John Hay
Newbury, NH 03255
Plan Your Visit
Activities
Wildlife Viewing
The trail offers scenic vistas of Lake Sunapee where waterfowl, common loons, and other water birds may be seen. Birds associated with mature forests such as wood thrush and veery may be found on the refuge.
Interpretation
Trail guides are available at The Fells Gatehouse for the John Hay Forest Ecology Trail.
Photography
Popular photography opportunities include wildlife on Lake Sunapee such as waterfowl and loons during the spring through fall. Forest species that may be seen include the wood thrush and several other migratory songbirds. A total of 77 species have been seen on the refuge.
Contact Us
For more information call (802) 962-5240.
John Hay National Wildlife Refuge
Route 103A Newbury, NH 03255
From points south and east: Take I-89 north to Exit 9 (Route 103) and go west to Newbury. Then take 103A north roughly 2.2 miles. The Fells and the national wildlife refuge are on your left.
From points north: Follow I-89 south to Exit 12 (Route 11/New London–do not use Exit 12A), turn right at end of ramp and immediately left onto Route 103A south. Follow 103A for roughly 5.6 miles. The Fells and the national wildlife refuge on your right.
About
The John Hay Refuge was established in 1987 when the Service acquired the former summer estate of John Hay, from his daughter-in-law, Alice Hay. John Hay was a politician and statesman, best known as the personal secretary to Abraham Lincoln, Ambassador to Great Britain, and Secretary of State. Mrs. Hay wanted the estate to be set aside “… for public use as an inviolate sanctuary for migratory birds, as a migratory bird and wildlife reservation…” The Refuge originally comprised 164 acres including the family residence, a gate house, lake shore house, and garage. In 2008, the Service transferred 84 acres, including all the buildings to The Fells, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the Hay Family Estate. The remaining 80-acre refuge, when combined with The Fells property, includes the longest stretch of undeveloped shoreline on Lake Sunapee. There is a 0.9-mile interpretive hiking trail created in honor of John Hay’s grandson, also John Hay, who was a well-known naturalist in New England. Habitats include an expansive mature forest, a small meadow, shoreline on Lake Sunapee, and Minute Island, just off shore.
This is an unstaffed refuge that depends on our partnership with The Fells to keep track of the property. Management is primarily custodial, with an emphasis on maintaining the ecology trail in good condition. We have constructed foot bridges, removed hanging trees above the trail, cleared down trees, and installed signage. During development of the comprehensive conservation plan we completed a forest inventory on the property.