Over the last 50 years, the Cornish Conservation Commission has been committed to helping Cornish sustain an open land preservation strategy, assisting land-owners to develop land stewardship practices that preserve working farmland, forested landscapes, as well as space for education and recreation. Ultimately these efforts help to maintain the rural character of Cornish, protect its natural resources, and create a long-term benefit to current and future residents of Cornish.

Conservation-minded landowners have contributed greatly to protecting the open and undeveloped landscape of Cornish. Collectively they have protected over 3000 acres to date—and if we include public lands (such as the Town Forest, St. Gaudens National Historical Park, CREA, the Chase Island and Cornish Wildlife Management Areas, and Whitewater Brook Reservoir Lands (~1000 acres total), that translates to a combined total of conserved private and public property equal to around 15% of Cornish. We are thankful for these land-owners for helping to protect our best farmlands and open spaces, as well as other natural resources for the future. Town management (Select Board, Zoning and Planning Committees) and voter sentiment consistently affirm our town’s preservation strategy. For details on private and public land parcels in Cornish see pages 17-19 of the 2013 Natural Resources Inventory (NRI) in the link below.

Read the Cornish NRI and view maps

2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the Blow-Me-Down Snowriders (BMD), a family oriented non-profit organization run by local volunteers. With approximately 56 miles of groomed trails circling through Cornish and Plainfield, and connecting to trails in Claremont, Grantham, and Lebanon, the trail system is open to snowshoers, skiers, and hikers as well as snowmobiles.

The trails pass through beautiful fields and forests, along streams, and across hilltops with views. Naturalists who enjoy studying the landscape, tracking winter animals, and birding will find many opportunities on the BMD trail network. Updated trail maps are available for $5 at the Meriden Deli, and are available for download. There are also trail maps at most of the trail junctions along the network.

The trails utilize Class VI roads and private property by permission, and trail users are asked to ‘Stay on the Trail, or Stay Home” to respect the many landowners who make using the trails possible. There is also a ‘Carry In, Carry Out’ philosophy. The club recently purchased new grooming equipment with grant funds, making the job of maintaining the extensive trail network a little easier.

The BMD leadership is always in need of volunteers to help maintain the trails. Volunteers should contact John Berry, Trail Administrator, johnkberry@comcast.net or 603/543-1118 if interested. To learn more about the BMD, visit their website.

Cornish lies within the Connecticut River Basin, the largest watershed in New England. The basin was formed through mountain building and erosion over millennia, but our current-day landscape was formed 10,000-14,000 years ago by glacial forces. The Connecticut River Valley is the former Glacial Lake Hitchcock, which extended from a natural dam in Rocky Hill, CT northward to St Johnsbury, VT.

On the higher terrain the glaciers eroded away the surface of the region’s hills and mountains to expose the underlying bedrock, outcrops we call ledge. The overlying material was mixed into the glacial ice and carried along as the glaciers moved southward. When the climate warmed and the glaciers retreated in our River Valley, they dropped their load of boulders, gravels, sand, silts and clay that we see today. This resulted in a geology in Cornish that is largely glacial till on top of bedrock. And we wonder why gardening and farming can be so challenging in the Cornish hills!!!! Also known as New England Uplands, the topography of Cornish is underlain by granite, gneiss, schist, slates and shales. This results in soil that is predominantly stony or very stony sandy loams to loams with minimal silt or clay present. Soils are very acidic and also quite shallow, making them often unsuitable for homesites or septic tanks and fields!

About 12,000 years ago, the dam at Rocky Hill broke, and Lake Hitchcock drained into what is now the Connecticut River. Seasonal floods deposited rich alluvial sediments over the ensuing period resulting in prime farmland, found in Cornish along the eastern bank of the river. Separately there is also some prime farmland along the Route 120 corridor in Cornish and smaller areas of suitable farming land scattered throughout the central portion of Town. The glacial forces of millenia have truly influenced what the human inhabitants of Cornish have been able to create ever since the glacial retreat!

Here are three locations for snowshoeing and cross country skiing in Cornish.

Lipfert Forest
Thanks to the Lipfert family, this vast network of privately owned and managed trails is open for public access and enjoyment. The trails are located on land that formerly constituted the King Elm, Balloch, Haubrich and Dahms Farms. The 1940s King Elm Farm Sugar House has been restored and is open to visitors. An extensive trail system connects to the Cornish Town Forest. The property is open to hunting. In season, be sure to leave gates as you found them with chains secured.

Link to Trail Map and Parking Info on Trailfinder Website

Cornish Town Forest
The purpose of the town forest is to preserve undeveloped land for the benefit and enjoyment of the residents of Cornish and visitors. There are trails for hiking, mountain biking, skiing and snowshoeing. The entire forest is open to licensed hunters in season. The town forest is managed by a committee of 3 residents plus a representative from the select board and one from the conservation commission.

Link to Trail Map and Parking Info on Cornish Town Website

St Gaudens National Historic Park
Augustus Saint-Gaudens, one of America’s greatest sculptors, lived here seasonally starting in 1885, and year-round 1900 until his death in 1907. The park has open fields, trails through the woods, and several of Saint-Gaudens bronze sculptures on view throughout the year. The sunsets from the porch of the main house are beautiful!

Link to Trail Map and Parking Info on St. Gaudens Website