SPRING IS ALIVE AND VIBRANT
Bernie Marvin
April 23, 2026
SPRING IS ALIVE AND VIBRANT AT THE BEDELL BRIDGE NATURAL WORLD OF TURTLES, BEAVER, FROGS, GEESE, WILDFLOWERS AND ALL OTHER LIVING THINGS. DON’T MISS IT!
On the previous Sunday this month, it was a delight to take a hike down at the Bedell Bridge State Park, just to silently poke around the perimeter of a major oxbow there, observing ripples and bubbles in the murky waters that hold so much emerging life, along with all the different noises associated with the activities taking hold in and on and around the meandering waterways.
It is now spring and the locus at Bedell Bridge State Park, which is totally surrounded by farmland and a now-full Connecticut River, is a wilderness of nature, unspoiled by miscreants, uncluttered by those who litter and nearly free of snuffed out cigarettes, cans, bottles and other trash, but not all.
Beaver huts and their occupants were busy. Young swamp saplings are continually being chewed down and silently being ferried away to become part of the Beaver’s World at Bedell. I have not yet heard a spring peeper in Piermont, but at Bedell, they are chirping, whistling and peeping throughout the area.
The interior of the intermix of waterways, tangles of ground growth and trees is impossible to get on or into without a helicopter or small boat or kayaking. That was until the family of a Haverhill man decided to construct the Harold Sonnichsen Memorial Trail around the perimeter of part of the vast boggy wetland.
The Harold Sonnichsen Memorial Trail entrance lies to the east of the parking area and consists of a wide path through pristine wetlands that are part of the floodback areas of the Connecticut River and a system of meandering watercourses that work their way through old bayou-type swampy terrain.
The trail area includes a gorgeous selection of wetland flora and wildlife. It is a flat trail that navigates the rim of the wetland trough and consists of a well-maintained grassy path, resting benches and terminates at an overlook that provides a view of the entire view of nature. It spreads out to showcase the Sugar Loaf and Black Mountain range to the north and east.
It is a two-part trail, with one part beginning from the parking lot, the other beginning about 100 feet from the end of the road before it enters the parking lot. They are both excellent viewpoints for seeing the wonders of the waterous nature area.
The trail was conceived, paid for, and presented to the people of New Hampshire by former Haverhill resident, Susan E. S. Brown, a long-time Woodsville High School teacher, and her brother, H. Eric Sonnichsen, with trails being laid out by John Morton, designer of sports and nature trails throughout the world.
The trail entrance is identified by a large, engraved metal sign offering a look at the life of Harold Sonnichsen. He was born in 1912 and died in 2000. A resident of Minnesota, he was, according to his biography, a father, mentor, scientist, and inventor.
If you stop and read the plaques and small signs at the trail area, you will find the trails were built by Ed Paige and Richie Harris of Paige Excavating. Trail designer was John Morton, whom I am acquainted with because we are both members of the VA Hospital Combat Veterans Book Group (he is a sportswriter and author, plus a commentator on Vermont Public Radio. I was not surprised to see his name associated with the design of these trails.)
Also participating in the trail construction were John and Harrison Renfrew, Steve Lackie, Renfrew Building, Chuck Hillner, Chuck’s Custom Wood Designs along with Shane and Dusty Harris, Vermont Wholesale Granite.
The whole property is magnificent. A turtle fellow was at the nature area last week, gaining access on the Sonnichsen Trail. It was a gorgeous day for nature looking and the boggy waterway was filled with noises and activity. Little bubbles here, more over there, a stream of ripples appeared as beavers made their way both under and leaving a small wake on the water, gathering succulent twigs and branches that have just been fresh-cut.
The turtle guy counted 12 turtles he had seen flopping into the water, swimming or sunning themselves on branches sticking out of the water. Some branches had three turtles, enjoying the day. Those who were human-shy jumped from their perch into the water and headed for the bottom, others, who had seen humans walk around and were used to them remained, basking on the limb offering visitors a chance to enjoy looking at their interesting shapes, shells and dozing faces. Snappers were there, too, big ones, been there for years and acted like they owned the place.
A day at Bedell. Wow, what a treat.
On the previous Sunday this month, it was a delight to take a hike down at the Bedell Bridge State Park, just to silently poke around the perimeter of a major oxbow there, observing ripples and bubbles in the murky waters that hold so much emerging life, along with all the different noises associated with the activities taking hold in and on and around the meandering waterways.
