Several short trails lead from the trailhead on Hemenway Road (formerly Sawyer Mountain Road).
The Fen Loop heads to the north (a right at the trailhead) marked with yellow flagging and paint. The loop proper is 0.7 miles in length, with a 0.1 mile spur connecting the loop to the trailhead. Following a stream, the trail features 350 feet of board walk for wetland observation and protection. It is characterized by old foundations, stone walls, a variety of wetland plant species, including showy lady slippers, yellow lady slipper, early choral root, loesels trayblade, moccasin flowers, purple fringed orchids, bog candles, northern green orchids, turtle heads, blue flag, and some exceptionally tall straight pines. Bear and moose sign have been found on this trail on several occasions.
A 0.1 mile spur trail loops through the Fen at the far (west) end of the larger Fen Loop.
The Cobb Hill Trail, the southerly trail from the trailhead, travels somewhat steeply up Cobb Hill before meeting back up with the Fen Loop after 0.5 miles.
On the other side of Hemenway Road, the East Loop travels through a variety of habitats including open hardwoods, mature pine forests, cattail wetlands and scrub fir areas as it makes a 0.8 mile loop. Yellow ladyslippers can be seen on this loop in the spring. Please not that it can be wet in some areas.
The Taylor Valley Trail starts on the Fen Trail and leads over the ridge into Taylor Valley to Taylor Valley Road. It intersects the road about 2 miles up just past Dow Road at a gate where there is a parking area. The trail is 1.25 miles long and is characterized by hardwood forest, a small wetland, and several cellar holes from a former community. Most of the trail follows old logging roads.
Pets are allowed at the Cobb Town Forest, but should be leashed on the boardwalks.
The Strafford Trail System consists of 26 miles of trails, including the Cobb Forest Loop. Most of the trails are made possible by private land owners who host the sections of the trail passing over their property. Landowners have agreed to allow human powered traffic on their trails which includes foot, snowshoe, skis, and bicycle though the trails are not wheel-friendly or conducive to anything but foot traffic. No motor vehicles please.
The trail system is a resource of the Town of Strafford and is managed by the Strafford Conservation Commission.
Please respect these properties. The generosity of the individual land owners makes this resource available.
Visit Strafford Trail System online for more information or contact:
Strafford Conservation CommissionFrom Strafford's upper village, head north on Justin Morrill Highway. 1.8 miles from the village, take a slight right onto Taylor Valley Road. Go 0.8 miles and take a right on Hemenway Road. The trailhead is 1.8 miles up Hemenway Road. There is a kiosk by the trailhead on the left, with parking on the right.
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