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Paradise Point

Wildlife Sanctuary

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About the Paradise Point Wildlife Sanctuary

Paradise Point Nature Center and Wildlife Sanctuary, located on the north shore of Newfound Lake, includes 43 acres with 3,500 feet of rocky, unspoiled lakeshore.

In the early 1960s, Colonel and Mrs. Alcott Elwell gave this property to the New Hampshire Charitable Fund, who donated it to the Audubon Society of New Hampshire in 1966. Through a challenge grant from the New Hampshire Charitable Fund, contributors, and volunteers, Paradise Point Nature Center was constructed in 1969 to offer environmental education services to people of all ages.

Newfound Lake is a glacial lake that is noted for its depth, clarity, and purity. A deep river valley before the glaciers, the ice sheet scoured it deeper and then filled the rest of the valley with glacial debris. The debris dammed the river to form a very deep lake-even deeper than it is now. Presently it reaches a depth of 180 feet. Evidence of the glaciers can be seen throughout the Sanctuary.

The Sanctuary's varied habitats entice many neotropical bird migrants each spring and summer. Many warblers, thrushes, vireos, and Scarlet Tanagers have been found here.

The marked trails at the Sanctuary are open year-round from dawn to dusk.

Description of Trails

Ridge/Lakeside Trail

In contrast to the other two trails on the Sanctuary, which are dominated by softwoods, this trail passes through a hardwood forest. Continue past the red markers for the Elwell Trail to a foot-plank bridge over a small swamp. This shallow pool is a superb breeding spot for a number of insects. There are also cinnamon and sensitive ferns here.

A steep but short climb takes you past numerous rugged, rocky outcrops. Notice the variety of lichens on some of the boulders. The trail continues to The Point, a rock ledge that looks out to a panoramic view of the lake and mountains beyond.

From The Point, the trail follows the shoreline back to the Nature Center. Many of the trees and shrubs here are forest edge species, which favor the open conditions of the shoreline.

The trail will bring you to the dock with the Nature Center in sight behind you.

Loop Trail

This is the Sanctuary's shortest trail. From the Nature Center, it takes you to the shore of the lake. Looking out at the lake, look and listen for the Common Loons and Common Mergansers that are frequent visitors to the area during warmer months. The trail then heads back through the woods along the edge of a small swamp. During the spring and summer, look for wildflowers such as trillium, wintergreen, clintonia, and partridgeberry, as well as bracken fern.

Elwell Trail

This relatively easy trail soon takes you to a cathedral of hemlock trees. You then descend to a small vernal pool area, where numerous species of frogs and salamanders deposit their eggs to hatch each spring. In summer, this area may be quite dry. Notice the number of deciduous trees here, such as red maple and beech. Just before you reach The Point, you'll find the giraffe tree, a yellow birch that has grown in an interesting way. Yellow birch is famous for sprouting on old logs and stumps. The Point is a rock ledge that looks out to a panoramic view of the lake and mountains beyond.

Back on the trail, bear right to head north along the trail, looking for the red markers (just before you cross a small brook), that direct you back to the Nature Center. This section of the Elwell Trail parallels a wetland. You may even feel a change in temperature as you approach the swamp. Look for indian pipes, mayflower, goldthread, partridge berry, hobblebush, bunchberry, and cranberry on this section of the trail. Notice the spongy carpet of sphagnum moss among the cinnamon ferns. There are also sour-gum trees, which are also known as tupelo or black gum, that grow only in swamps and watercourses and are not often found in the northeast.

Proceeding through this old-growth forest, you'll approach two majestic trees that are well over 100 years old-the Elwell Memorial Pines, which honor Colonel and Mrs. Elwell, donors of this property.

Continue following the red markers to return to the Nature Center.

About the Newfound Audubon Center

The Newfound Audubon Center includes Paradise Point Nature Center and Wildlife Sanctuary, the Hebron Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Bear Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary. The nature center at Paradise Point and the Audubon Nature Store at the Hebron Marsh Sanctuary are open daily, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., from July 1 to September 1. The store is open 1-4 p.m. on Sundays. Educational programming is provided for adults and children at Paradise Point and Hebron Marsh in the summer; call the Center at 744-3516 (July-August) or 224-9909 (September-June) for information. Programs for groups are available. Sanctuary trails are open dawn to dusk year-round.

Visitor Information

Directions
  1. Only foot travel is permitted--no horses, bicycles, or motor vehicles.
  2. Swimming, camping, fires, firearms, hunting, and trapping are prohibited.
  3. Please keep to marked trails.
  4. Please do not collect or in any way disturb plants or animals in the sanctuary.
  5. Pets must be on a short leash and controlled at all times.
  6. Please carry out all trash and litter.
  7. Be prepared for country walking.
  • From Bristol:
    1. Go north on Route 3A for 9 miles through East Hebron.
    2. Turn left onto North Shore Road.
    3. Paradise Point sign is on left after one mile.
  • From Plymouth:
    1. Take Route 25 west to Route 3A south. and
    2. Travel 5 miles south, turn right onto North Shore Road
    3. Paradise Point sign is on left after one mile.
Here is a complete trail guide of the sanctuary in PDF format. Please be patient while this large graphic image is loading.
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Blackburnian Warbler drawing by Joanna Magoon