It is now spring and the locus at Bedell Bridge State Park, which is totally surrounded by farmland and a now-full Connecticut River, is a wilderness of nature, unspoiled by miscreants, uncluttered by those who litter and nearly free of snuffed out cigarettes, cans, bottles and other trash, but not all.
Beaver huts and their occupants were busy. Young swamp saplings are continually being chewed down and silently being ferried away to become part of the Beaver’s World at Bedell. I have not yet heard a spring peeper in Piermont, but at Bedell, they are chirping, whistling and peeping throughout the area.
The interior of the intermix of waterways, tangles of ground growth and trees is impossible to get on or into without a helicopter or small boat or kayaking. That was until the family of a Haverhill man decided to construct the Harold Sonnichsen Memorial Trail around the perimeter of part of the vast boggy wetland.
The Harold Sonnichsen Memorial Trail entrance lies to the east of the parking area and consists of a wide path through pristine wetlands that are part of the floodback areas of the Connecticut River and a system of meandering watercourses that work their way through old bayou-type swampy terrain.
The trail area includes a gorgeous selection of wetland flora and wildlife. It is a flat trail that navigates the rim of the wetland trough and consists of a well-maintained grassy path, resting benches and terminates at an overlook that provides a view of the entire view of nature. It spreads out to showcase the Sugar Loaf and Black Mountain range to the north and east.
It is a two-part trail, with one part beginning from the parking lot, the other beginning about 100 feet from the end of the road before it enters the parking lot. They are both excellent viewpoints for seeing the wonders of the waterous nature area.
The trail was conceived, paid for, and presented to the people of New Hampshire by former Haverhill resident, Susan E. S. Brown, a long-time Woodsville High School teacher, and her brother, H. Eric Sonnichsen, with trails being laid out by John Morton, designer of sports and nature trails throughout the world.
The trail entrance is identified by a large, engraved metal sign offering a look at the life of Harold Sonnichsen. He was born in 1912 and died in 2000. A resident of Minnesota, he was, according to his biography, a father, mentor, scientist, and inventor.
If you stop and read the plaques and small signs at the trail area, you will find the trails were built by Ed Paige and Richie Harris of Paige Excavating. Trail designer was John Morton, whom I am acquainted with because we are both members of the VA Hospital Combat Veterans Book Group (he is a sportswriter and author, plus a commentator on Vermont Public Radio. I was not surprised to see his name associated with the design of these trails.)
Also participating in the trail construction were John and Harrison Renfrew, Steve Lackie, Renfrew Building, Chuck Hillner, Chuck’s Custom Wood Designs along with Shane and Dusty Harris, Vermont Wholesale Granite.
The whole property is magnificent. A turtle fellow was at the nature area last week, gaining access on the Sonnichsen Trail. It was a gorgeous day for nature looking and the boggy waterway was filled with noises and activity. Little bubbles here, more over there, a stream of ripples appeared as beavers made their way both under and leaving a small wake on the water, gathering succulent twigs and branches that have just been fresh-cut.
The turtle guy counted 12 turtles he had seen flopping into the water, swimming or sunning themselves on branches sticking out of the water. Some branches had three turtles, enjoying the day. Those who were human-shy jumped from their perch into the water and headed for the bottom, others, who had seen humans walk around and were used to them remained, basking on the limb offering visitors a chance to enjoy looking at their interesting shapes, shells and dozing faces. Snappers were there, too, big ones, been there for years and acted like they owned the place.
A day at Bedell. Wow, what a treat.
Two visitors, a man and his mother, walk the perimeter of the Harold Sonnichsen Memorial Trail at the Bedell Bridge State Park in Haverhill. It is a wonderful time of the year there, as the wetland areas and waterways begin their spring awakening to reveal noises, wildlife and flora, including beavers at work incising young tree twigs they drag around to various den locations. The Bridge Weekly/Bernie Marvin.
An Eastern Painted Turtle enjoys a recent warm sunning while resting on a limb at the Bedell Bridge State Park. Contained within the park, where this turtle lives, is the Harold Sonnichsen Memorial Trail, a superb walking trail around the perimeter of some of the meandering waterways. Spencer Marvin courtesy photo.
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