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Places We Protect

Joanne Bass Bross Preserve

New Hampshire

A close-up of a sharp-shinned hawk.
Sharp-shinned Hawk Sharp-shinned hawks are the smallest hawks in the United States and Canada. © Karine Aigner

A hidden gem on Pack Monadnock with sweeping mountain views, vibrant forests and the historic Wapack Trail.

Overview

Description

When The Nature Conservancy acquired the Joanne Bass Bross Preserve in 2001, it didn’t just protect 501 acres of rugged beauty—it connected a 2,700-acre corridor of conserved lands linking Miller State Park on Pack Monadnock with the Wapack National Wildlife Refuge on North Pack.

Hikers can experience this connection along the historic 21-mile Wapack Trail, which crosses a corner of the preserve north of Pack Monadnock. From rocky ledges and outcrops, you’ll enjoy sweeping views of Mount Monadnock, the White Mountains and even the Boston skyline on clear days.

Autumn brings a spectacular raptor migration, and visitors can take advantage of the Pack Monadnock Raptor Observatory at Miller State Park, New Hampshire’s premier hawk-watching site co-managed by NH Audubon and the Harris Center for Conservation Education. Thousands of broad-winged hawks and other raptors soar overhead each fall, with peak flights sometimes topping 3,000 birds in a single day.

In spring, northern hardwood forests along the trail burst with wildflowers like trillium, pink lady’s slippers and wood sorrel, making every visit a seasonal delight.

Access

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

You can most directly reach the Joanne Bass Bross preserve from Miller State Park.

Hours

Dawn to Dusk, Daily

Highlights

Hiking, Birdwatching, Scenic Views, Wildflowers

Size

501 acres

Explore our work in New Hampshire

Photos from Joanne Bass Bross Preserve

From sweeping mountain vistas to delicate spring wildflowers and vibrant fall foliage, this preserve is beautiful in every season.

A mountain is covered in fall foliage.
Two pink lady's slipper flowers.
A red-tailed hawk flies gracefully through the woods.
A purple trillium flower.
A person in a white shirt and hat wearing a red backpack hikes up a rock slab surrounded by trees.
A mountain is covered in fall foliage.

Joanne Bass Bross Preserve: Fall descends upon the Monadnock Region in New Hampshire. © Eric Aldrich/TNC

Two pink lady's slipper flowers.

Pink Lady's Slipper: Cypripedium acaule, also known as the moccasin flower, is a striking wildflower belonging to the orchid family. © Kelly Clampitt

A red-tailed hawk flies gracefully through the woods.

Red-tailed Hawk: Many species of raptors (like this juvenile red-tailed hawk) can be seen at Joanne Bass Bross Preserve during the fall migration. © Ted Myers/TNC Photo Contest 2022

A purple trillium flower.

Purple Trillium: Visitors to Joanne Bass Bross Preserve might find colorful trillium flowers like this one. © Eric Aldrich/TNC

A person in a white shirt and hat wearing a red backpack hikes up a rock slab surrounded by trees.

Snowshoe Hare: If you're lucky, you might spot this local rabbit in the woods of Otter Brook Preserve. © Eric Aldrich/The Nature Conservancy

Visit

    • Panoramic Views: From rocky ledges, take in Mount Monadnock, the White Mountains and even the Boston skyline on clear days.
    • Seasonal Highlights: Spring wildflowers like trillium and pink lady’s slippers, vernal pools, brilliant fall foliage and winter’s quiet beauty. Check it out on snowshoes!
    • Wildlife: Keep an eye out for songbirds, raptors and signs of moose or black bear in the forest.
    • Hawk Migration: In autumn, thousands of raptors soar overhead—visit the Pack Monadnock Raptor Observatory in nearby Miller State Park for the best viewing.

