The 73-acre Bear Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary, located on the north side of Bear Mountain, is a relatively rugged forested property with some fairly steep slopes. The trail gains 600 feet in elevation from its start on West Shore Road (640 feet) to the highest point on the Sanctuary (1,240 feet), where there are views of Newfound Lake through the tree tops. Although the Sanctuary is generally closed-canopy mixed forest, the effects from the changes in altitude can be seen in tree species composition as one walks up the trail.
Bear Mountain Trail - Yellow markers -2.1 miles round trip (~1.5 hours)
This trail begins in a mature mixed forest and you walk uphill (~ 30 degree slope), where the trail becomes an old logging road. The trail crosses a small woodland creek that flows into Newfound Lake. The slope then flattens and the stream is crossed again and then trail crosses the snowmobile trail. Once the slope becomes steeper the stream is crossed again. The slope then moderates until the trail loop junction. At the loop junction veer left for the last uphill section of the trail with glimpses of Newfound Lake (the best view is about 580 feet from the junction). At the Sanctuary's southern boundary, the trail turns right. The trail returns to the loop junction, bear left to return downhill to West Shore Road.
Visitor Information:
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
From Bristol: Drive north on NH-3A for 9 miles until toward East Hebron. Turn left onto North Shore Road and drive about 2.6 miles (past Paradise Point and Hebron Marsh Wildlife Sanctuaries) to Hebron. In Hebron, turn left onto West Shore Road and drive 0.4 miles; the trailhead is on the right. Park on Cross Road, 0.1 mile north of the trailhead. The parking area on Cross Road has a large brown sign that reads "Bear Mtn Trail Parking." From the parking area, walk towards West Shore Road and take a left at the intersection. Walk up the road (with caution) and the trailhead will be on your right very shortly. The trailhead has a small sign that reads "Bear Mt. Trail." The trail sign is small and may be difficult to see, so keep an eye out for it. At the trailhead there is a mailbox; inside you will find a guest log.
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