Blair Woodland Natural Area

A Town of Campton Conservation Property

1448 US Route 3, Campton NH 03223

About

The Blair Woodland Natural Area was given as a gift to the Town of Campton in 2002 to be kept as a natural area for wildlife and the general public for “low impact” uses such as nature study and enjoyment while walking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, picnicking, or fishing. The 17-acre natural area is maintained by the Campton Conservation Commission and includes several wetland areas, a regenerated pasture, approximately 1,000 feet of riparian habitat, and a mixed hardwood/coniferous forest. The natural area also features aspects of Campton’s rich historical legacy.

To protect the vegetation and minimize disturbance to wildlife, we ask that you observe the following guidelines:

Please stay on the trails
Please access the forest only near the kiosk in the parking lot on Route 3
Foot traffic is welcome, but bicycles, motorized vehicles, and horses are prohibited
Please practice low-impact, day use activities; Do not disturb plants, animals, or rocks, and pack out all trash
Hunting, trapping, camping, and fires are prohibited
Dogs must be leashed at all times

Scientific research is encouraged, with prior approval by the Campton Conservation Commission.

Thank you for protecting the Blair Woodland Natural Area

Map

Trail Guide – Points of Interest

Points of Interest are indicated by yellow number tags throughout the property

1

Welcome! This natural area was established in 2002 thanks to the generous donation of Leah Gray.

2

The trail bends and crosses old potato rows, visible as parallel mossy ridges.

3

Make your way down the hill and note a shift in the forest type from pine and birch to hemlock and fir. Here the dense understory opens up to enable you to see through the woods. You will find a bench from which you can sit and contemplate the scene around you. This bench was acquired with the help of a Moose Plate Conservation Grant.

4

Decomposing logs on either side of the trail represent valuable microhabitat for insects, small mammals, mosses, and fungi. Ecologists estimate that a decomposing log such as these may contain thousands of insects and nematodes, close to a million mites, and miles of fungal hyphae! These organisms are responsible for recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

5

When you are at the first bridge crossing, look for jewelweed and jack-in-the-pulpit, as well as cinnamon ferns and sensitive ferns.

6

After the bridge, you will come to a fork in the trail. Bear right here onto the Schuyler Mathews Trail, named for F. Shuyler Mathews (1854-1938). Mathews, a noted artist best known for his field books on trees, wild flowers, and wild birds and their music, spent many summers in this part of Campton.

7

Halfway up the hill you will come to a large Red Oak on the right, identified at the ground level by the deep reddish furrowed bark.

8

This Red Pine is a common species found in nutrient-poor, acidic soils. You can tell a Red Pine from a White Pine by its scaly reddish bark and its needles that come in bundles of two versus the White Pine needles, which come in bundles of five.

9

image Leah w/trees

These two White Pines have been growing together for quite some time.

10

image historic or present

Notice the distinctive square mounds scattered around this area. According to local lore, these are the remnants of old tent sites used by Italian laborers during culvert work and other upgrades of Route 3, when it was still unpaved. The laborers were provided with canvas tents for year-round lodging. They mounded up the earth surrounding the tents to keep out winter drafts.

11

Standing dead trees, called snags, provide birds and mammals with shelter to raise young. They also provide raptors, such as the Barred Owl often heard in BWNA with unobstructed vantage points to hunt for prey. Large downed trees supply important habitat for wildlife. Hundreds of species of birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles and fish benefit from snags for food, nesting or shelter!

12

Looking straight ahead you will see a vernal pool. Vernal pools or “spring pools” are relatively small, temporary, isolated water bodies that form in woodland depressions when the snow melts and the spring rains come. Vernal pools provide important breeding habitat for amphibians (frogs and salamanders), and macroinvertebrates (insects and crustaceans). These animals are free from fish predators here, since the pools will eventually dry up and are not connected to other bodies of water.

13

This very old Yellow Birch probably thrived in the sunny conditions of the old farm field that was once here. You can identify a Yellow Birch by its bronze-toned bark and wintergreen-scented twigs. Saplings grow densley and are an important winter food source for the White-Tailed Deer.

