Definitive Destination Lakes by Bill Benner Coos County,

 American Butterflies,Winter 2008  Erik Nielsen (3)

Approximately 900 people live in Pittsburg, NH. Other residents of the area include moose and Pink-edged The region is one of the best spots in the eastern to Sulphurs. Aug. 4, 2006. Connecticut Lakes, see a Hoary Comma. Aug. 21, 2007. Connecticut Lakes, Coos Co., NH. Coos Co., NH.

In the far northern tip of New Hampshire, empty into Long Island Sound. But first, they and uplands intertwine, and along the idyllic and the timber companies that own the for- straddling the Canadian border, the first flow through these sun-dappled forests from pond edges the browsing moose lift their ests. The protected area encompasses 171,000 springs and rills trickle south through the one pool to the next, making their way through heads, streaming with water. acres, or 3% of the state of New Hampshire. spruce groves, tumble over mossy logs, and the four Connecticut (CT) Lakes, into Lake Pittsburg is the closest village of any size, This habitat supports some of the most sought- enter the basin of the Fourth Connecticut Francis and then rambling south. In addition and the gateway to this region for U.S. visi- after butterflies in the East, including Common Lake. Here they form the headwaters of to this beautiful waterway, a variety of other tors, at its southern end. The area from there Roadside-Skipper, Pepper-and-Salt Skipper, the mighty , the largest ponds, sloughs, and streams are scattered north to the south shore of the First CT Lake Common Branded Skipper, Silver-bordered river in New England. Eventually, these through the region. Large settlements are contains most of the amenities, including Fritillary, Atlantis Fritillary, Northern Cres- cool waters find their way south along the absent, but logging roads meander through the lodging and food. North of the First CT Lake, cent, Mustard White, Pink-edged Sulphur, and and New Hampshire border, through woods, connecting camps and homesteads. the land is an almost-wilderness of beauti- no fewer than 6 species of Comma — Gray, and Connecticut, and then This northern tip of New Hampshire, ful boreal habitat. The elevation ranges from Green, Hoary, the uncommon Question Mark along with adjacent northern Maine, consists 1300 feet at Pittsburg to 2360 feet at the Cana- and Eastern, and the very rare Satyr. Also, Overleaf: Main photo, Aug. 20, 2007. of true boreal forest, subtly different than dian border. There are a few mountains that some of the more common species can be very Connecticut Lakes, Coos Co., NH. Photo the mixed deciduous-coniferous forest just top out at over 3000 feet, and Stub Hill (3670 common here. Canadian Tiger Swallowtails by Seth Sweet. Harris’ Checkerspot, a couple of hours farther south. Here in the feet) is the highest. As of October 2003, a sig- can be found puddling in June in groups of up June 20, 2005 and Canadian Tiger CT Lakes region, black and white spruce nificant portion of the area is protected, most to a hundred or more at a time — six hundred Swallowtails, June 19, 2006 (placed on and balsam fir predominate. Bunchberry and as part of a deal between conservation groups at one spot for us on one of our trips! Red- this road via Photoshop) by Eric Nielsen goldthread carpet the mossy forest floor. Bogs and the towns of Pittsburg and Clarksville spotted Admirals can be equally common, and  American Butterflies,Winter 2008