Willard Pond
October 26, 2019 by New Hampshire Garden Solutions

The highpoint of my fall foliage viewing comes at Willard Pond in Hancock. I usually visit the pond just before Halloween but this year the trees in lower elevations told me I might want to visit a little earlier. Beeches and oaks predominate here and they seemed to be changing earlier in the low places. If I was to go by the road to the pond I had made a good decision, and it was likely to be a very beautiful afternoon.

Willard Pond is a wildlife sanctuary under the protection of the New Hampshire Audubon Society and it is unusual because of the loons that nest here. There are also bears, moose and deer living here, as well as many bird species, including bald eagles. I’ve never seen a loon here but on this day I heard their haunting cries from clear across the pond. There are no motorboats allowed here so it’s always very quiet. All you hear is the wind and if you’re very lucky, a loon or two.

That’s where we’re going; along the shoreline at the base of that hill.

Here’s a closer look at the hill. The oaks and beeches looked to be in peak color.

I had a little friend join me on the trail. Chipmunks often follow along with people, hopping along from rock to log, chipping the whole way. If I was a hunter I wouldn’t like that because they alert all the other forest creatures that you’re coming. We have billions of acorns falling this year so these little guys won’t have to work quite as hard. Maybe that’s why he had time to follow along with me.

Hobblebush (Viburnum lantanoides) in red and striped maple (Acer pensylvanicum) in yellow made for a pretty scene along the trail.

Speaking of the trail; in most places along its length it is one person wide because the hillside comes right down to the water. It can be wet at times and is always very rough and rocky, so good hiking boots are a must. You can’t see it very well in this photo, but it’s there.

In places huge boulders seem ready to tumble down the hillside, but they have probably rested in the same spot since the last ice age. This one is easily as big as a one car garage. These huge stones are one reason the trail has to be so narrow; no machine I know of could ever move one. Sometimes you have to weave your way through them to move down the trail.

Last year I was a little late and many of the leaves had fallen but this year even the maples still had leaves and the forest couldn’t have been more beautiful. It’s the kind of place you wish you could spend a week in.

Boardwalks are well placed so your feet stay dry but this year it has been so dry not a trickle came down from the hillside.

The trail I follow is on one side of a U shaped bay so you can look across and see another hillside, just as beautiful as the one you’re on. I don’t know if there is a trail on that side but I’d like to find out one day.

There were kayakers on the pond but they were quiet for the most part. A place like this makes you want to speak in whispers, so I wasn’t surprised.

New England asters (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) still bloomed along the pond edges, warmed by the water I would imagine.

Sometimes the trail leads you to just a few feet from the water’s edge.

Leaves were falling by the hundreds but the trees didn’t seem at all bare.

They certainly weren’t bare on the hill across the bay.

I took far too many photos while I was here but it’s hard to stop. Around every bend in the trail there is more of this.

This burnt looking area on a yellow birch was a chaga fungus (Inonotus obliquus) that has been here for years. This fungus has been used medicinally in Russia, China, Korea and Japan for centuries, and it is said to be packed with vitamins and minerals. Recently it has shown promise in cancer research, reducing the size of tumors. In Siberia it is said to be the secret to long life.

I saw some brightly colored turkey tails (Trametes versicolor) on a log. They were a little dry but pretty nonetheless.

A last look at the amazing colors found in this beautiful place.

The old wooden bench has seen better days but I sat here for quite a while, listening to the breeze and the loons and the gentle lapping of the water. You can step outside of yourself here without even realizing it because you become totally immersed in the beauty of the place. I find that time often seems to stand still here, and what I think was an hour was often really two or three. That was the case on this day and I got back much later than I thought I would, but that was fine.

