West Branch Brook Forest

About

This land provides high quality habitat for native animal, plant, and aquatic life. Wildlife observations include moose, deer, bear, coyote, gray & red fox, snowshoe hare, gray & red squirrel, chipmunk, porcupine, and beaver. Aquatic resources and wildlife habitats are especially well-expressed by virtue of a contiguous boundary of over 7,000 feet along the West Branch of the Pemigewasset River, and several pocket wetlands and vernal pools. The conservation of this fully forested property by the Town of Campton will protect these habitats, as well as provide recreation opportunities for Campton residents and visitors to our area.

Map

The Miller Trail is the main trail for walking and hiking the West Branch Brook Forest (WBBF). A spur trail provides access to the West Branch Brook. Please stay on the trails at all times while walking and hiking within the WBBF property.

Miller Trail

The Miller Trail is the main trail for walking and hiking the West Branch Brook Forest (WBBF). Please stay on the trails at all times. The WBBF portion of the Miller Trail is one mile long. Vernal pools along the trail start at a quarter mile from the parking area. There is a spur trail at 0.8 miles, marked by blue blazes (strips of blue paint on the trees), that leads to the West Branch Brook. At the property boundary, the Miller Trail continues onto private property for 0.25 miles and then extends for another 0.75 miles through the White Mountain National Forest, where it intersects with another snowmobile trail. There is an information kiosk at the intersection.The initial stretch to Peggy’s Pool has a moderate increase in elevation and then flattens out for the remainder of the trail within WBBF.

Peggy’s Pool: vernal pool, 0.25 miles from parking area

Spur Trail: blue blazed trail to river bank, 0.80 miles from parking area

Property Boundary: one mile from parking area

Uses

Please enjoy this property for

Walking & Hiking

Picnicking

Photography & Birdwatching

Respect other visitors and this ecologically sensitive environment

Area Restrictions

No Fires

No Camping

No Overnight Parking

Pack In, Pack Out

Clean up after your pet

Dogs must be on leash & under control

Thank You

History

We welcome all people to this property for low impact recreational and educational uses. Please enjoy this land for uses such as walking, nature observation, snowshoeing, XC skiing, fishing, and wading.

This 145 acre property is owned by the Town of Campton and managed by the Campton Conservation Commission. A conservation easement, held by The Pemi-Baker Land Trust and NHDES, in accordance with wishes of the Miller Family, preserves and protects the conservation attributes of the property and prevents any use that will significantly impair or interfere with its natural value as wildlife habitat. As a result, this property will remain in its natural state for the benefit of town residents and visitors, in perpetuity.

The Spokesfield House that existed for about 100 years stood a few yards from here on the far side of the parking lot fence. It was built in the 1880s by Mark and Delia Spokesfield. The house was taken down in the early 1980s. Remnants of an old blacksmith shop, sugar house, and trash dumps, evidence of the Spokesfield family’s life here, are still on the forest floor. (Please do not disturb any old remnants as they are of historic value.)

Later, Clifford and Joanna Miller owned the property. They had a strong sense of responsibility to protect the natural resources found on the property. It is their heirs who honored the conservation ethics of their parents and worked with the Campton Conservation Commission toward a goal for permanent protection.

Campton is located on N’dakinna, which is the traditional ancestral homeland of the Pennacook, Abenaki, and Wabanaki Peoples past and present. The Campton Conservation Commission acknowledges and honors with gratitude the spiritual and physical connection to the aki (land), nebi (water), awan (air), olakwikak (flora), and awaasak (fauna) of the alnobak (people) who have stewarded N’dakinna throughout the generations and who continue to carry forward the traditions of their ancestors.

Supporters

The following support has made this community resource possible:

Grants, In-Kind Services, and Support

Individual Contributions