bellamy river wildlife sanctuary

The Cove trail is a great hike for any level of hiker. No hills totally flat....a few wet areas,to be expected...lots of photo ops...watch for ticks,bring bug spray. Some trail areas have high grass and weeds. I tried to find the Clement's point trail but its not marked at all....grass is chest high,can't say I didnt try. If you know how to locate that trail write a review and tell your secret !!!

I have been here on my own. Learned a lot more with a state employee from the Parks & Recreation Department. Very informative and the weather cooperated.

My review begins with a big caveat. Since trapping and hunting are allowed here, this is NOT a safe place for hikers to be during the various hunting seasons which run from late April to late May for turkey and then from September 1st to December 31st for other fowl and game. Hunting for small game continues through the end of March. So, the only really safe time for hikers to be here is from June 1st to August 31st. I strongly suggest wearing safety orange during ANY visit to this wildlife sanctuary. And, since many people do not obey the rules, there is always the possibility that poachers could be present at any time. Should you encounter a poacher, the hotline for reporting is listed at the NH Fish & Game website. I’d give the phone number, but TripAdvisor does not allow phone numbers in reviews. To plan the time of your visit, consult the New Hampshire Fish & Game website. The page for hunting seasons is under the Wildlife menu at the website. TripAdvisor does not allow the posting of URL’s in reviews so I cannot post it. Bellamy River Wildlife Sanctuary is one of over 30 New Hampshire Wildlife Management Areas. This area was acquired through the Land Conservation Investment Program (LCIP) and donations between 1990 and 1992. The 400-acre area is located on the west shore of the Bellamy River in Dover. It consist of various land types, vegetation types, and wildlife habitats. The area features riverside shoreline, tidal creeks, salt and fresh water wetlands, second growth woodlands, old fields, and fields with a more recent history of agriculture. There are two small ponds with earthen dams. There are trails for hiking, cross-country skiing, and wildlife-watching. As stated above, hunting and trapping are permitted; so is fishing. Wildlife present includes deer, pheasant, wild turkey, upland game, bobolinks, meadowlarks, and waterfowl. This property is on a major flyway so it is a major feeding and resting area for migrating waterfowl and estuarine species such as herons, gulls, osprey, and sandpipers. Cottontails have also been spotted here along with an occasional red fox. There are two primary ways to access the sanctuary. One is by taking a right onto Old Garrison Road at the end of Rabbit Road which is off Back River Road. The dirt entrance road is a short distance down the road on the left. There is ample parking area at this site. The secondary access is about two miles away. From Back River Road, turn east on Spruce Lane. Go straight where Spruce Lane joins Garrison Road---not to be confused with Old Garrison Road about 2 miles away----and follow to the end near End of the Road Farm. Do not block the driveway. There is a small lot with a few parking spaces before the end of the road. My most recent visit was during several hunting seasons, so I did not hike. The purpose of my visit was to get a photo and current information for a review for TripAdvisor visitors. The hiking trails are easy as there are no mountains or steep hills in the sanctuary. When visiting in summer months, be should take the usual hiking precautions. Apply sunscreen and insect repellent with DEET liberally as the area is known to have deer ticks. Bring the 10 Hiking Essentials as appropriate to this fairly level, sometimes-marshy terrain and forecasted weather conditions. When I was leaving and was about a mile from the area's secondary access, what appeared to be a large red tabby ran across Spruce Lane into someone's yard. As I got closer, the animal turned to face me. I saw its pointed snout and realized that it was a juvenile red fox.