About the GB5K Challenge
The Great Bay 55K Challenge is a scenic route that takes participants around the Great Bay. Scenic extensions, not included in the 55K Challenge, are marked on the map and described below. Be sure to take photos along your route and post them to your favorite social media with the tag #greatbay55kchallenge or email us your photos.
Great Bay 55K Challenge Maps
You can race anywhere you like for the virtual Great Bay 55K Challenge. Create your own route, use a treadmill, or complete the suggested course and explore the Great Bay, as long as you can run, walk and use your wheelchair safely on your own and without any course support. The 55K Challenge does not need to be completed all at once.
Choose your interval, send in your distance and time, and we will help you keep track of your progress. Details on how to submit times will be sent to registrants via email.
Would you like a Great Bay 55K Turn-by-Turn Description of the entire 55K route?
Great Bay 55K Milestones
Great Bay 55K Milestones
Your journey will start at the Great Bay Discovery Center (89 Depot Road, Greenland, NH), which serves as the conservation-education headquarters for the Great Bay Reserve. A universally accessible trail and boardwalk allow visitors to explore a variety of habitats including upland hardwood forests, freshwater wetlands, salt marsh, and mudflats. Visitors can stand on the deck of a 19th century gundalow replica or wander through the native gardens surrounding the center. Birders find the Discovery Center an excellent location to watch for Great Bay’s wintering Bald Eagle population, migratory warblers, waterfowl, and local pair of Osprey.
Great Bay 55K Challenge Scenic Extensions
Scenic extensions, not included in the 55K Challenge, are marked on the maps provided and described below. We hope you enjoy these detours as you explore the Great Bay Estuary.
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2.70 mile lollipop: Moody Point off of Bay Rd, Newmarket. At mile 6.85, take a right onto Cushing Rd, go about 1 mile and then bear right. Cushing Rd continues to a circle. Stay left on the circle and then take a left onto Eagle Drive which brings you back to Cushing Rd. Take a left onto Cushing Rd and follow it back to Bay Rd.
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2.15 mile out & back: Adams Point to the UNH Jackson Estuarine Lab off of Durham Point Rd, Durham: At mile 10.21 take a right onto Adams Point Rd and follow it out to the Jackson Estuarine Lab parking area and then return to Durham Point Rd.
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1.68 mile lollipop: Deer Meadow off of Durham Point Rd, Durham: At mile 12.24 take a right onto Dear Meadow Rd then left onto Fox Hill Rd and then left onto Meadow Rd. Follow Meadow Rd to the Circle. Then follow Meadow Rd bearing left when you reach Fox Hill Rd and finish at Durham Point Rd.
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1.7 miles loop on trails: Wagon Hill Farm trails, Durham. From Piscataqua Rd (Rt 4) at mile 17.53 turn right into Wagon Hill Farm. Pass through the parking lot and stay left going past the wagon on the hill. Continue bearing left at trail intersections and it will take you down to the shores of the Oyster River and back around past the community vegetable gardens to the parking lot and Piscataqua Rd (Rt. 4).
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1.16 mile out & back: Fox Point Rd, Newington. At mile 23.37 stay straight continuing on Fox Point Rd to a parking lot at the end of the pavement where you should turn around and head back. Unless you have permission, please do not continue on the dirt section of Fox Point Rd as it is private.
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3.76 mile out & back. Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Newington. At mile 24.53 stay straight continuing on Little Bay Rd and then turn right onto Nimble Hill Rd. Continue until you pass through a gate and then turn right onto Arboretum Dr, which takes you to the parking lot at the Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Next, choose option one or two. Option 1 (0.5 mile loop): Peverly Brook Upper Pond Board Walk Loop: As you reach the Refuge parking lot stay left to enter this loop and be sure to spend a moment on the short extension that takes you to the edge of the pond. Option 2 (1.9 mile lollipop loop): Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge Trail. As you reach the Refuge parking lot stay left to take the trail that goes out to where Little Bay and Great Bay meet. There is a lookout on the water with great views of the Bay.
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0.7 mile out and back: Glenn’s Cove, Greenland. From Newington Rd at mile 27.51 take a right onto the driveway that leads to a future home of the Great Bay National Estuarine Reserve educational and research facilities. Enjoy the views of Great Bay at the end of the driveway.