Beaver Brook & Porcupine Trails Letterboxes LbNA #11788
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Add Location| Owner: | 'DDD'  |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Oct 20, 2004 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Hollis |
| County: | Hillsborough |
| State: | New Hampshire |
| Boxes: | 2 |
| Found by: | Beaver Brook Nature Ctr |
|---|---|
| Last found: | Jun 25, 2023 |
| Status: | FFFFFFFFFFFFFFOFFFFF |
| Last edited: | Oct 20, 2004 |
Clues: Easy
Terrain: Moderate
Time Required: 1.25 hours
Distance: 1.18 miles on a nice loop trail
Date Placed: 10/20/04
# of boxes: 2
Stamps: Hand carved
NOTE: The Porcupine Letterbox had gone missing, but I recarved and replanted it today, 10-9-2014
Beaver Brook Association (BBA) was founded by Hollis Nichols and Jeff Smith, both of Hollis, New Hampshire. Beginning with just 12 acres of land in 1964, today BBA is comprised of nearly 2,000 acres of forest, fields, and wetlands in Hollis, Brookline, and Milford, New Hampshire. The land lies where the southern transitional forest meets the northern hardwood forest, creating a diverse landscape of interest to the naturalist and the hiker alike.
With some 35+ miles of trails (some designated for multiple use by bikes and horses), the area provides a quiet and contemplative setting for daytime excursions. Forest and wildlife management is practiced throughout the property for the purposes of demonstrating sustainable forestry practices and wildlife habitat techniques to protect and encourage a diverse array of native species. BBA also protects significant portions of two watersheds and has designated natural areas that will be left unmanaged in perpetuity. The public is encouraged to visit BBA, which is open from dawn to dusk seven days a week, and rediscover the natural world.
Be Extra Careful during hunting season! Beaver Brook does not permit hunting. Though the vast majority of hunters respect signs and are cautious, it is wise to be alert and to take precautions. Hikers are urged to wear hunter orange during the archery, muzzle loading, and modern firearms seasons for deer: September 15 -December 15 inclusive. Do not wear white.
Do not collect plants or animals, bring in motorized recreation vehicles, smoke or consume alcohol while visiting Beaver Brook Association. Also, please leash all dogs.
IMPORTANT! Before you start, visit the Beaver Brook Assoc. website at www.beaverbrook.org and print out the BBA Education Corridor trail map. (Color-coded maps are available for $2.00 at the office. If the office is closed there are some photocopied maps by the door.)
DIRECTIONS TO BEAVER BROOK ASSOC.:
Take exit 5W off the Everett Turnpike (Route 3). Head towards Hollis, NH and Pepperell, MA on Route 111. After approximately 3.9 miles you'll take a right on to Depot Road. Drive 2.3 miles and take a left onto Merrill Lane. At the stop sign at the end of Merrill Lane go straight across Rte 122 to Ridge Road. This narrow country road winds out to Beaver Brook. There are two entrances. The first is Brown Lane and will take you to some very nice hiking trails but save this for later. You’ll want to take the next entrance at Maple Hill Farm and the office (1.1 miles from the time you start down Ridge Road. Park in the lot.
To find the Beaver Brook Trail Letterbox, walk back out to Ridge Road and take a right. Walk along Ridge Road to where it takes a sharp left turn. At the top of this turn is the Whiting Trail. Walk down the Whiting Trail. Stay on Whiting Trail and after about 15 minutes you’ll come to Spatterdock Pond and see a large beaver dam. The trail now goes either left or right along the pond. Go ahead and explore a little to the left, but to find the prize you’ll want to turn right and go over the wooden bridge. This is the Beaver Brook Trail though it is not marked. The pond is on your left. Look for signs of beaver activity and perhaps you’ll even spot a beaver or two. As you walk along, you’ll notice the pond is turning swampy.
You’ll pass the Porcupine Trail on your right. Stay on the Beaver Brook Trail for now and walk approximately 75 steps to a large oak tree on the left of the trail. Check the large hole in the trunk to find the Beaver Brook Trail Letterbox. If you come to a very large boulder with a pine tree growing out of a split in its middle on the right of the trail you’ve gone too far. Go back about 150 steps and find the tree on your right.
To find the Porcupine Trail letterbox, go back to the Porcupine Trail. Follow the trail until you see the a huge downed tree that looks like it may have been hit by lightning. Standing at the tree continue walking up the trail for 16 steps. You'll see a tree with raised roots just to the left of the trail. Move the rocky door to find this box. It is very important to rehide carefully since it's right on the trail.
