The North Springfield Bog is a boreal kettle bog, an artifact of the last glacial age 10,000 years ago. Bogs lack drainage, and precipitation is the only source of water. Bog water is acidic and lacks oxygen. Sphagnum mosses are the dominant plants forming a thick layer of peat.
To allow close-up viewing of the many interesting bog plants, including some remarkably large pitcher plants, AMAS constructed a boardwalk through the bog. A walking trail leads to and around the bog with many views of both the bog as well as surrounding spruce and pine groves.