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To many residents of New Hampshire and Maine, working forests are sources of jobs and forest products, and serve as an anchor for the region's culture and heritage. To others, the forest provides cherished opportunities for recreation, including camping, snow sports, fishing, and hiking. To some people, the sights and sounds of logging operations are contrary to their idea of the “northern forest.” The Forest Service, working with dedicated partners, created the Forest Discovery Trail to help close this gap of perception and to build understanding for the intricacies of managing a working forest – a forest that provides jobs and forest products as well as recreation opportunities, clean water, air and healthy habitats for fish and wildlife.
The Forest Discovery Trail is a living classroom in ecological management. The 1.5 mile loop trail leads through 85 acres of young hardwoods and stands of old pines, past rocky streams and forest wetlands. Along the way you will see forest practices that are patterned after natural disturbances, highlighted at 10 stops along the trail. The Discovery Trail is located on Rte 112, the Kancamagus Highway, 6.2 miles from exit 32 off of Interstate 93. The Trail is 2.2 miles up the Kancamagus Highway from the Lincoln Woods Visitor Center.
The Forest Discovery Trail Curriculum was designed to be used with the Forest Discovery Trail. The purpose of the curriculum is:
- To increase students' understanding of forest ecology and management.
- To increase students' understanding of the surrounding National Forests, and of the management objectives and practices affecting them.
- To increase students' understanding of the methods resource managers use to manage a forest.
- To provide pre-visit, on-site, and follow-up activities and resources for exploring the Forest Discovery Trail and the standards and frameworks it addresses within your classroom curriculum.
The complete curriculum is available online, in .pdf format. Please click on the appropriate grade range to view the curriculum.
For additional assistance in planning your trip to the Forest Discovery Trail, please contact Clare Long, the Conservation Education Program Leader, White Mountain National Forest, at (603) 528-8707 or email her.
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