Contributed by Rich Collins
The Winnicut River is one of several tributaries that directly feed the waters of the Great Bay. Few know that there is easy public access thanks to the Weeks Trails conservation area in Greenland, NH.
I decided to take a stroll along the Winnicut with my dogs in tow during early peak foliage season and saw so much beauty along the way, the estuary truly is a treasure.
According to Wikipedia: The Winnicut River is a 9.1 mile long (14.6 km)[1] river in the Seacoast region of New Hampshire in the United States. It is the major southeastern tributary of Great Bay, an estuary connected by way of the tidal Piscataqua River to the Atlantic Ocean.
The Winnicut River rises at the northern outlet of Line Swamp in the town of North Hampton, New Hampshire, just west of Interstate 95. The river flows north through gently rolling fields and large-lot suburban development, eventually entering the town of Greenland. It crosses New Hampshire Route 33 and becomes a tidal river for its remaining mile to Great Bay.
My stroll took me through one of my favorite sections of the Winnicut, which I believe is in that final tidal portion close to the Great Bay itself, adjacent to the Portsmouth Country Club. The marsh at high tide, coupled with terrific clear days, bright sun and fall foliage make for a wonderful stroll with the dogs on a cool Autumn Day. Here are some photos of this amazing area. Enjoy.