Willard Pond via Tudor Trail

Willard Pond via Tudor Trail

The Willard Pond via Tudor Trail hike at the dePierrefeu-Willard Pond Sanctuary in Antrim, New Hampshire is an easy 2-mile out-and-back hike that follows the entirety of the Tudor Trail along the banks of Willard Pond and features stunning views of the pond.

Trail Name: Tudor Trail.

Location: dePierrefeu-Willard Pond Sanctuary, Willard Pond Road, Antrim NH.

Allowed activities: foot travel only, hiking, birding, geocaching, picnicking, nature study, kayaking, canoeing.

Forbidden activities: no fires, no smoking, no camping, no vehicles, no biking, no horses, no hunting, no firearms, no littering, no disturbing or removing plants or animals, no fishing, no trapping, no swimming.

Hours: Trails are available during daylight hours year round.

Parking and fees: There is ample parking at trailhead. There are no fees to park or use trails.

Pets: Dogs are permitted in designated areas only and must be leashed at all times.

Accessibility:  A very large part of the Tudor Trail is boulder strewn which makes it nearly impossible for wheelchairs or strollers to navigate the path. There are some smooth flatter sections along the trail as well as the typical trip hazards to watch out for.  The substrate is varied and has typical forest hazards to be aware of: roots, multiple rocks of all different sizes, boardwalks over wetter sections.

Sanitation: There is a port-a-potty at the parking area: this may not be available during winter months.  There are no trash bins at the parking trail head or along the trail. Please carry out all waste.

Trail information: There is a trailhead kiosk at the parking area with information about each trail and a posted trail map. The trail blaze markers for the Tudor trail are yellow. There are no maps to take along so hikers may want to print a map before heading out.  A map can be downloaded by following the link below:

http://www.nhaudubon.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/WillardPondsmaller.pdf

Length and features: This hike was an easy 2 mile long hike, done as an out and back trek. This wildlife sanctuary is part of the New Hampshire Audubon Society and this is one of its largest properties at nearly 1700 acres of protected lands.

The Tudor Trail begins off to the left of the pond access road and travels through a wooded area for a short distance and then travels close to Willard Pond for a large part of the hike.  Willard Pond is approximately 100 acres in size and is home to a variety of birds including Wood ducks, Hooded Mergansers and Common Loons. Hikers will enjoy many beautiful views of the Pond. There are two benches placed along the path for resting or just enjoying the peace and quiet while enjoying the lovely views of the pond or listening to the haunting calls of the Loons that nest here.

The Tudor Trail does not have much in the way of elevation changes, but the boulders strewn along the trail make for a very interesting hike. There are lots of high bush blueberries that promise to keep a hiker well fed if visiting during berry season. The trail terminates in a pine peninsula that is somewhat “open” and has a great view of Bald Mountain to the West.