A century ago, heavy logging occurred throughout this area. Railroads transporting materials to and from Manchester scarred the land. Tree stumps dotted the landscape while logs jammed the streams. Workers operated kilns to reduce wood to charcoal. Logging camps and sawmills bustled with activity.

This land that was once industrialized is now reverting back to nature. Keep your eyes open for signs of the past. Are you hiking on a railroad bed? Or are you passing through an old logging camp?

"The Burning" is the site of a large fire that took place around 1900. Located in the western portion of the Wilderness, it is a popular spot for wildlife such as wild turkey, whitetail deer, and black bear. If you love seeing beavers at work, visit Lye Brook Meadows. Look for their carefully constructed beaver huts and dams and listen for the slap of their tails as a signal of their presence.