Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Newington, NH
There are two trails at the upper end of this 1,054-acre refuge.The half-mile Peverly Pond trail starts to the left of the parking lot. It winds through the woods by streams and the upper portion of Peverly Pond.
The two-mile Ferry Way Trail starts across the street from the parking lot, at the corner of a chain link fence enclosing a former weapons storage area from the old Pease Air Force Base—an unexpected and slightly creepy place. But you return to beauty where the asphalt path ends at the entrance to the woods. Soon there is beaver pond, which is a good spot for bird watching. The trail crosses a field and enters the woods with wildflowers along either side. Nearly mid-way through the walk there is a little observation platform looking out over Furber Straight. Across the water is the University of New Hampshire's Jackson Estuarine Laboratory on Adams Point. The trail continues through the woods, across a field leading, and back to the asphalt path along the fence.
The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Refuge trails are open seven days a week from dawn until dusk. Go to Pease Tradeport, off Route 16 in Newington. At the stop sign take a right and go three miles until the road ends at the refuge. Trail maps on the display board at the parking lot. For further information, call Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge at (603) 431-7511.