The McDonnell Conservation Area is a 34.7-acre grouping of 7 separate conservation parcels. Three of these parcels are conservation easements, meaning they are privately owned properties for which the Conservation Commission holds a protective easement.

This collection of properties follows along the Exeter River east of Linden Street all the way to Court Street.
From the main parking lot east of Linden Street, the level forested trail follows along the northern side of the Exeter River for about 0.25 miles. At this point, the trail opens up a bit and enters a field that is mowed annually in the late fall. The trail continues through the open fields for another approximately 0.25 miles to a gravel pullout along Court Street.

The trail provides nice shady views along the river’s edge through Red Maple Floodplain Forest before opening up into the field and wet meadows. Two resting benches were provided as part of an Eagle project.

The area provides important habitat for a variety of wildlife such as migratory and upland birds. With the combination of floodplain forest and open wet meadows, this area also provides important breeding areas for a number of amphibians such as salamanders, frogs, and turtles.

In the spring it is a good place to look for wildflowers including the trout lilies with their spotted leaves and Turk’s cap lilies with their nodding yellow heads.