Being in the forest can change everything and it can heal a lot of ills. I hope all of you will have a chance to experience the great joy and serenity found in places like this.
Time doesn’t seem to pass here: it just is. ~J.R.R. Tolkien
Thanks for stopping in.
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Posted in Nature, Scenery / Landscapes | Tagged Canon EOS Rebel T6, Chaga Fungus, Common Loon, Eastern Chipmunk, Fall Colors, Fall Hiking, Hancock New Hampshire, Hobblebush, Mushrooms, Native Plants, Nature, New England Asters, New Hampshire, NH, Olympus Stylus TG-870, Striped maple, Turkey Tail Fungi, Wild Mushrooms, Wildlife Sanctuary at Willard Pond | 28 Comments
Beautiful color. We have to make an effort to find anything like what you have there, but it is possible. Are loons rare in your area? We are too far south for them.
I wouldn’t call the rare but I think loons are endangered here, mostly from eating lead fishing sinkers. Why they eat them I don’t know but they do and when they do they get lead poisoning and die.
Just so lovely. This walk in the woods is one I wish I could take someday. Thank you for sharing this beautiful, peaceful place.
You’re welcome Cheri, I hope you’ll be able to see Willard Pond one day as well. You won’t be sorry!
Your visit to Willard Pond was so well timed! The more beautiful foliage photos there are the better, as far as I am concerned and I really enjoyed this post!
Thank you Clare. The colors have been glorious this year and as of now they seem to go on and on, so you’ll see more!
Good news!
Lovely!
A beautiful post of what looks like a very special place. Thanks for sharing it with us.
You’re welcome Elza. I look forward all year to Willard Pond in the fall!
Beautiful place and images, Allen…I rather enjoy that old table, as well.
Thank you Scott. That’s actually a bench for sitting. A good place for a rest.
What a beautiful place! It does my heart good to that there are protected places such as this.
Thank you Laurie. I agree, and this place will most likely be protected for a very long time.
A splendid array of fall loveliness, Allen. That wobbly looking bench looks to be great spot to meditate. On my first couple backpacking trips I thought the alarm calls of chipmunks were a bird of some sort. They’re very chirpy! Such endearing little critters. Guess you’re getting some pretty chilly weather now huh?
That bench was wobbly, but it’s in a great place to sit. I hope someone tightens it up.
Chipmunks can sound like birds and so can gray squirrels. They both can make quite a lot of different sounds.
We’ve had night temps in the 30s, but days are still mostly in the 60s so it hasn’t been too bad. The flowers are mostly finished but the oaks and beeches are still very beautiful.
I hope you’re warm and are seeing plenty of fall colors.
Willard Pond looks like a beautiful place to visit. I love the chipmunk photo! I remember hiking Mount Greylock, an coming across what seemed like a large city of them, all sounding the alarm as I came down the trail. They are an effective early warming system.
That is a great quote from Tolkien. It describes the forest well.
Thank you Lavinia, Willard Pond is indeed a beautiful place. I’d love to live on it but that isn’t allowed.
Where I work we have chipmunks everywhere. They’ve grown used to seeing so many people all the time and sometimes they’ll come right through an open door.
Muy hermosa y tranquilo!
On Sat, Oct 26, 2019, 5:09 AM New Hampshire Garden Solutions New Hampshire Garden Solutions posted: ” The highpoint of my fall foliage > viewing comes at Willard Pond in Hancock. I usually visit the pond just > before Halloween but this year the trees in lower elevations told me I > might want to visit a little earlier. Beeches and oaks predominate here and > t” >
Thank you Ron, it is very beautiful and quiet at Willard Pond. I hope you can find the same there in Chile.
Glad I don’t live in Santiago.
Me too!
Willard is a favorite place any time of year but you captured the beauty of the season here. I could almost hear the Loons!
Thank you Martha, it’s a real special place!
Thanks for letting us all watch the foliage arrive in our corner of New Hampshire. It’s a gift. Beyond beautiful.
You’re welcome, I’m happy that I could show it to you!
Thanks for taking us to such an idyllic place, for a moment we too feel transformed.
You’re welcome Susan, I’m glad to hear it!