Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge
Description: Nestled beneath the mountains north of the Presidential Range, Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge has often been called a "crown jewel" of New Hampshire's landscape, and visitors to the site will easily understand why. The ponds, wetlands, and forests of this refuge support a wide variety of significant ecological features. The sweeping views from the wetlands and ponds are truly unique, and the hiking trails through lowland spruce - fir forest provide an easy way to experience this characteristic natural community of New Hampshire's North Country in person. A recently constructed viewing platform at the south end of Cherry Pond provides stunning views out across the pond and back towards the Presidential Range.
Good examples of natural community systems you can see here include lowland spruce - fir forest/swamp system and poor level fen/bog system.
The refuge was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1974 by the National Park Service. The Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge is owned and managed by New Hampshire Audubon, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game. The New Hampshire Bureau of Trails and a local Friends group also play a role in the management of the refuge.
Directions: Access from Rte. 115 between the towns of Twin Mountain and Jefferson Highlands. The refuge is northwest of the road. There is a parking area with a new kiosk along Airport Road. A wide dirt trail (a former rail grade, soon to be made universally accessible) leads from here north about a mile and a half to the new viewing platform at the edge of Cherry Pond. The Little Cherry Pond hiking trail skirts the western edge of the pond and then leads west to a viewing platform at Little Cherry Pond.
Landowners: New Hampshire Audubon, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, NH Department of Fish & Game
Site Guide
Images (hold mouse over image for caption)
Presidential Range behind Pondicherry in November (Ben Kimball photo)