14

Take the short spur trail to the water’s edge. Look and listen for wildlife.

15

Watch your step. Some critter lives here, possibly a woodchuck? Many critters have dens with multiple entrances. Can you spot another entrance just off the trail?

16

Throughout the Blair Woodlands Natural Area you will come across more potato ridges. Be careful if you try to investigate, as there is poison ivy in the area.

17

At the junction, turn right to cross the bridge. This bridge was originally constructed by Plymouth Regional High School students in 2003 and then improved by the Campton Conservation Commission and Eagle Scout Roy Sanborn in 2015. Nearby you will notice a dead Ash Tree. Emerald ash borer (EAB) is an extremely destructive invasive insect that attacks ash trees and kills them in 3-5 years. It was first found in New Hampshire in 2013, and the list of infected towns continues to grow.

18

You are now on the Abenaki Trail, so named for the Native Americans who lived and traveled along the river corridor here. They used the riverbank as an important trade route, from its headwaters in Franconia Notch to its confluence with the Merrimack and Winnepesauke Rivers in Franklin, NH. Native people sustainably used the water and its wild inhabitants as a food source.

19

Here the trail parallels the Pemigewassett River. Pemigewassett is an Abenaki word that means, “swift moving”. Settlers who followed the Native Americans also concentrated use along the waterway. For a time, industrial and municipal discharge transformed the “Pemi” into one of NH’s most polluted rivers. The extensive cleanup efforts of the 1960’s and 70’s is a testament to the profound impact that good stewardship can have on waterways.

20

A great deal of debris has been deposited in the floodplain by frequent high water events. These floods bring sediments to the area that enrich the soil. This is evidenced by the rich diversity of plant life in the floodplain. Many of the plants in the floodplain are well-adapted to living in sandy or gravelly soils that are occasionally submerged.

21

Look for ground cedar in this area. As its name implies, this type of Lycopodium, or club moss, resembles a miniature cedar. Like true cedars, the leaves of ground cedar are small scales.

22

This sturdy tree is a hophornbeam. Its incredibly hard wood earned it the nickname ironwood. It has historically been used to make handles for tools and yokes for oxen. Hophornbeams are slow-growing, long-lived trees with scaly bark that peels in long strips. Male and female flowers occur on the same tree on drooping structures called catkins, which mature into small nutlets, each enclosed in a papery sac. These seeds are grouped in cone-like clusters, which resemble hops, giving hophornbeam its name.

23

Visible upriver is the Blair Covered Bridge, a well-known piece of Campton history, framed by the river below and Mount Tecumseh (named for a Shawnee Indian chief) above. The original bridge was built in 1829 and destroyed by arson in 1868. The present span was built in 1869 and includes on original timber. At 292 ft., the Blair Bridge is the second largest covered bridge entirely within the boundaries of New Hampshire.

The immense boulder, split open by water freezing and thawing in crevices, is a good spot to sit and enjoy the view, while listening to the rushing water below. Notice the rounded boulder about 20 ft. from the shore. Many baptisms were performed on and near this boulder when Blair Chapel was active (located across Rt. 3 and a little north of the parking area), from 1889 to 1911.

24

You will ascend a short, steep hill and turn left onto Leah’s Way, named for Leah Gray, the property donor whose family purchased Blair Chapel in the early 1900’s and operated summertime lodging cabins. Leah often explored this forest, sometimes with F. Schuyler Mathews, as a little girl. This trail will lead you back to the wooden bridge over the wetland. Bear right onto Chickadee Path to head back toward the parking area.

25

The forest along Chickadee Path is dominated by large red and white pines, and supports a wide assortment of herbaceous plants. You can find bunchberry, trailing arbutus, starflower, Canada mayflower, and cinnamon fern abundantly growing here. Notice the HUGE white pine on your right as you get back to the small bridge.

