest.” However, in the case of Bear Brook, and most state parks, there was good reason for this sanitation. Because of an infestation of red pine scale, many of the red pine plantations had to be cut down. The sanitation began in 2013 and was completed in 2014. For whatever reason, it’s always sort of sad to see so many open spaces and stumps.

The trail for Hayes Farm does not lead to a farm but rather what used to be a farm. You can see remnants of the stones which surrounded the farm from the trail.

This is my only gripe about the park. There are long swaths of land without much there. It’s very pretty and largely untouched by humans. In fact, it is such a big park that I was unable to get to one of the bigger attractions, Catamount Trail that is supposed to have pretty scenic views. But, after 6 hours of hiking and photographing the park I didn’t have the energy for that hike. But, keep it in mind if you do go.

There is also a campground with a place to park your camper or rent one of their own. Check their website for fees and availability.

There were not many dogs at Bear Brook. In fact, Jack, a 9 year old rat terrier from Rhode Island, is the only dog I saw during my trip.

Similar Places I Have Visited In New England:

Breakheart Reservation (Saugus, MA)

Pawtuckaway State Park (Nottingham, NH)

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16 Comments | tags: birds, dog, flowers, frogs, New England, new hampshire, photographs, Photography, photos, plants, trees, turtles | posted in birds, dog, New England, new hampshire, park, photographs, photography, photos, ponds, Uncategorized

August 31, 2016

World’s End (Hingham, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Visited: August 28, 2016

Location: 250 Martin’s Lane, Hingham, MA

Hours: open everyday, 8:00 a.m. until sunset

Cost: $6 for adults, annual memberships which include free admission are available for $47

Size: 4.5 miles of continuous trails, 251 acres

Parking: there are three parking areas with roughly 20 spots each. When I left at 1:00 p.m. the lot was full and there was a line of about half a dozen cars waiting to get into the park.

Time To Allot For Visit: 2 hours

Dog Friendly: Yes

Trail Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

Highlights: scenic views of the Boston skyline and surrounding area, wildlife, occasionally they display exhibits at the park, benches to sit along the trail, pretty trees and flowers, perfect for walkers, joggers, runners, cyclists and even horseback riders and anowshoeing during the winter

Lowlights: limited parking (if you follow the reservation Twitter they post alerts when the lot is full)

Website: World’s End

World’s End Trail Map

I “misunderestimated” World’s End. I figured it would be an “easy” quick jaunt (I usually save my easier treks for Sundays). So, I slipped on my Chuck Taylor All-Stars and figured I would be home in a few hours. Not the best choice of footwear in retrospect. The trails can be rocky (particularly if you go off trail) and deceivingly steep in some areas.

There are a lot of side trails and it’s easy to get confused and cover the same area twice (or more) which can add quite a bit of time to your journey. In fact, for a while, I thought World’s End would never end. It’s a good idea to take a map of the trails with you. But, the trails are clearly marked and easy to negotiate with some slight inclines.

Undoubtedly, the main attraction for many visitors at World’s End are the views of the Boston skyline. World’s End affords several views of the skyline and surrounding areas. From the shoreline views to the views atop the highest point on the top of one of the many views of the rolling, hilly trails, the views are majestic.

World’s End is teeming with wildlife, particularly birds. They’re very good at camouflaging themselves so you might have to squint to see a few of them.

But, the real gem of my visit was this deer I spotted on my way to Rocky Neck, one of the more secluded areas. We stood mere feet away from each other staring, until she finally took off.

There are not just an abundant of bird life in the water. Being a picture perfect summer day with low humidity and a slight breeze and calm waters, it was ideal for many of the boaters, paddlers and other seafaring folks.

This boater wanted some privacy, apparently.

World’s End has many other charming features such as this huge rock and an elevated viewing area for bird watching.

Of course, sometimes the more simpler things can be the prettiest features of the park. These flowers, tress and views off the water caught my eye.

Some people took advantage of the shore to skim some stones.

If there is one photo that sums up a trip to World’s End it is this photograph of a hammock with a bicycle next to it. World’s End is the perfect place to lie out in a hammock with only the sounds of nature to keep you occupied and maybe a good book or your Itunes collection.

There is also an art exhibit on display until Oct. 31, 2017. The display was created by Jeppe Hein, an artist based out of Copenhagen and Berlin. He is known worldwide for his interactive exhibits. The exhibit is called, “A New End”. According to the website for the exhibit, Hein wants to invite visitors to reflect and to transform how we view a familiar place like World’s End.

There were dogs-a-plenty at World’s End during my visit. World’s End is a great place for dogs to play around in since there are many open, grassy areas and, of course, water to frolic around in.

Casey is a happy, 8 year old English Pointer mix. He is a rescue.

Gus is a 2 year old Ridgeback mix. He was very excited to be at the park!

Tande is an 8 month old Portuguese Water Dog. If Tande looks familiar, you may have seen a similarly looking dog on the news. The President also has the same breed of dog. Tande came all the way from the Odysea Portuguese Water Dogs breeder in Colorado.

One of my easiest subjects to photograph ever, Bella is a gentle 7 year old Shetland Sheepdog.

I also saw a variety of other dogs playing in the water and running around.

viewsofanemergencyrn was kind enough to nominate me for the One Lovely Blog Award. Thank you! I usually don’t post about these awards but I figured I would play along since she was so nice to mention me and I wanted to acknowledge her. She is a sweet, strong person and a survivor (read her post to see what I mean).

So, the rues are I have to mention 7 random things about me.

I didn’t take up photography seriously until last year
I love dogs and all animals (big surprise there) but they also seem to love me – the key is to not show fear and be confident and friendly around them (they can sense fear)
I am a pescatarian (I only eat seafood and do not eat meat, primarily)
People often say I bear a strong resemblance to Donnie Wahlberg (but I can’t sing like him)
Although I love dogs, I don’t have one (I have a cat instead)
Until my work schedule got too busy, I had been an active literacy tutor at my local library
I run (and/or walk) 3 miles (at least) a day everyday

The rules say to nominate other bloggers to participate. But, I’m going to skip that part. In my experience, people have usually already posted a blog like this in the past and don’t want to do it again, or they don’t participate or they seem to be too busy. But, thank you, once again for the mention, viewsofanemergencyrn! I do appreciate you and I look forward to reading more of your posts. You all should also!

Similar Places I have Visited In New England:

Webb Memorial State Park (Weymouth, MA)

Blue Hills Reservation (Milton, MA)

14 Comments | tags: attractions, birds, boats, deer, dogs, flowers, Hiking, Hingham, Massachusetts, Nature, New England, Park, photographs, Photography, photos, scenic, trees, water | posted in birds, Hingham, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, scenic, skyline, Uncategorized, water, wildlife

New England Nomad

Tag Archives: trees

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