Bear-Paw’s Preserves
Brown’s Woods Preserve
Mountain Road - Deerfield, NH
Brown’s Woods was gifted to Bear-Paw in 2021 by Susan Brown Smith & John F. Smith. Located within the Pawtuckaway Highlands priority conservation area and within a mile of Pawtuckaway State Park, providing an important wildlife link to Northwood Meadows conserved land. It’s a nationally recognized area for important upland bird habitat, conserves critical turtle habitat, and protects the Lamprey River. This preserve has become Bear-Paw’s go-to location for workshops. While there are no trails on the property, it is open for public access.
Burbank Woods Preserve
Coffeetown & Perry Roads - Deerfield, NH
Burbank Woods was gifted to Bear-Paw in 2017 by the children of Jack & Helen Burbank, who were themselves great supporters of local conservation. The forested portion of Burbank Woods is Appalachian oak-pine, with the Great Brook leading into a large, winding wetland complex that takes up nearly half the property. The Great Brook Trail begins at the Burbank Woods parking area off Coffeetown Rd. and crosses through the northeast corner of the property, as well as through several privately owned lands, on its way to Harvey Rd. Come explore the beautiful Burbank Woods Preserve!
Johnsonboro Road Preserve
Mohawk Trail Way - Strafford, NH
Johnsonboro Road Preserve was gifted to Bear-Paw in 2021 by anonymous donors. The land falls within a priority conservation area - the Blue Hills Habitat Block - and adds to over 9000 acres of nearby conserved land. It has frontage along two Class VI roads and access via the end of Mohawk Trail Way. The land is open to the public for non-motorized traffic, and a short walking trail provides lovely views of the Mohawk River.
Fordway Brook Preserve
Crowley Road - Candia, NH
Fordway Brook was purchased from a developer in 2011 and put into a conservation easement funded by the NCRS Wetland Reserve Program. The majority of the property is a combination of Appalachian oak-pine and hemlock-hardwood-pine forest, with a large wetland complex of shrub wetland and swamp around the Fordway Brook, a first order stream that begins just off the property. Although there are no trails, those who are comfortable bushwhacking may well be rewarded with plenty of wildlife signs & sightings.
Kimball Family Forest Preserve
Freeman Hall Road - Nottingham, NH
The Kimball Family Forest was gifted to Bear-Paw in 2010 by Charlotte and Kenneth Kimball, long-time local residents and supporters of conservation. The 22-acre Appalachian oak-pine forest is tucked between North River and Freeman Hall Rd., and surrounded by old stone walls. A small wetland complex runs perpendicular to North River and through the center of the property. Although the Kimball Family Forest is relatively small, and there are no trails on the property at this time, it's a beautiful place to visit for time spent in quiet contemplation.
Nancy H Mathes North Road Preserve
North Road(Rt. 107) - Deerfield, NH
Mathes' North Road was gifted to Bear-Paw in 2018 by Nancy Mathes, who along with her family has been a generous supporter of Bear-Paw for many years. The 50-acre preserve is Appalachian oak-pine woodland with two picturesque streams that merge and feed into a wet shrubland, and downstream empty into Freese's Pond. Mathes' North Road also contains many old stone walls and a few large old sugar maples growing along them, signs that it may once have been part of a homestead. There are no trails on the property, but a pull-off in the small field along North Road/Rt. 107 allows easy access.
North River Preserve
Stage Road - Nottingham, NH
Bear-Paw acquired this 52-acre property in 2010. Most of the road frontage was going to be subdivided into residential housing when the property was protected by an easement purchased by NRCS and then conveyed to Bear-Paw. The North River Preserve trail is a 1.1-mile long out-and-back footpath with a short loop at the far end. The slice of forest between North River and Stage Road, narrow as it may be, helps keep the water clean and provides a home for a variety of animals. If you walk the trail, you may see ducks, herons, turtles, salamanders, frogs, otters, squirrels, many species of fish, and even mussels.
Massabesic Headwaters Preserve
Old Chester Turnpike - Hooksett, NH
This preserve was renamed after Bear-Paw acquired a key parcel in 2022 that linked the Great Marsh & Hinman Pond Preserves. Bordered by Bear Brook State Park and Clay Pond Conservation Area, Massabesic Headwaters Preserve helps protect the largest contiguous habitat block in our region. This 1500+ acre preserve is home to spectacular ecological diversity, including locally rare Appalachian dry oak forest and multiple large wetlands that eventually feed Lake Massabesic.
There are species of special concern listed on this property; please watch where you step while hiking the area.
Pinkney Hill Preserve
Allenstown, NH
Pinkney Hill is made up of two plots of land, approximately 175 acres total, that Bear-Paw purchased in 2011 and placed under a conservation easement with NH Fish & Game. Pinkney Hill is mostly made up of hemlock-hardwood-pine forest and lies along the western edge of Bear Brook State Park. Pinkney Hill has no trails running through it, but it can be accessed via the unmaintained extension of Dodge Road and a series of old logging roads. Its quiet location makes it excellent wildlife habitat, if not so easy to get to, and well worth the walk in.
