Walking and Hiking
Monadnock region is a lovely setting for walking and hiking
7 listings
Hancock, NH
Harris Center for Conservation Education
King's Highway 603-532-2400Nature center offering nature programs kayaking, hikes,and walks. Open year-round.
Greenville, NH
Greenville Recreational Rail Trail
Access at Adams Hill Road and Greenville Road / Route 31This two-mile trail begins on the East side of Route 31 in Greenville and ends 2.2 miles east in Mason. The trail provides beautiful views of small ponds fed by the Souhegan river. This is part of the longer, 7-mile Mason Railroad Trail from Townsend, MA, to Greenville, NH.
Uses: Hiking biking, horseback riding, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, mushing ATV riding and mountain biking.
There is no designated parking, but some parking is available at road crossings. See trail map for directions.
Fitzwilliam, NH
Little Monadnock Mountain Hike
Via Rhododendrom State Park, 424 Rockwood Pond Road 603-532-8862You can reach the apex of Little Monadnock through Rhododendron State Park. The hike is about 1.2 miles starting from the park entrance. Elevation is 700 feet.
Directions Enter Rhododendron State Park between the two stone pillars at the edge of the parking lot. Travel straight ahead on a well-graded trail for about 0.2 of a mile to a trail junction with a sign indicating the trail to Little Monadnock. Bear right at this sign and follow the orange blazes. Long white blazes that also indicate the trail. The Trail climbs through old fields overgrown by the woods. The trail is steep at times but easily traveled except for one short climb over a rocky ledge. At the summit, you will see views of Mount Monadnock to the northeast. See hike 1 on this map.
Hancock, NH
East Side Trails from the Harris Center
Harris Center for Conservation Education, 83 King's Hwy. 603-525-3394The East Side trail system from the Harris Center offers easy hiking to huge glacial boulders through cool hardwood and hemlock forests. Trail lengths vary from 0.4 to 1.6 miles. You may cobble together a loop hike of up to 4.5 miles via Old King’s Highway and the Dandelyon, Boulder Train Loop, Babbitt, and Channing Trails. Map.
Jaffrey, NH
Monadnock State Park
169 Poole Road 603-532-8862Hiking on Mount Monadnock; camping; cross country skiing; open year-round
Monadnock State Park is famous for its many miles of hiking trails; it is sometimes called the most-often hiked peak in New England. Monadnock State Park is open year-round, and allows cross-country skiing in winter. Pets are not allowed in the park.
See full listing for Mount Mondanock State Park.
Chesterfield, NH
Chesterfield Gorge Natural Area
1823 Route 9 603-363-8373This gorge lies deep into the area's bedrock. There are walking paths along the gorge as well as picnic areas. A short distance from the Visitor Center is trail which is 0.7 mile and follows Wilde Brook through Chesterfield Gorge.
Peterborough, NH
Wapack National Wildlife Refuge
Route 101This preserve offers ample opportunity for wildlife observation, particularly of migrating hawks. Hiking trails lead past forested land, a bog, a swamp and a rock cliff. These trails are available in the winter for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing as well. Camping and open fires are not permitted.