There are approximately 2.3 miles of trail at this sanctuary. The primary trail, the Fred Steele Memorial Trail, is accessible to wheelchairs and is about 1/3 mile in length. It begins at a parking area on NH-113 and follows an old roadbed that has been converted to an accessible trail. The trails starts with a surface of crushed stone and ends with a boardwalk. About 800 feet from the trailhead, the forest gives way to a large marsh, providing impressive views of the Sandwich Mountain Range to the northwest and the Ossipee Mountains to the southeast. The 500 foot-long boardwalk terminates at the Ridgely Observation Platform, complete with a bench and interpretive panels.
The Middle Road (southern) trailhead consists of a walk along a gravel road and woods roads through private conservation property before joining the Thompson Sanctuary, where a yellow-blazed one-mile loop trail (the 'Wilderness Loop') traverses wet woodlands and rolling forested terrain. Care should be taken when crossing the bog bridges.
The Alice Bemis Thompson Wildlife Sanctuary is a 300-acre wildlife sanctuary owned by New Hampshire Audubon (NHA). The extensive wetlands here provide a home for beavers, waterfowl, moose, and many unique bird species. In 2014, NHA partnered with the Northeast Wilderness Trust to place a forever-wild easement on the property. Held and monitored by NWT, this easement ensures that the land will be protected and stewarded by NHA in a low-impact manner that promotes biodiversity and other wilderness values.
Visitor Information:
A portion of this trail runs through private property. Please observe all above guidelines as well as any additional signage in this area.
New Hampshire Audubon, a nonprofit statewide membership organization, is dedicated to the conservation of wildlife and habitat throughout the state. Independent of the National Audubon Society, NHA has offered programs in wildlife conservation, land protection and stewardship, environmental policy, and environmental education since 1914. For more information visit www.nhaudubon.org or contact:
To reach the primary trailhead and accessible trail and boardwalk:
From the junction of Routes 25 and 113, 1.2 miles west of South Tamworth, turn north on Route 113 heading towards North Sandwich. Look for the Thompson Sanctuary kiosk and sign on the left after 2.9 miles, and park in the designated parking area.
To reach the Middle Road trailhead:
Continue past the primary trailhead (directions above) on Rt 113 for 2.4 miles before turning left onto Middle Road. After 0.7 miles on the left, at the hanging NH Audubon sign, turn into a driveway leading to the trailhead for the southern access to the Thompson Sanctuary. Follow NH Audubon signage to a small designated parking area on the right. Please note: beyond this point, the trail follows a private road that should not be driven on.
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