A Sweet Trail to a Great Bay

Bobbie and Cy Sweet walk the trail dedicated in their honor.

    Looking for a great trail to hike later this fall or snowshoe this winter? Put on your hiking boots or snowshoes and head to the recently completed 4.3 mile Sweet Trail. As soon as the trail signs are up in early December, you will be able to hike from Longmarsh Road in Durham to the shore of Great Bay at our Lubberland Creek Preserve in Newmarket.

    The Conservancy, the Town of Durham, and the Great Bay Resource Protection Partnership helped plan and develop the trail which highlights diverse wildlife habitats through the 2500 acre Crommet Creek watershed. The trail crosses land owned by NH Fish and Game, Society for the Protection of NH Forests, Town of Durham and The Nature Conservancy. The goal of the trail was to create a longer and more remote hiking and wildlife viewing experience. It was constructed with the help of local volunteers, New York City youth and AMC trail crews. There are several picturesque overlooks and bridges along the trail offering views of beaver ponds and a great blue heron rookery. It is not unusual to see American black ducks, osprey, beaver, turtles and many songbirds along the trail. From freshwater marshes to tidal creeks, you will see the interconnections between fresh and saltwater habitats and the abundance of life that depends on these ecosystems.

    The trail was named in honor of Cy and Bobby Sweet of New Castle, NH who have generously supported our conservation work at Great Bay for many years. A special dedication with granite benches was created and installed by our staff at the end of the trail at the shore of Great Bay. Bring your lunch and binoculars and plan for a picnic while enjoying beautiful views of Vols Island and the bay.