The Poole Family Nature Sanctuary trail is a single 2km trail that loops in the woods. There are trail maps available at the trailhead, and like most country trails – a few walking sticks as well. It is marked by bright orange trail markers and yellow marker when you near the exit. The path is slightly overgrown making it hard to distinguish however the markers keep you on the right track.
The best feature of this trail is the diverse flora and it is well described on the interpretive signs place along the path. As noted on the MMLT website: “The well-developed upland forest is composed of sugar maple, ironwood, basswood, red oak, white pine, and hemlock with a scattering of bitternut hickory, beech, white birch, and red maple. Some hemlock, green ash, white pine and sugar maple stands are well over 150 years old.” Due the the marshy areas, there is also an abundance of bright of ferns along the route. Fourteen various species of ferns to be exact.
The view is marked with an information post and a chair to rest on about mid way through the trail. As MMLT explains “From that chair you can look down on the valley below and imagine it covered by the Champlain Sea and walruses hauled up on the rocky shore to your left. The interpretive sign next to the chair explains it was like 10,500 years ago.” This trail also has an abundance of varied flora to discover along the way.
The Poole Family Nature Sanctuary is known to have herons and osprey, so keep an eye out for our fine feathered friends. The property is also home to a few species at risks such as butternut, snapping turtle, painted turtle, monarch butterfly, and the eastern wood pewee.