To get back to your car continue following the Porcupine Trail until you come to the Maple Hill Ridge Trail. Take a right on the Maple Hill Ridge Trail, go over a stone wall and you’ll be back at the Whiting Trail. Go left to get back to Ridge Road and the short walk back to the parking lot.
Terrain: Moderate
Time Required: 1.25 hours
Distance: 1.18 miles on a nice loop trail
Date Placed: 10/20/04
# of boxes: 2
Stamps: Hand carved
NOTE: The Porcupine Letterbox had gone missing, but I recarved and replanted it today, 10-9-2014
Beaver Brook Association (BBA) was founded by Hollis Nichols and Jeff Smith, both of Hollis, New Hampshire. Beginning with just 12 acres of land in 1964, today BBA is comprised of nearly 2,000 acres of forest, fields, and wetlands in Hollis, Brookline, and Milford, New Hampshire. The land lies where the southern transitional forest meets the northern hardwood forest, creating a diverse landscape of interest to the naturalist and the hiker alike.
With some 35+ miles of trails (some designated for multiple use by bikes and horses), the area provides a quiet and contemplative setting for daytime excursions. Forest and wildlife management is practiced throughout the property for the purposes of demonstrating sustainable forestry practices and wildlife habitat techniques to protect and encourage a diverse array of native species. BBA also protects significant portions of two watersheds and has designated natural areas that will be left unmanaged in perpetuity. The public is encouraged to visit BBA, which is open from dawn to dusk seven days a week, and rediscover the natural world.
Be Extra Careful during hunting season! Beaver Brook does not permit hunting. Though the vast majority of hunters respect signs and are cautious, it is wise to be alert and to take precautions. Hikers are urged to wear hunter orange during the archery, muzzle loading, and modern firearms seasons for deer: September 15 -December 15 inclusive. Do not wear white.
Do not collect plants or animals, bring in motorized recreation vehicles, smoke or consume alcohol while visiting Beaver Brook Association. Also, please leash all dogs.
IMPORTANT! Before you start, visit the Beaver Brook Assoc. website at www.beaverbrook.org and print out the BBA Education Corridor trail map. (Color-coded maps are available for $2.00 at the office. If the office is closed there are some photocopied maps by the door.)
DIRECTIONS TO BEAVER BROOK ASSOC.:
Take exit 5W off the Everett Turnpike (Route 3). Head towards Hollis, NH and Pepperell, MA on Route 111. After approximately 3.9 miles you'll take a right on to Depot Road. Drive 2.3 miles and take a left onto Merrill Lane. At the stop sign at the end of Merrill Lane go straight across Rte 122 to Ridge Road. This narrow country road winds out to Beaver Brook. There are two entrances. The first is Brown Lane and will take you to some very nice hiking trails but save this for later. You’ll want to take the next entrance at Maple Hill Farm and the office (1.1 miles from the time you start down Ridge Road. Park in the lot.
To find the Beaver Brook Trail Letterbox, walk back out to Ridge Road and take a right. Walk along Ridge Road to where it takes a sharp left turn. At the top of this turn is the Whiting Trail. Walk down the Whiting Trail. Stay on Whiting Trail and after about 15 minutes you’ll come to Spatterdock Pond and see a large beaver dam. The trail now goes either left or right along the pond. Go ahead and explore a little to the left, but to find the prize you’ll want to turn right and go over the wooden bridge. This is the Beaver Brook Trail though it is not marked. The pond is on your left. Look for signs of beaver activity and perhaps you’ll even spot a beaver or two. As you walk along, you’ll notice the pond is turning swampy.
You’ll pass the Porcupine Trail on your right. Stay on the Beaver Brook Trail for now and walk approximately 75 steps to a large oak tree on the left of the trail. Check the large hole in the trunk to find the Beaver Brook Trail Letterbox. If you come to a very large boulder with a pine tree growing out of a split in its middle on the right of the trail you’ve gone too far. Go back about 150 steps and find the tree on your right.
To find the Porcupine Trail letterbox, go back to the Porcupine Trail. Follow the trail until you see the a huge downed tree that looks like it may have been hit by lightning. Standing at the tree continue walking up the trail for 16 steps. You'll see a tree with raised roots just to the left of the trail. Move the rocky door to find this box. It is very important to rehide carefully since it's right on the trail.
To get back to your car continue following the Porcupine Trail until you come to the Maple Hill Ridge Trail. Take a right on the Maple Hill Ridge Trail, go over a stone wall and you’ll be back at the Whiting Trail. Go left to get back to Ridge Road and the short walk back to the parking lot.