The 172--acre Oyster River Forest and 42-acre Spruce Hole Bog conservation areas are owned by the Town of Durham.
Oyster River Forest-Spruce Hole Bog Trail Map-pdf
Looking for a short, accessible walk? A 0.6-mile round trip universally accessible trail takes people of all abilities to an overlook of the unique Spruce Hole Bog, recognized as a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service. The trail starts along an old road bed with a surface of crushed rock before turning northwest where it splits from the Oyster River Trail. The surface here is a combination of crushed rock and short grass as it winds through oak-pine forest. The trail then turns north to the overlook. The accessible trail width ranges from 4-12ft.
Looking for a longer excursion? Follow the Oyster River Trail to the Oyster River Bridge in UNH College Woods. This 3.5 mile round trip trail passes through an oak-pine forest, a restored meadow and shrub habitat, then winds through the forest along the Oyster River. Side trails lead along historic stonewalls, past an old foundation, and under huge white oak, shagbark hickory, and pitch pine trees.
The two conservation areas abut each other and are bounded by Mill Road and Packers Falls Road to the south, Durham's Spruce Hole well site and solar array to the west, Oyster River to the north, Brookdale Senior Living to the south and east, and UNH College Woods to to the northeast.
The Oyster River Trail passes through a 60-acre area bordering the Oyster River that is managed as meadow, shrub and young forest habitat to benefit songbirds, bumblebees, monarch butterflies and other native pollinators, the state endangered New England cottontail rabbit, among other wildlife. Funding from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and a partnership with NH Fish and Game and the Rockingham County Conservation District, has enabled the Town to remove and control a severe infestation of invasive shrubs and restore a mix of native shrubs, wildflowers, and trees.
For more information, contact the Town of Durham:
There are two ways to reach the parking area, off Packers Falls Road:
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