Harris Brook Scenic Area

The Enfield Conservation Commission developed the Harris Brook Scenic Area in 2015. Its centerpiece is the Enfield Reservoir, which is actually in Canaan. It was constructed in 1903 and supplied water to Enfield until 1983.

There is an easy, well-blazed new trail around the reservoir with several nice spots for swimming, including right at the beginning. You might see loon, various ducks, and other birds. There has been an active beaver lodge to the left as you first reach the reservoir not far from the spot where the photo below was taken.

To get to Harris Brook from I-89 Exit 17, head east on Route 4 into Enfield. Turn left on Maple Street across from Huse Park and drive past the post office keeping left at the Y. In about a mile you will see a sign on your right for the parking area. From there it is an easy 400 yards to the reservoir on a marked trail.

From the parking area you cross a field, pass through a gate, and hike a short trail to the reservoir. The photo below looks back down this trail toward the gate and field.

When you reach the water you can turn right and walk the length of the dam and then down to the right a short distance to cross a bridge over the Harris Brook outlet. Or you can turn left where you might spot a beaver lodge. The lodge is on the bank at the far right of the photo below. But what is that pile of branches doing in front of the lodge? This photo was taken in November — that pile is the beaver’s winter food supply.

Below are some photos from a clockwise loop of the lake.

At the far side there is a bridge that crosses Harris Brook near where it enters the reservoir.

Here are some female Common Mergansers that were on the reservoir one time I visited.

And here are Hooded Merganser, with one Bufflehead trailing three hoodies in one photo.

All of the above photos were taken in November. When I visited in mid-May I found a number of interesting birds in the field near the parking area. Below are two photos each of: Red-eyed Vireo, Blackpoll Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, and Purple Finch. Also a pair of photos of a Chipping Sparrow from a mid-June visit.

Here are a few photos I took during a short visit in June and some I got during a mid-October hike.