Come explore with us!
Join the Great Bay Changemaker Program, the Great Bay -Piscataqua Waterkeeper, and conservation partners for a series of Watershed Walks during the 2025 summer. Explore local lands and learn how each property helps protect the health of our waterways. Children are welcome!
Please note: All walks are weather dependent so be sure to register in advance. You’ll be contacted by 10am the morning of the event if there’s a weather cancellation.
Questions about the Watershed Walks can be directed to Katrie Hillman, Manager of the Great Bay Changemaker Program, Email: gbchangemaker@gmail.com; Cell: 603-498-5025
June 19th, 5 – 6:30 pm – Chapman’s Landing, Stratham
Discover the hidden wonders of the Squamscott River with Rachel Stevens, former Stewardship Coordinator at the Great Bay Reserve. We’ll explore a beautiful salt marsh that’s home to the rare Salt Marsh Sparrow, then take a short loop through the Community Wildlife Garden to learn easy ways you can help wildlife and keep our waters clean—starting in your own backyard.
Host: Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
Accessibility: We will begin by looking at the salt marsh from a paved boat ramp/parking lot; we will not walk into the marsh. We will then walk 1/3 mile on a gravel and dirt path through the Community Wildlife Garden.
June 25, 5 – 6:30 pm – DeYoung-Fralic Conservation Area, Brentwood
Understand how land conservation supports clean water while exploring one of Brentwood’s highest-ranking wildlife habitats. Once a gravel pit, the 105-acre DeYoung-Fralic property was restored and permanently protected by SELT in 2017. With 3,700 feet of pristine frontage along the Exeter River, it now serves as a vital wildlife corridor and safeguards priority water resources. Join forester Phil Auger for a guided walk through this conservation success story.
Host: Southeast Land Trust
Accessibility: We will walk on an uneven dirt trail for 1 – 1.5 miles.
July 9, 5 – 6:30 pm – Exeter Riverfront, Exeter
Enjoy an afternoon stroll along the scenic and historically rich Exeter-Squamscott Riverfront in downtown Exeter. Learn about the local ecology from Trevor Mattera, Habitat Program Manager with the Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership and hear from a resident about on-going efforts to turn a vacant lot into Pairpoint Park. We will talk about this estuarine environment, the Great Dam removal and more!
Host: Town of Exeter and Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership
Accessibility: We will walk for 1 -1.5 miles, primarily on paved surfaces along the river.
July 16, 5 – 6:30 pm – Creek Farm, Portsmouth
Join us on the Portsmouth Creek Farm Trail with Matt Scaccia of the Society for the Protection of NH Forests. One of Portsmouth’s hidden gems, Creek Farm borders the scenic shoreline of Sagamore Creek and serves as the Forest Society’s Seacoast program center. We will learn about local ecology and conservation efforts plus the area’s long history. The trail passes through forests, marshland and along the shoreline – habitat for small mammals, shorebirds and wading birds.
Host: Society for the Protection of NH’s Forests
Accessibility: We will be walking on uneven ground, including dirt and mowed grass trails, for 1 – 1.5 miles.
July 22, 5 – 6:30 pm – McDonnell Conservation Area, Exeter
Join Conservation and Sustainability Planner Kristen Murphy and avid bird watcher Paul LaCourse for a walk through Exeter’s McDonnell Conservation Area, a successful example of land protection through public-private collaboration. Learn about the challenges of maintaining access and the partnerships that support this vital habitat. The trail follows the river through shady Red Maple Floodplain Forest and into open wet meadows—key breeding grounds for salamanders, frogs, turtles, and more.
Host: Town of Exeter Conservation Commission
Accessibility: We will be walking on a dirt and mowed grass trail for 1 – 1.5 miles.
August 6, 5 – 6:30 pm – Tucker and French Family Forest, Kingston
Explore the Tucker and French Family Forest, a 563-acre landscape rich in ecological diversity. Spanning parts of Kingston, Danville, and Brentwood, this area boasts the highest concentration of natural resource values in the region. Discover upland forests, shrublands, wetlands, vernal pools, and beaver habitats—alongside streams and the adjacent Little River, supporting waterfowl, turtles, and more. Ernie Landry, the SELT volunteer property steward, will lead this walk.
Host: Southeast Land Trust
Accessibility: We will walk on uneven ground for 1 – 1.5 miles.
August 20, 5 – 6:30 pm – Glenn Cove, Greenland
Join Cory Riley, manager of the Great Bay Reserve, for a guided walk through Glenn Cove—a newly improved spot for enjoying the Bay. Learn about the site’s rich history and unique ecology while taking in sweeping views, a brand-new picnic area, and improved access for kayakers and ice fishermen.
Host: Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
Accessibility: We will walk on a mowed grass trail for about half a mile.