Observations

The following sections are items that were found and identified on the property by Melissa Greenawalt during her PSU Masters Study in 2005

Trees

Apple, Common Malus sylvestris

Ash, White Fraxinus americanus

Aspen, Bigtooth Populus grandifolia

Aspen, Quaking Polulus tremuliodes

Basswood, American Tilia americana

Beech, American Fagus grandifolia

Birch, Gray Betula populifolia

Birch, Paper Betula papyrifera

Birch, Yellow Betula alleghensis

Cherry, Black Prunus serotina

Elm, Slippery Ulmus rubra

Fir, Balsam Abies balsamea

Hemlock, Eastern Tsuga canadensis

Hophornbeam, American Ostrya virginiana

Maple, Red Acer rubrum

Maple, Striped Acer pennsylvanicum

Maple, Sugar Acer saccharum

Nannyberry Viburnum lentago

Oak, Red Quercus rubra

Pine, Red Pinus rubra

Pine, White Pinus stobus

SNAG

Spruce, Red Picea rubra

Tamarack Larix laricinia

Saplings/Shrubs

Alder, Speckled Alnus rugosa

Apple, Common Malus sylvestris

Arrowwood Viburnum dentatum

Ash, Black Fraxinus nigra

Ash, White Fraxinus americana

Aspen, Bigtooth Populus grandifolia

Aspen, Quaking Populus treuloides

Basswood, American Tilia americana

Beech, American Fagus grandifilia

Birch, Gray Betula populifolia

Birch, Paper Betula papyrifera

Birch, Yellow Betula alleghensis

Cherry, Black Prunus serotina

Cherry, Choke Prunus virginiana

Dogwood, Alternate Leaf Cornus alternifolia

Dogwood, Red Osier Cornus stononifera

Elm, Slippery Ulnus rubra

Fir, Balsam Abies balsamaea

Hawthorn, spp. Crataegus spp.

Hazel, Witch Hamamelis virginiana

Hazelnut, Beaked Corylus cornuta

Hemlock, Eastern Tsuga canadensis

Hobblebush Viburnum alnifolium

Hophornbeam, American Ostrya virginiana

Maple, Mountain Acer spicatum

Maple, Red Acer rubrum

Maple, Striped Acer pennsylvanicum

Maple, Sugar Acer saccharum

Nannyberry Viburnum lentago

Oak, Red Quercus rubus

Pine, white Pinus strobus

Serviceberry spp. Amelanchier spp.

SNAG

Spruce, Red Picea rubra

Sumac, Staghorn Rhus typhina

Viburnum, Maple-Leafed Viburnurn acerifolium

Winterberry Ilex verticulata

Witherod Viburnum cassinoides

Herbaceous Plants

Anemone, Wood

Arbutus, Trailing

Aster, Flat Topped

Aster, New York

Aster, Smooth

Aster, White Wood

Barberry, Japanese

Beechdrops

Betony, Wood

Blueberry, Highbush

Blueberry, Lowbush

Bluets

Boneset

Bugleweed, Northern

Bunchberry

Burdock

Cattail, Common

Cedar, Ground

Cinquefoil, Common

Cleavers

Clubmoss, Shining

Clubmoss, Staghorn

Creeper, Virginia

Crowfoot, Mountain

Cut-Thumb

Dandilion, Common

Dewberry, Swamp

Dogbane, Spreading

Fern, Bracken

Fern, Broad Beech

Fern, Christmas

Fern, Cinnamon

Fern, Evergreen Wood

Fern, Fragrant Wood

Fern, Hay Scented

Fern, Interrupted

Fern, Lady

Fern, Marginal Wood

Fern, Marsh

Fern, Massachusetts

Fern, New York

Fern, Royal

Fern, Sensitive

Foam Flower

Gale, Sweet

Goldenrod, Hairy

Goldenrod, Lance-Leaved

Goldenrod, Narrow Leaved

Goldthread

Grasses, assorted (7)

Greenbriar spp.

Groundnut

Hawkweed, Orange

Hawkweed, Rough

Hawkweed, Yellow

Helleborine

Hobblebush

Hog Peanut

Honeysuckle, Bush

Honeysuckle, spp.

