At Bow Lake, Strafford brings together the history of waterpower for mills and specific wildlife. Along Pig Lane, visitors can explore traces of the original settlers and the ruins of once-busy mills; the Beaver Pond Loop Trail circles an active beaver dam area. These different themes make the choice of what to explore varied: the waterscape, summer birdlife, beaver habitat, and historic remnants each offer a different focus.
Bow Lake: Origins and Access
Bow Lake is in Strafford; a small part of the lake lies within the boundaries of Northwood. It was formerly called Bow Pond. In the 19th century, it was dammed to harness waterpower for mills, making it larger. Today, the lake covers 1,149 acres. This area gives the body of water a specific scale, while the damming explains its expansion and historical connection to mills. The former name Bow Pond and its current name, Bow Lake, are also part of its history.
There is access to a boat ramp on Bow Lake from Water Street; parking for boat trailers is limited. If you plan to use the ramp with a trailer, take the limited parking into account when planning. This is an important practical consideration, especially for a boating visit.
Birdlife and Nature Trails
A pair of eagles nests on Bennett Island at Bow Lake; several pairs of loons spend every summer on the lake. These two wildlife references differ in location and timing: Bennett Island is where the eagles nest, while summer marks the recurring season for the loons. If you take the season into account when planning your trip, the summer reference is a specific point of guidance, even though the two species do not share the same reference point.
The Beaver Pond Loop Trail circles a large, active beaver dam area. As a loop trail, it offers a different focus from the historical exploration along Pig Lane. There, visitors can explore cellar holes, burial grounds of the original settlers, and the ruins of once-busy mills. The cellar holes and burial grounds point to settlement history; the mill ruins represent earlier mill activity. This offers a choice between two different interests: a loop trail around an active beaver dam area or an exploration of historic traces of human settlement.
River Quality and Habitat
The Isinglass River has the highest rated water quality in the Great Bay watershed. This is a different measure from the area of Bow Lake: 1,149 acres describes the size of a lake, while the rating assesses water quality across the watershed. At Parker Mountain, the Storer Lot provides valuable habitat for bobcats. These nature topics offer different points of focus: the river highlights regional water quality, while the Storer Lot is a habitat for a wildlife species in a named location.
Discover more destinations: Durham, Dover.
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