  • You can most directly reach the Joanne Bass Bross preserve from Miller State Park. From the base parking area, hike up Pack Monadnock on either the Wapack Trail (yellow triangles) or the Marion Davis Trail which passes through the TNC’s land. From the parking area at the summit, follow the Summit Loop Trail (red dots) and look for a small wooden outlook sign (right side of trail), and then follow the path to a scenic overlook and bench dedicated to Joanne Bass Bross.  These trails are moderate, but include several rock slabs and boulders, which can be slippery when wet.

    • Wapack Trail (yellow triangles): This historic 21-mile trail crosses the northern edge of the preserve. Expect moderate terrain with rocky outcrops and rewarding views.
    • Spruce Knoll Trail (via Miller State Park): A short 0.6-mile, moderate hike to a scenic overlook where Boston is visible on clear days.
    • Marion Davis Trail: (out-and-back totaling 2.8 miles). A gentler route up Pack Monadnock that connects to the Wapack Trail for extended hiking options.
    • Access: The preserve is best reached through Miller State Park. Parking is available at the base and summit (fee applies).
    • Seasonal Tips: Hawk migration peaks mid-September to mid-October; spring wildflowers bloom late May to early June.
    • Cell Service: Limited in some areas—download maps before you go.
    • Pets: Dogs allowed on leash.

  • To minimize disturbance of the wildlife and habitat of this nature preserve and to support the enjoyment of all visitors, please follow these guidelines:

    • Leave No Trace—please keep the preserve clean by carrying out your trash.
    • Respect the natural world around you! Do not remove or destroy plants, wildlife, minerals, rocks or cultural items.
    • No camping or open fires allowed.
    • Hunting is allowed in parts of the preserve. Please obey all posted signs and contact the New Hampshire Fish & Game Department for dates and regulations.
    • Dogs are allowed and must be leashed at all times.
    • Other Power-Driven Mobility Devices (e.g., utility vehicles, Segways, golf carts, etc.) are prohibited at this preserve. 
A hiker in a red shirt with a backpack using binoculars to look out over a rocky ridge.
Joanne Bass Bross Preserve Rocky ledges and mountain views await visitors to this preserve on Pack Monadnock. © Eric Aldrich/TNC

History

A Legacy of Stewardship in the Monadnock Region

The Joanne Bass Bross Preserve was established in January 2001, but its roots run deep in New Hampshire’s conservation legacy. When The Nature Conservancy acquired this 501-acre tract, it did more than protect forests and rocky ridges—it completed a vision. By linking Miller State Park on Pack Monadnock with the Wapack National Wildlife Refuge on North Pack, the acquisition created a 2,700-acre corridor of unbroken wildlands along the historic Wapack Range. This connection safeguards wildlife habitat, scenic vistas, and a section of the 21-mile Wapack Trail, the oldest interstate hiking trail in the Northeast, first blazed in 1923.

The preserve honors Joanne Bass Bross, a passionate conservationist whose family’s ties to New Hampshire’s forests span generations, who spent a lot of time exploring the woods that would one day bear her name. Joanne was the granddaughter of Robert P. Bass, a former governor and forestry commission chair who championed land stewardship in the early 1900s. Joanne herself carried that legacy forward, supporting conservation causes throughout her life and inspiring others to cherish the state’s natural beauty until her passing in 2000. 

The dedication of the preserve was a celebration of both land and legacy. A granite bench installed at a scenic lookout commemorates her love for these mountains—a place where, as an 1892 letter read aloud at the ceremony expressed, “we gaze down on one unparalleled and unbroken panorama of beauty.” Today, visitors walking the Wapack Trail or pausing at Spruce Knoll can experience the same sense of wonder that inspired Joanne and generations before her.

 

Nearby Preserves

Need more nature? Visit The Nature Conservancy's other preserves.

Find More Places We Protect

The Nature Conservancy owns nearly 1,500 preserves covering more than 2.5 million acres across all 50 states. These lands protect wildlife and natural systems, serve as living laboratories for innovative science and connect people to the natural world.

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