The Best Fall Hiking Trails in Concord NH: Part 1
View from Winant Park in late fall.
Exploring Concord’s over 85 miles of hiking trails and open spaces is the perfect way to soak in the New England fall scenery. The cooler temperatures and beautiful fall foliage paint the perfect backdrop for a short (or long!) hike in New Hampshire’s pristine forests.
However, hunting season runs from September 1 to January, and City of Concord Conservation lands are managed as multi-use land. Hunting is allowed on most properties, but there are some locations where hunting is prohibited. The trails featured in this blog (and its sequel) are the best options for fall hiking if you are concerned about venturing out during hunting season.
Contoocook River Park (Map 5)
What now looks like just an old dirt road through the forest used to hold trolley car tracks. In the woods along the river was the much-loved Contoocook River Amusement Park. For twenty cents in 1893, and up until the 1920s, you could ride the trolley from downtown Concord to enjoy swimming, dancing, boating, roller skating, bowling, and even a steamboat ride up the Contoocook River. The park closed in 1925.
Today, the area is still popular with boaters and fishermen, but little trace of the park remains. If you follow the well-used trail along the banks of the river, into the woods, and beside the hydroelectric canal the shore remains a lovely place to walk, ski, or snowshoe.
The Contoocook River Park trails can be accessed from Electric Avenue in Penacook. The trail system covers about two miles and is very easy walking, as most sections are relatively flat.
Spear’s Park (Map 7)
Lester Spear, a tree farmer, owned and nourished this property for many years. In 1995, he was named Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year by the Merrimack County Tree Farm Committee. Lester and his wife Yvette were deeply concerned that the farm they loved never be developed. They first gave a conservation easement on the land to the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests. Later, the Spears gave the land to the City of Concord, in memory of Lester’s parents, to be designated as Spear’s Park and to be forever open to the public for recreational and educational purposes.
Spear’s Park is accessible from Mountain Road (Route 132) via Sanborn Road. The trails span over approximately two miles in a series of small loops that are moderately flat to moderately hilly. Some of the trails are narrow, made up of foot trails, snowmobile trails and logging roads that connect to the powerline corridor.
The trail system totals approximately 2.6 miles if you hike all of the trails from the Fisk Hill parking lot, but this can be shortened depending upon the route you choose. The trails range from easy to moderate and steep in some places. The trails include forested walking paths leading to a hilltop with open views towards the St. Paul’s School campus and the easterly to the State House.
In 2009, Rivington Winant and his wife Joan donated the 85-acre parcel to the City of Concord, for the creation of a park in honor of former New Hampshire Governor John Winant and his wife Constance. The conservation of the property was a collaborative effort between the Winants, the City, St. Paul’s School, and the Five Rivers Conservation Trust. The entrance to the park is located on St. Paul’s School property on which an access and trail easement was conveyed to the City of Concord. The Five Rivers Conservation Trust holds a conservation easement on the 85-acre parcel.
In addition to the gift of the land, the Winants funded the construction of the trailhead, informational kiosk, and interpretive signs throughout the park. The kiosk and interpretive signs tell the life story of Governor John Winant.
The main parking area of Winant Park is located at 38 Fisk Road via Pleasant Street. Please note that the gate at the parking area is locked daily at sunset and unlocked at sunrise.
Stefanie Breton
Hiking resources from the City of Concord:
About the author: Stefanie Breton is Public Information Officer for the City of Concord, New Hampshire.
Visit Concord NH is an initiative of the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce. This website and accompanying social media profiles showcase the best of NH’s Capital Region to travelers, new residents and long-time fans of Concord. Learn more about the Chamber at concordnhchamber.com.
