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Otter Brook © The Nature Conservancy

Open to the Public

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Things To Do

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This 1,303-acre preserve located in the towns of Sullivan, Nelson, and Stoddard, provides vital habitat for several endangered natural communities.

Abutting more than 13,000 acres of protected lands (including the Andorra Forest), Otter Brook Preserve provides critical wetland and riparian habitat for wildlife. The preserve protects significant portions of the headwaters of Otter Brook, as well as parts of the watershed for Sullivan's largest and most productive aquifer. 

The Nature Conservancy of New Hampshire established the Otter Brook Preserve in 1999. Located in Nelson, Stoddard, and Sullivan, the preserve offers excellent landscape scale conservation value due to its extensive core forest, adjoining conservation land, wetlands, and wildlife habitat. The preserve supports exemplary natural communities, including pristine ponds and acidic fens, and has excellent recreational and scenic value.

At nearly 15,000 acres, the Andorra Forest/Otter Brook conservation area is one of the largest contiguous forest blocks in Southwestern New Hampshire. It is this type of landscape scale conservation that will make a significant impact on the preservation of New Hampshire's most special places.

The Conservancy and its hardworking volunteers have established a 4.8-mile trail system at this relatively new preserve. The trail winds through diverse forest types to bring visitors to Bolster Pond and Brook, Otter Brook, Ellis Reservoir, and several other cultural features on the preserve.

Click here to download a trail map (.pdf, 594 kb). 

Things To Do

Plan Your Visit

Directions

• From Route 9, travel to the tiny village of East Sullivan (approximately 6.9 miles east of Keene and 2.9 miles west of Route 9/123 intersection).
• Look for a blinking yellow light, a small general store on the south side of Route 9, and Center Street (which leads to the village of Sullivan) on the north side of Route 9.
• Turn north onto Center Street, then immediately take first right onto Valley Road. 
• Travel 1.9 miles along Valley Road and turn right onto Bowlder Road or North Road. 
• Travel another 0.5 miles to the preserve's trailhead, located on the right side of the road.

Discussion

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Add Your Comments

Time for you to join the discussion. Tell us about your experience at this preserve. What plants and animals did you see? When did you go? You can help others plan their visit when you share your thoughts. And thank you for visiting one of our nature preserves!

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