A Sweet Trail to a Great Bay

Looking for a great trail to hike this summer or snowshoe this winter? Put on your hiking boots or snowshoes and head to the 4.3-mile Sweet Trail. Follow the tin squares to hike from Longmarsh Road in Durham to the shore of Great Bay at our Lubberland Creek Preserve in Newmarket.

The Conservancy, the Town of Durham, and the Great Bay Resource Protection Partnership helped plan and develop the trail, which highlights diverse wildlife habitats through the 2,500-acre Crommet Creek watershed. The trail crosses land owned by New Hampshire Fish and Game, the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, Town of Durham, and The Nature Conservancy. The goal of the trail isto create a longer and more remote hiking and wildlife viewing experience. It was constructed with the help of local volunteers, New York City youth and Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) trail crews. There are several picturesque overlooks and bridges along the trail offering views of beaver ponds and a great blue heron rookery. It is not unusual to see American black ducks, osprey, beaver, turtles and many songbirds along the way. From freshwater marshes to tidal creeks, you will see the interconnections between fresh and saltwater habitats and the abundance of life that depends on these ecosystems.

The trail was named in honor of Cy and Bobbie Sweet of New Castle, New Hampshire, who have generously supported our conservation work at Great Bay for many years. A special dedication with granite benches was created and installed by our staff at the end of the trail at the shore of Great Bay. Bring your lunch and binoculars and plan for a picnic while enjoying beautiful views of Vols Island and the bay.