Horsetail

Indian cucumber

Indian Pipe

Indian Tobacco

Iris spp.

Ivy, Poison

Jack-in-the-Pulpit

Jewelweed

Joe Pye Weed, Spotted

Knotweed, Japanese

Lady Slipper, Pink

Lettuce, Prickly

Lichen, Old Man’s Beard

Lichen, Unidentified

Lily of the Valley

Lily, Bluebead

Liverwort spp.

Loosestrife, Whorled

Marigold, Marsh

Mayflower, Canada Meadow Rue, Tall

Meadowsweet

Moss, Polytrichum

Moss, Spaghnum

Mosses, assorted (3)

Nettle, spp.

Nightshade, Bittersweet

Oats, Wild

Partridgeberry

Pine, Ground

Pipissewa

Poppy, Celandine

Pyrola, Shinleaf

Ragwort

Raspberry, Common

Rattlesnake Root, Tall

Rush, Beak

Sarsparilla, Wild

Sedge, Cutleaf

Sedge, Foxtail

Sedge, Unidentified (2)

Sedum

Serviceberry spp.

Skullcap, Mad Dog

Solomon’s Seal, False

Solomon’s Seal, Smooth

Sorrell, Yellow Wood

Spearwort, Creeping

Speedwell spp.

St. Johnswort, Pale

St. Johnswort, Marsh

Starflower

Strawberry, Common

Swamp Candles

Sweetfern

Sweetflag

Trillium

Viburnum, Maple Leaved

Violet spp.

Virgin’s Bower

Watercress

Wheat, Cow

Winterberry

Wintergreen

Witherod

Yarrow

The following section are items that were identified on the property by casual sightings as well as summer surveys of visitors between 2003-2006 with the cooperation of Melissa Greenawalt during her PSU Masters Study in 2005.

Birds

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Blackbird, Red-Winged

Catbird, Gray

Chickadee, Black-Capped

Creeper, Brown

Crow, American

Finch, Purple

Flycatcher, Great-Crested

Goldfinch, American

Grackle

Grosbeak, Evening

Grosbeak, Rose-Breasted

Hawk, Broad-winged

Hawk, Sharp-Shinned

Hummingbird, Ruby-Throated

Jay, Blue

Kingfisher, Belted

Kinglet, Ruby-Crowned

Mallard

Merganser, Common

Merganser, Hooded

Nuthatch, Red-Breasted

Nuthatch, White-Breasted

Ovenbird

Owl, Barred

Pewee, Eastern, Wood

Phoebe, Eastern

Robin, American

Sandpiper ssp.

Siskin, Pine

Sparrow, Chipping

Sparrow, Sond

Tananger, Scarlet

Thrush, Hermit

Titmouse, Tufted

Turkey, Wild

Veery

Vireo, Blue-Headed

Vireo, Red-Eyed

Warbler, Black-and-White

Warbler, Blackburnian

Warbler, Black-Throated Blue

Warbler, Black-Throated Green

Warbler, Magnolia

Warbler, Parula

Warbler, Yellow-Rumped

Waxwing, Cedar

Woodcock, American

Woodpecker, Downy

Woodpecker, Hairy

Woodpecker, Pileated

Wren, Winter

Yellowthroat, Common

Contact Us

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Campton Conservation Commission Email

Get in touch with us at conservationcommission@camptonnh.gov

Our web site

More information at http://www.camptonconservation.org

Mailing Address

Campton Conservation Commission
12 Gearty Way
Campton, NH 03223

Special Thanks To:

Leah Gray

Melissa Greenawalt

Jane Kellogg

Lester Mitchell

Scott Pulsifer

Denise Siraco

Walt Stockwell

Dr. Sarah Turtle

Campton Conservation Commission Members

Jessica Tabolt Halm
member since 2005

Rebecca Steeves
member since 2013

Jim Butler
member since 2020

Bill Copeland
member since 2022

Janet Lucas
member since 2023

Hope Eagleston
member since 2023