21st Anniversary Getaway

My recent post about our 21st anniversary (Thanks for all your well wishes) stated that in lieu of our cancelled Canadian rail trail trip, we would be taking getaways both in NH and neighboring New England states, whenever (safely) possible.

There was no better time to start then last week in NH ahen we traveled 90 minutes from Nashua to Wolfeboro, NH, for a 3-day pre-anniversary road trip celebration. 

On an earlier visit last October to America’s oldest summer resort, we toured several local museums — The Wright Museum of WWII, The Libby Museum, and the New Hampshire Boat Museum — all interesting places to revisit one day, not on this getaway. 

We wanted new-to-us experiences that included being outdoors as much as possible without the need to mask-up, and where we could more than adequately social-distance.

So, instead of looking for additional indoor attractions, we opted instead to walk a rail trail and to hike through a nature sanctuary. 

A rainbow on Lake Winnipesaukee, us and The Wolfeboro Inn, our lodgings

We stayed downtown at the Wolfeboro Inn (1812) and didn't have to go far for the rail trail. The 12-mile long Cotton Valley Rail Trail begins at Depot Street in Wolfeboro near

Former Boston & Maine Wolfeboro Station

the picturesque gingerbread train station, which now houses the Chamber of Commerce, and ends at Turntable Park in Wakefield. This is an all season trail that's used in warmer months for walking, running, biking, wildlife viewing and fishing. Colder months activity includes cross country skiing, snow-shoeing and snowmobiling.

The trail links the towns of Wolfeboro, Brookfield, and Wakefield by way of a former railroad right-of-way. It's one of only three trails under state DNCR management (Department of Natural and Cultural Resources) that have intact rails that are used recreationally by local rail car clubs. We didn’t hear (or see) a train on our walk !

Rails along the Cotton Valley Rail Trail

The Cotton Valley Rail Trail has beautiful scenery, especially along two causeways along Lake Wentworth and Crescent Lake. At 3,097 acres, Lake Wentworth is the seventh-largest lake located entirely in NH. The trail goes over trestles, scenic wetlands, beaches, back woods and fields.

Railroad heritage is evident on many sections of the pathway, where cyclists ride narrowly between the track’s standard gauge irons, and cross wooden platforms to get over the old Wolfeboro Railroad track as the path goes on both sides. 

The path undergoes terrain changes including dirt, gravel, on the track, wide, narrow and along the track. It provides walking access to a couple of Wolfeboro museums — the Wright Museum of WWII and the New Hampshire Boat Museum — which can be walked to off the trail. 

We didn't spot any non-human wildlife on our rail trail walk, but there were plenty of wildflowers as evidenced in these images ↓ which include clover, thistle, vetch, ox-eye daisy, sumac and goldenrod. (Admittedly I don't know the names of all, some of these may be incorrect.)

Wildflowers along the Cotton Valley Rail Trail, Wolfeboro, NH

Vintage Boston & Maine, Wolfeboro, NH Station

A brief RR history: In 1872, the Eastern Railroad opened a branch line from Sanbornville to Wolfeboro to transport freight and passengers to Lake Winnipesaukee. The Boston and Maine Railroad (B&M) purchased the line in 1892 and ran it until 1936. This line originally reached Dockside where passengers boarded the MV Mount Washington and other boats to go to inns and hotels around the lake. Before the auto was in use, school children rode the train like they ride a school bus now. Wolfeboro had six stations on the seven mile portion that lies within the township. There was a “flag” stop on the Wentworth Causeway. Islanders would leave their boats nearby, flag down the train and ride to town. In 1972, The Wolfeboro Railroad, a group of investors, bought the line to restore freight and passenger service. Freight service never took off, but the train ran as a tourist attraction until finally closing in 1986 after which the state of NH acquired the corridor. 

Our second nature adventure took us to The Loon Center in Moultonborough, NH, a 30-minute drive from Wolfeboro. 

The Loon Center, Moultonborough, NH

The Loon Center is located on the grounds of the 200-acre Frederick and Paula Anna Markus Wildlife Sanctuary in Moultonborough, NH. Built in 1973, it serves as a base for state-wide research, management, and educational activities of the NH Loon Preservation Committee (LPC) created in 1975 in response to a declining loon population.

Loon and chick, photo by Kittie Wilson

What are loons? They are aquatic birds, loons (North America) or divers (UK/Ireland), that are the size of a large duck or small goose and distinguished by a unique call. Males and females have identical plumage, patterned black-and-white in summer; males are usually larger. Loons are excellent swimmers and use their feet to propel themselves above and under water. Their feet are located far back on the body making it difficult to walk on land, which they avoid, except when nesting or injured. 

