by Erin Cabral, Recreation Technician
In 2019, the Monadnock Conservancy purchased the 99-acre Cunningham Pond Conservation Area in Peterborough to forever protect the pond’s water quality and scenic views, and to allow public access. The purchase and improvements were made possible through the efforts of many contributors and community volunteers. In addition to a parking area on Cunningham Pond Road, a trail was constructed that connected to the adjacent Goyette Natural Area, the field above the pond, and the old carriage road along the pond.
Walking through this conservation area is like walking into four different worlds: a diverse forest; a field with great views; the water’s edge; and a forested wetland.
The one-and-a-half-mile trail network starts with the Peterson Trail, seen on the map as the green trail. The Peterson Trail wanders through trees and over brooks in a sunny, open forest. The bright nature of the forest allows for many understory plants to grow, like fern and creeping dogwood. The hike continues onto the Cunningham Pond Trail (the blue trail) up to a vast, breezy field with wide open views of Pack Monadnock and Temple Mountain. After traveling down from the field onto Carriage Road (the yellow trail), hikers walk the shoreline of Cunningham Pond. Here, black-capped chickadees and red-winged blackbirds can be heard chirping above, while fishermen can be seen floating in boats on the pond. On the way back toward the trailhead, there is the option to take a spur trail called Goyette Loop (the red trail) into the Goyette Natural Area. Be sure to look out for woodpecker holes in the trees around this shady, forested wetland.
On May 21st, Joy Fletcher and Katharine Baer, two volunteers from the local area, joined me in rerouting a wet section of the Peterson Trail. In just two hours, we were able to create a new trail on higher ground using loppers, handsaws, and a chainsaw. The changes have greatly improved walking conditions through this area, and I am so grateful to the volunteers for their help.
With a 170-foot overall elevation gain, this trail makes for an invigorating hike in the summer, or a nice snowshoe challenge in the winter. One of my favorite stops on thie trail is at the second bridge on the Cunningham Pond Loop Trail. I highly suggest taking a moment there to view the brook and listen to the water passing through. The lot at the trailhead is located on Cunningham Pond Road, it is large enough to accomodate 3-4 cars and is accessible in all seasons.