Fremont

A recently protected 343-acre SELT reservation with a network of trails through dense forest and wetlands. The beaver ponds create seasonal flooding that makes navigation an adventure, and you'll often have the place to yourself. Limited parking at a gate keeps crowds away, but the remote headwaters of Brown Brook and numerous vernal pools reward those who make the effort.

Nearly 575 acres of protected wetlands and forest with excellent wildlife viewing from scenic overlooks into the swamp. The Garrison Trail offers bird watching opportunities and connects multiple forest preserves. This regionally significant wetland complex feeds into the Great Bay estuary and provides critical habitat that's surprisingly accessible yet little-known.

Hidden remnants of a Cold War-era B-52 that crashed in Spruce Swamp on August 10, 1959. All eight crew members survived by parachuting to safety before the plane exploded and burned four acres. Small pieces of wreckage can still be found scattered through the swamp, though visitors must leave artifacts undisturbed. A state historical marker now commemorates this dramatic but little-known incident.

A converted railroad corridor that offers a different experience than typical rail trails - expect sandy sections that make biking challenging but create perfect conditions for spotting wildlife tracks. The trail passes through forested wetlands and crosses old railroad infrastructure. South of Fremont, it's shared with ATVs, but the northern section near town provides peaceful walking through canopied forest.