Forest Society and Partners Protect Shelburne Valley and Bald Cap Peak Forests

From the Androscoggin River to the Mahoosuc Range, Mahoosuc Highlands Initiative Conserves 3,700 Acres 

Editor’s Note: This article is condensed and edited from a Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests press release dated September 25, 2023

The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests (SPNHF, or Forest Society) recently completed the permanent protection of the 2,670-acre Shelburne Valley Forest and 1,030-acre Bald Cap Peak Forest, known collectively as the Mahoosuc Highlands Initiative. Rising from the valley floor of the Androscoggin River and reaching the narrow spine of the Mahoosuc Mountains and the Appalachian Trail (AT), the Shelburne Valley and Bald Cap Peak Forests present spectacular views to travelers along Route 2 in Shelburne, a view that exemplifies the rugged beauty of New Hampshire’s North Country.

The Forest Society partnered with The Conservation Fund and the Town of Shelburne’s Conservation Commission to conserve these forestlands. Conserving the Shelburne Valley Forest property has long been a priority for the Shelburne Conservation Commission. “We are delighted that the Mahoosuc Highlands project meets many of the values and goals developed in Shelburne’s master plan, including preservation of open space and protection of the Androscoggin River,” states Conservation Commission Chair Katie Stuart.

With 24.3 miles of stream frontage and the headwaters of Leadmine Brook, the property supports critical cold water stream habitats for wild brook trout, a New Hampshire Species of Greatest Conservation Need. The property consists of diverse riverine habitats including cranberry bogs, red spruce swamps, and silver maple floodplain forests, as well as talus slopes and cliffs that help to support a healthy black bear population.

Bald Cap Peak Forest directly abuts the Forest Society’s Peabody Forest. The property is home to the beloved and historic hiking trails of Peabody Brook, Middle Mountain, Giant Falls, and Bald Cap Peak. The rocky pine ledges of Bald Cap and Middle Mountains, and the 300-foot cascades of Giant Falls, are prominent features of the property. With 2.6 miles of boundary with the AT, the parcel supports a connective corridor between the Mahoosucs and the White Mountain National Forest and builds on existing conserved lands in Shelburne held by the Mahoosuc Land Trust and New Hampshire Fish and Game.

Many local, state, and national organizations and funding programs came together to help facilitate and fund the acquisition and conservation of these lands. The full list of major funders can be found here.

The combined project protects more than 3,700 acres. Both properties are now owned by the Forest Society as a permanently protected forest reservation. The lands will be managed for their long-term, multiple use objectives, including forest management, habitat protection, scenic value, public recreation, and education. The lands will remain open for hiking, hunting, fishing and future forest management. 

Map of Shelburne Forest project provided by SPNHF.