Because loons are a threatened species, the LPC monitors lakes and ponds. Its efforts include nest site protection, exhibits and presentations, statewide efforts to reduce loon deaths from lead poisoning, and rescues of injured or sick loons.

Did you know? lead poisoning from ingested lead fishing sinkers and lead-headed jigs is the largest cause of adult loon mortality in NH. Since 1989, lead poisoning from lead fishing tackle has accounted for 42% of loon deaths statewide. Lead tackle can no longer be sold or purchased in NH. In 2018, LPC partnered with New Hampshire Fish and Game to conduct a first-in-the-nation lead tackle buyback program to remove lead tackle from active use. It provides a financial incentive to encourage anglers to switch to non-lead tackle. Since 2018, over 14,800 lead sinkers and jigs have been collected and recycled. NH’s loon population has more than tripled in 27 years and The Loon Center is being expanded to allow continuance of this work. 

Markus Wildlife Sanctuary Trail Map

Lucky for us, our visit to The Loon Center came days before the center was closing indefinitely for renovations to provide more work and lab space for biologists and the addition of a field operations center with housing for field biologists and veterinary interns plus maintenance and storage of boats, trailers and field equipment.

The Markus Wildlife Sanctuary consists of upland forests, marshes, ponds, clear-running streams and over 5,000 feet of undeveloped shoreline on Lake Winnipesaukee. It's one of the largest remaining areas of natural shoreline on the lake. The sanctuary is home to a wide variety of plant and animal species, including loons. 

Two walking trails wind their way through the Sanctuary and are open year-round from dawn to dusk. We walked both the Loon Nest Trail (1-1/2 mi.) and the Forest Trail (1/4 mi.) during our afternoon visit.

Only foot travel is allowed on the trails— no bikes, horses or motorized vehicles, no hunting, fishing, camping or swimming. The trails were described as country walking with sturdy shoes or boots recommended. We were glad to be wearing trail shoes. Sneakers would have this a difficult and uncomfortable hike. Regretfully, we forgot hiking poles at home. These would have come in handy in many spots (maybe next time).

Rocks and roots on Markus Sanctuary  Trail,

We weren't here early enough to catch sight of the Sanctuary’s nesting loons (late May-early June). We also managed non-sighting of waterfowl, woodland birds, deer, otter, or beaver. The only sightings were animal tracks in some mud flats, and no sightings of moose or bears, probably a very good thing.

Start of Markus Wildlife Sanctuary Loon Nest Trail

The Loon Nest Trail walk started relatively and deceptively easy. It was strewn with wood chips scattered along the path. Also, the start of the trail included a series of wooden walkways which were not connected but dispersed randomly over low-lying areas. 

Boardwalks on Markus Wildlife Sanctuary Loon Nest Trail

Further along the trail, we saw how hiking shoes were needed as the trail progressively became rockier, more root-filled, and somewhat challenging. We had a lot of time alone to experience nature's beauty and solitude. Until we headed back to The Loon Center, we didn't see another hiker(s). Trees along the trail were marked with yellow blazes, with was a good thing even if finding them wasn't always that easy.

Markus Wildlife Sanctuary trail blaze marker

We spotted many granite glacial erratics along the trail and, in some spots saw granite boulders split in half. Glacial erratics are stone and rocks transported by a glacier and left behind when it melted, and so called "Erratics" from Latin errare (to wander). These deposited rocks can differ from sizes and types of rock native to the area. Erratics can be carried for hundreds of miles, ranging in size from small rocks to large boulders. 

Glacial erratics on Markus Wildlife Sanctuary Trail

According to the trail brochure, the sanctuary included various wildflowers and wild blueberries, but the only vegetation we spotted were trees, ferns and moss on large boulders. The trail had numerous stopping resting points with granite benches where we enjoyed views of Lake Winnipesaukee. 

Lake Winnipesaukee viewed from Markus Wildlife Sanctuary Trail

The day we visited was fairly warm. Walking through the sanctuary, then visiting The Loon Center to view a film about loons was an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon. We were free to walk outdoors without masks and were definitely social-distanced from anyone. 

Not finished with outdoor activities during our stay, we played miniature golf. And, as it was a celebration, we treated ourselves a couple of times. We shared a banana split and an order of the Wolfeboro Tavern Potato Chip Appetizer (house fried chips, melted Swiss and Cheddar cheese, corned beef, Thousand Island dressing) — not both on the same day.

We shared these anniversary treats

A bonus to this road trip was a first time lunch time meet-up, Thursday at the Wolfeboro Inn with fellow blogger Erika (BioArt Girl). It was a great way to end our 21st anniversary celebration (even if we traveled ahead of the actual date).

Our (year-long) celebration will definitely continue with future road trips. We already have a couple of in-state day trips planned.