Odiorne Point State Park
Description: Visitors to Odiorne will find a sweeping view of the ocean and both sandy and rocky shorelines. A variety of natural communities and systems occur here. Intertidal rocky shore rings much of the shoreline. Maritime cobble beach occurs in a few locations where high berms of cobble and sand are overwashed by storm waves. Small patches of high salt marsh grow in some semi-protected coves along the northern shoreline of the peninsula, and narrow bands of beach grass grassland occur between the beach and the upland forest.
A coastal salt pond marsh, the only remaining example of this community type in NH, is separated from the shoreline by a cobble ridge rising up to 12 Ft. above sea level. Periodic storms breach the ridge and infuse salt water into the marsh, creating brackish conditions. The marsh is dominated by herbaceous plant species that have adapted to brackish marsh conditions. An extensive network of trails wind through the dense vegetation and traverse the park.
The Seacoast Science Center (located in the park) has exhibits relating to the natural and human history of Odiorne and the seacoast area. Other activities in the park include boating, fishing, hiking, biking, nature walks, and cross country skiing.
Directions: Take I-95 north to exit 5, Portsmouth Traffic Circle. Go 1/4 around the circle to Rte. 1 bypass south to Rte. 1 south. Take a left onto 1A south at the traffic lights at Elwyn Road. Follow Rte. 1A south for several miles and Odiorne State Park will be on the left.
Landowner: State of NH – DRED, Division of Parks & Recreation
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rocky beach at Odiorne Point State Park (photo by Ben Kimball)
Odiorne Point State Park site map (click to link to pdf)
(large file, may take a minute to download)
Link: http://nhparks.state.nh.us/explore/state-parks/odiorne-point-state-park.aspx
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