About the Property
Grafton Pond is a 300+ acre lake with an almost entirely undeveloped shoreline. There are numerous bays and uninhabited islands to explore, offering excellent swimming, fishing, and wildlife-watching opportunities. A state-owned boat launch near the parking area offers the best spot for putting in your canoe or kayak (gas powered motorboats are not permitted) to begin exploring. Loons often nest on this pond in spring and summer, so be sure to keep your distance from any nests and/or parents with young loons. No closer than 300’ is the recommended distance to be sure you are not harassing this threatened bird species. Moose have also been spotted enjoying the pond on quiet mornings. Pack a lunch and paddle out to enjoy it on one of the numerous flat rocks along the pristine shoreline.
Grafton Pond can be very busy on summer weekends, so you may want to try an early weekday morning for the sublimely peaceful experience that this wild pond can deliver. If you don’t have a canoe or kayak, there is also a short hike out to a point on the pond’s shore that begins about 500’ south of the parking area at a green Forest Society gate. If you do plan to paddle, please ensure that your boat is free of any hitchhiking weeds, clean, and drained of all water before you enter Grafton Pond. The pond does not have aquatic invasive plants or animal species at present and we are working hard to keep it that way!
Fishing Guide
This is one of the Forest Society’s larger reservations, and thanks to the donors and other local conservationists, most of the pond frontage is protected. Launch your canoe or kayak at the public landing, and explore the bays and islands. This is warm-water fish habitat, and you’ll enjoy casting for bass and other warm water species around the rocks and fallen trees. Loons nest here, and rarely does one go to Grafton Pond during the summer without seeing or hearing these spectacular birds.
Please see our Visitor Use Guidelines page for a complete list of rules and regulations for Forest Society reservations.
Special Thanks
Hypertherm H.O.P.E Foundation provides generous financial support, as well as volunteer time given by employees, for the Forest Society’s stewardship efforts at Grafton Pond.
Property Details
This generous gift of land ensures the permanent protection of one of the state’s largest mostly undeveloped lakes (234 acres). This reservation surrounding Grafton Pond was the gift of an anonymous donor who wanted to preserve the wilderness pond and its seven miles of shoreline as one of the remaining sanctuaries for nesting loons. An advisory committee was formed that year to raise funds to create an endowment for the management of the property and to offer advice on land use and initial programs. The Forest Society’s emphasis is on preserving important natural areas, improving commercial timber stands, and enhancing wildlife habitat. The Forest Society’s ongoing challenge is to manage the land to conserve and enhance the outstanding recreational and scenic resources of Grafton Pond.
Trail Information
Trail
None
This trail is short (about 0.3 mi, one way) but lovely, with an old stone wall to the north and a variety of young trees throughout. On the ground, fresh moose and deer tracks can often be found. The trail ends at a point on Grafton Pond’s shoreline, where the pond's islands can be seen, along with a stunning view of Mount Cardigan.
From the parking lot adjacent to the Grafton Pond Dam, walk south on Grafton Pond Road for about 500’. A trailhead is on the left, marked by a green metal gate.
Recommended Properties Nearby
Like much of the region, the slopes of Barton Hill were cleared for farm pastures and timber by the mid 1800s. The abandonment of hill farms allowed this land to gradually revert to a forest of poplar, white birch, and pine.