Popple Island Wildlife Sanctuary is a 143 acre parcel that includes the western shore of Odiorne Pond. Roughly a quarter of the property is a wetland complex of open water, emergent, shrub swamp, and fen created by a series of beaver dams on the drainage from Odiorne Pond, from these wetlands emerges Lockes Brook, a very pretty and typical woodland brook. The majority of the Sanctuary is comprised of gently sloping hills covered with closed-canopy forests.
NH Audubon conducted forest management in the winter of 2020, which will result in a diversity of habitat types for birds, but which can look surprising to human visitors in the short-term. Please bear with us in the meantime and enjoy the return of birds and other wildlife to this sanctuary.
From Route 28, drive 4.35 miles north of the junction of Route 4 and Route 28 (Epsom traffic circle) and turn east onto Websters Mill Road. Drive on Websters Mill Road for 2.3 miles and turn right (south) onto Locke Road. After 0.65 miles, Locke Road is not maintained; park alongside the road at this point. Continue on foot down Locke Road for about 580 feet; the trailhead is to your left (east).
Lockes Hill Road is now marked Locke Road when coming in from the Webster Mill Road end (but becomes discontinued, where the southern end of this road is still named Lockes Hill Road).
