Sculptured Rocks Forest
Introduction
The propertys two notable attributes are its significant site characteristics, and attractive long term timber resource. The land also offers a special location attribute from its adjacent state-owned Sculptured Rocks scenic river area and nearby, Newfound Lake community.
Property highlights include:
Nearly 1.3 miles of scenic river frontage with small cascading falls, deep pools, large boulders, tall timber and rock cliffs.
South facing, high elevation, gentle terrain accessible from existing internal roads for private home building with big potential views.
Significant central New Hampshire footprint spanning roughly 1.5 square miles, including one of the areas highest peaks.
Adjacent popular State Forest land expanding the recreational footprint.
Developing timber resource with an estimated Capital Timber Value of $813,000.
Low carrying cost with taxes of $65...
Low carrying cost with taxes of $654/year.
Subdivision opportunity from the lands long road frontage.
Location
The property is located in the town of Groton, New Hampshire (population 586), near the geographic center of the state and less than 30 minutes from Interstate 93. The general area is well-known for its scenic, undeveloped forestland, abundant state land ownerships, and thriving tourism economy supported by the nearby lakes region and the 850,000-acre White Mountain National Forest.
The forest is situated just a few minutes south of Route 25, a major east-west state highway that leads to Plymouth, NH (population 6,420), the latter located 13 miles to the east of the land and home to Plymouth State University, plus abundant retail shopping options.
The immediate area to the south of the parcel, along Jewell Hill and Sculptured Rocks Roads, is a rural-residential zone supporting a mix of seasonal and year-round homes. Bordering the tracts southeast corner is the popular Sculptured Rocks State Wayside Area, a 272-acre state recreation site famous for its narrow, twisting canyons and potholes carved into the bedrock by the Cockermouth River, which also flows along much of the parcels entire southwestern boundary.
Boston, MA is a 2 hour drive to the southeast, the NY City Region is a 5 hour drive and Lebanon NH is a 1 hour drive to the southwest.
Access
Legal access is provided by Jewell Hill Road, a private road maintained by +/-12 area homeowners that terminates at a gate directly on the boundary line.
The land also benefits from +/-1.3 miles of frontage on Sculptured Rocks Road along its southern boundary. Nearly 2,000 of this frontage is town maintained with the balance being seasonally maintained. Electric power and telephone services are along Jewell Hill and much of the town-maintained section of Sculptured Rocks Road.
An additional access point is provided by approximately 80 of frontage on the paved North Groton Road.
Interior access is provided by +/-1.4 miles of old logging roads providing a solid base for future driveway access for home construction and other uses. A snow machine trail runs through the southern section of the land, including a bridge crossing the Cockermouth River, enhancing recreational opportunities.
Site Description
The property has a predominantly southerly aspect comprised of mostly well-drained, upland soils. Overall terrain is mostly gently sloping allowing for easy access and a wide array of future uses. Some steep terrain and rock out-cropping exists in scattered areas and along some of the riparian zones plus, on the western slopes leading to Jewell Hill.
Elevations range from 800 along the Cockermouth River to nearly 2,000 on the plateau of Jewell Hill in the northeast corner of the tract. Despite the elevation differential, the moderate terrain has allowed for the establishment of an extensive internal trail network that reaches nearly all corners of the parcel, facilitating future property uses.
The parcels southern exposure, moderate terrain, high elevation, level plateaus, and internal access combine to offer an ideal setting for a family compound where outstanding views of the local mountains unfold to the south and west with tree clearing. It also seems possible to extend the internal road to the top of Jewell Hill for homesite development.
The nearly 1.3 miles of frontage along both sides of the Cockermouth River is scenic offering clear running water with small cascading falls, deep pools, large rock boulders, steep rock cliffs and dense forest canopy comprised of old trees.
Timber
The timber asset represents a long-term appreciating resource, capable of storing value and producing future revenue.
The timber data is based on a 2009 inventory with adjustments for growth through 2023 (no harvesting has occurred since the inventory). Stumpage values were assigned to the volumes by Fountains Land in October of 2023, producing a property-wide Capital Timber Value (CTV) of $813,200 ($605/total acre).
A species composition of hardwoods prevails, with hardwoods at 71% and softwoods (hemlock and spruce/fir) at 29% of total volume. Total species composition offers a wide mix but is dominated by The Maples (34%), hemlock (16%), spruce/fir (12%), American beech (10%), yellow birch (9%) and red oak (6%) with other common associates making up the balance.
The average diameter for all products combined is 11.0, with the sawlogs at 13. Average sawlog diameters for key species include sugar maple at 12, red spruce at 10.5, hemlock at 14.5, and red maple at 12.5.
Map
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