Points of Interest

Great Falls Discovery Center

2 Avenue A
Turners Falls, MA 01376
Phone: 413-863-3221

Public use points:

• Exhibits depicting habitats within the 7.2 million acre Connecticut River watershed. Exhibits take visitors on a “tour” of the Connecticut River watershed beginning at its mouth in Long Island Sound and ending at its source at the Canadian border.
• Canalside Bike Path: 2 mile bike path that begins at the Great Falls Discovery Center and ends in Deerfield, MA.

Nulhegan Basin Division

5396 Rte. 105
Brunswick, Vermont 05905
Phone: 802-962-5240
Fax: 802-962-5006

For current road conditions at the Nulhegan Basin Division, click here.

Public use points:

• Visitor Contact Station with exhibits and restroom facilities. The contact station is open daily, 365 days a year.
• Mollie Beattie Bog Accessible Boardwalk.
• Nulhegan River Trail: a 1-mile interpretive loop departing from the visitor contact station. This is a rustic trail with stone steps and "bog" bridges. This trail is accessible year-round, and is suitable for snowshoeing.
• North Branch Trail: a 4-mile loop bordering the North Branch of the Nulhegan River. It is also a rustic trail and is accessible year-round from a parking area on Vermont Route 105. In addition to snowshoeing, certain segments are also suitable for cross-country skiing.
• Lewis Pond: Scenic pond; fishing; paddling.
• Scenic overlooks at the visitor contact station and Lewis Pond.
• The Kingdom Heritage Trail is a 20+ mile back country trail with scenic vistas. The Trailhead is at the Lewis Pond Overlook. The trail connects to downtown Island Pond.

Pondicherry Division (no address see directions)

1. State Trailhead leading to Cherry Pond & the southern part of the refuge

From Whitefield

Route 116 East from town center, follow airport signs
Turn Right on Hazen Road
Turn Left on Airport Road
Follow Airport Road thru airport
Past a pond then road turns Right
Past runway & hangers on Left then road turns Right
Road turns left at lumber yard.
Entrance to trailhead is 0.6 miles past the lumber yard on the left.
It is just past the Whitefield Power & Light facility. Look for Wildlife viewing sign at entrance.

Driving North on Route 115 from Junction with Route 3 North of Twin Mountain

Turn Left on Airport Road, about 4 miles north of junction. Look for airport sign
Drive 1.4 miles on Airport Road, trailhead is on the Right
If you see Whitefield Power & Light facility you’ve gone too far.

2. Mud Pond Trailhead Parking Lot off Route 116

From the West

0.9 miles East of the Jefferson Town Line sign on Route 116

From the East

0.7 miles West of Whipple Road & 0.5 miles West of the railroad crossing on Route 116

Public use points:

• Mud Pond Trail (located in Jefferson, NH) is a 0.6 mile wheelchair accessible trail.
• The Little Cherry Pond Trail, Shore Path Trail, and Rampart Path are located in the center of the division and are accessible from the Presidential Recreational Trail managed by the New Hampshire Bureau of Trails. This rail-trail can be accessed from trail heads on Airport Road and Route 115A in Jefferson.

Fort River Division

69 Moody Bridge Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Phone: 413-548-8002

Public use points:

• One-mile long accessible loop trail that meanders through diverse successional habitat.
• Scenic overlooks and resting benches located throughout the trail.
• Parking available at the head of the trail.
• Excellent location for wildlife observation and photography.

Know Before You Go

Due to the large area that the Silvio O. Conte National Fish & Wildlife Refuge covers, one can expect large variations in seasonal weather, temperature, and insects. The following suggestions are intended to help make your visit pleasant and enjoyable. It is highly recommended that you check the local weather forecast for the division/unit that you are visiting on the day that you depart.

Items to consider are:

• Appropriate, comfortable clothing
• Comfortable walking or hiking footwear
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Water
• Insect repellent in late spring, summer, and early fall

Emergency announcements of closures or other safety conditions will be posted on the refuge’s home page.

Please note that the Nulhegan Basin Division has limited cell phone coverage.

In An Emergency – Dial 911!

Dial 911 in an emergency while at the refuge. This will connect you with the local police department. Be prepared to provide dispatch with the following information:

• My emergency is: state the emergency
• I am at [Division of Unit name] of the Silvio O. Conte National Fish & Wildlife Refuge
• I am located on the “. . . Trail, Boardwalk, etc.

If you make an emergency call, please stay on the phone until dispatch says you can hang up! The refuge is large and dispatch may need to track you by using your phone signal or verbal assistance from you.