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Fish Brook
Features: Maple, birch, oak, hickory and sassafras trees can be found in these serene woods. Tall white pines grow along the ridges and hilltops and the ski loop trail of the adjacent Rafton Reservation passes through lovely hemlock groves. The forest floor is carpeted with ferns, partridgeberry and teaberry. Deer, beaver, fox and numerous bird species have been observed here. Fish Brook and other winding streams flows through this area. The trails pass beaver-dammed swamps and other wetlands. Fish Brook watershed is part of Andover’s public water supply. By protecting these scenic woodlands, AVIS and the Andover Conservation Commission have also helped to maintain the quality of Andover’s drinking water.
History: Land along Fish Brook was purchased by the town in several parcels, in large part funded by a 1967 bond issue.
Size: 235 acres
Location: Between Chandler Road and the Harold Rafton Reservation
Parking: Junction of River Road and Chandler Road
Penguin Park
Features: Images of the English Countryside. Easy family walking through fields to the Shawsheen River. Trail follows the shore of the river through the woods. Picknicking and a toddlers' playground.
Sanborn School Woods
Features: Trails behind the school pass through varied vegetation with a large assortment of tree species. Mostly level and wide, the trails provide excellent beginner x-country ski terrain.
Trail entrance beside the north parking lot is marked by a wooden sign. Trail curves left toward Route 93. At junction trail left goes to north soccer field, right continues toward then turns parallel to Route 93, crosses a bridge (benches nearby) and emerges on the south soccer field. Continue left on trail, over another bridge, to rear parking lot.
South School Woods
Features: Immediately behind the playground are huge white pines, inhibiting undergrowth with their dense shade. Elsewhere young white pines and hardwoods create dense groves filled with the sounds of birds.
History: The Andover and Wilmington Railroad ran through here from 1836 until 1848. When the playing fields were built, part of the rail bed was covered, but much of it is still visible as the long straight trail running south/southwest from the playground. In 1996 Andover’s youth soccer and baseball supporters eyed part of South School woods for sorely needed athletic fields. South School students, however, rallied in support of “their” woods and asked the sports leagues to look elsewhere.
Suggested Walk: Enter the pine grove behind the school’s south parking lot and playground. Trail leaves the grove south into a wide arc, gradually turning right to reach the old railbed. Either return via the railbed for a short walk, or continue on the perimeter trail. A number of small trails leave left toward private property, but continue on the main trail as it loops around, always bearing right, to emerge behind the playground again.
W. Elementary School Woods
Features: You can access the shady trails of this quiet woodland from High Plain Road via a paved Community Path and from Spencer Court via a dirt trail. A third access point is from the NW corner of the West.
Features: Maple, birch, oak, hickory and sassafras trees can be found in these serene woods. Tall white pines grow along the ridges and hilltops and the ski loop trail of the adjacent Rafton Reservation passes through lovely hemlock groves. The forest floor is carpeted with ferns, partridgeberry and teaberry. Deer, beaver, fox and numerous bird species have been observed here. Fish Brook and other winding streams flows through this area. The trails pass beaver-dammed swamps and other wetlands. Fish Brook watershed is part of Andover’s public water supply. By protecting these scenic woodlands, AVIS and the Andover Conservation Commission have also helped to maintain the quality of Andover’s drinking water.
History: Land along Fish Brook was purchased by the town in several parcels, in large part funded by a 1967 bond issue.
Size: 235 acres
Location: Between Chandler Road and the Harold Rafton Reservation
Parking: Junction of River Road and Chandler Road
Penguin Park
Features: Images of the English Countryside. Easy family walking through fields to the Shawsheen River. Trail follows the shore of the river through the woods. Picknicking and a toddlers' playground.
Sanborn School Woods
Features: Trails behind the school pass through varied vegetation with a large assortment of tree species. Mostly level and wide, the trails provide excellent beginner x-country ski terrain.
Trail entrance beside the north parking lot is marked by a wooden sign. Trail curves left toward Route 93. At junction trail left goes to north soccer field, right continues toward then turns parallel to Route 93, crosses a bridge (benches nearby) and emerges on the south soccer field. Continue left on trail, over another bridge, to rear parking lot.
South School Woods
Features: Immediately behind the playground are huge white pines, inhibiting undergrowth with their dense shade. Elsewhere young white pines and hardwoods create dense groves filled with the sounds of birds.
History: The Andover and Wilmington Railroad ran through here from 1836 until 1848. When the playing fields were built, part of the rail bed was covered, but much of it is still visible as the long straight trail running south/southwest from the playground. In 1996 Andover’s youth soccer and baseball supporters eyed part of South School woods for sorely needed athletic fields. South School students, however, rallied in support of “their” woods and asked the sports leagues to look elsewhere.
Suggested Walk: Enter the pine grove behind the school’s south parking lot and playground. Trail leaves the grove south into a wide arc, gradually turning right to reach the old railbed. Either return via the railbed for a short walk, or continue on the perimeter trail. A number of small trails leave left toward private property, but continue on the main trail as it loops around, always bearing right, to emerge behind the playground again.
W. Elementary School Woods
Features: You can access the shady trails of this quiet woodland from High Plain Road via a paved Community Path and from Spencer Court via a dirt trail. A third access point is from the NW corner of the West.