Converse Woods Trails
Passive Recreation: One and a half miles of trails have been cleared and improved using former logging roads. The system of trails was created by then Souhegan HS student Jim Callahan as his senior project. The trails were conceived for cross-country skiing by Jim, a fairly adept (my words) skier. Snowshoeing to the side of the groomed trails is permitted as is hiking and mountain biking when there is no snow cover. There are no motorized uses permitted.
The elevation difference between the low point on the Snowy Owl Trail to the height of land on the Haul Road Trail is 70 feet. Even with this seemingly small difference in elevation, the forest changes from the laurel, spruce and hemlock in the moist low land at the edge of the former pond to stands of pine and white oak on the much drier upland. The ground cover on the trails varies from low bush blueberry to wintergreen and cinquefoil with several other spring wildflower species poking out. A connecting trail between the Converse Woods trails and the Grater Woods Trail is being planned.
All told, Converse Woods is a good place to visit for a 2-hour, not-too-challenging walk through a varied woodland environment.
Other trails in the works for 2017 include: Pestleboro, Weston Pond (Parker ext,), Three Ponds