Soucook Sanctuary -

Boisvert and Normand Nature Preserve

Nestled along a quiet bend of the Soucook River, the Soucook Sanctuary encompasses roughly seven acres of mature, never-logged forest within the 79-acre Boisvert & Normand Nature Preserve. This secluded natural area exhibits several key characteristics of old-growth forest: impressive tree size, multi-layered canopy structure, coarse woody debris, and minimal signs of human disturbance.

The overstory is dominated by white pine (Pinus strobus) — several exceeding 30 inches in diameter at breast height — accompanied by stately eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis). Of particular note are mature specimens of ironwood (Carpinus caroliniana), sometimes called musclewood for its smooth, sinewy trunk, reaching up to eight inches in diameter, an unusually large size for this species in New Hampshire.

The forest floor supports a natural accumulation of downed logs, tip-up mounds, and rich duff layers — evidence of centuries of natural processes at work. With no record of past timber harvesting and minimal signs of human alteration, this site offers a rare glimpse into what New England’s riverine forests once looked like.

Adjacent to a serene oxbow of the Soucook River, the Sanctuary’s cool shade, mossy hummocks, cathedral-like canopy and dark medieval look evoke a sense of quiet reverence — an atmosphere that inspired its name. Visitors often describe entering this place as stepping into another world — a living sanctuary where nature’s resilience and continuity are on full display.