Excellent location for spotting Black-crowned Night-Herons, Ospreys, and migrating ducks.

Walking the tree-lined trails at Skunknett River Wildlife Sanctuary, 147 acres, you can witness nature reclaiming former mill sites and explore a fragrant Atlantic White Cedar swamp. 

The name "Skunknett" comes from an Algonquin word that means a fishing place for eel. Indeed, American Eels may be seen in the sanctuary’s waterways.

• Peaceful views of West Pond from the Overlook Trail.
• Three historic mill sites and abandoned cranberry bogs.
• Springtime chorusing frogs in vernal pools.

Explore 1 mile of trails including the Overlook Trail, where you can see views of West Pond where Black-crowned Night-Herons, Ospreys, and migrating ducks may be spotted.

Overlook Trail
Be sure to catch the peaceful views of West Pond via this short trail. This is a good spot to observe Black-crowned Night-Herons, Ospreys, and migrating ducks.

Atlantic White Cedar Stand
Since the breach of Skunknett’s three dams. Atlantic White Cedars, which are increasingly rare along the Atlantic coast, are regenerating along the swamp’s moist edges. You can see cedars of varying sizes at this location and enjoy their unique fragrance.

Holly Trail
This narrow trail, so named for the American hollies surrounding it, is the site of a vernal pool. These unique wetlands are breeding sites for a variety of amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates. Many of these creatures depend on temporary bodies of water for their existence. Permanent water bodies are home to fish, which consume their eggs and larvae. Notice the floating island in the center of this pool and listen for the chorusing male wood frogs here in March and April.

The AllTrails website has descriptions and maps of hikes at Skunknett River Wildlife Sanctuary.

Skunknett River Wildlife Sanctuary (Birdability) webpage indicates the trails are not wheelchair accessible.