In our last blog post, we exploring three hiking trails in Concord, New Hampshire, that are ideal for soaking in the beautiful New England fall scenery. During hunting season (September through January), 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 prequel) are the best options for fall hiking if you are concerned about venturing out during hunting season.

Silk Farm Audubon Center & Wildlife Sanctuary Trails (Map 24)

In 1972, N.H. Audubon purchased the 15-acre property with a small house; the house became the visitors’ center and land became the wildlife sanctuary. The property is surrounded by land owned by St. Paul’s School. The School granted a license to allow Audubon to use the land to create nature trails to the Great Turkey Pond.

There are three different trails marked by different colored markers: Wendy’s Loop (red markers); Great Turkey Pond Trail (yellow markers); and Old Orchard Trail (blue markers). The trails are 0.4 miles, 1.2 miles, and 0.7 miles respectively. The trails are easy to moderate and offer great opportunities for bird watching.

These trails are accessible at the Audubon Center off of Clinton Street via Silk Farm Road.

Swope Park Trail only (not including the Carter Hill & WEFT connector trails)

The trail system in Swope Park consists of a 1.5-mile loop trail and two summit trails. The trails are moderately hilly with some steady inclines and declines. The blue loop trail offers stunning views of Penacook Lake. The orange and yellow trails go to the summit of Jerry Hill, with excellent views of southwestern New Hampshire. On the yellow summit trail, you will pass the foundation of an observation tower that formerly provided a 360-degree view from the summit of Jerry Hill.

The park is open year-round for non-motorized recreation, mountain biking, hiking, snow shoeing and cross-country skiing.

Marjory Swope Park is dedicated to the memory of Marjory Mason Swope (1940-2007) in celebration of her life as an ardent environmentalist, dedicated conservationist and a civic leader in the City of Concord. The land for the park was dedicated on June 29, 2012, gifted to the City by her husband, John Swope, and their children. The park encompasses 77 acres protected with a conservation easement held by Five Rivers Conservation Trust. The park is open year-round for non-motorized recreation, mountain biking, hiking, snow shoeing and cross-country skiing, and is a favorite in Concord for its stunning views.

Access this trail via Hopkinton Road by heading north onto Long Pond Road and looking for the trailhead parking. From Little Pond Road/Lakeview Drive, head south onto Long Pond Road.

Swope to Winant Connector Trail
This trail connects the trail systems at Winant Park and Swope Park. For the ambitious hiker or runner, it also provides a trail connection to Carter Hill Orchard, Dimond Hill Farm, and the West End Farm Trail (see Trail Map 28 on the City website). However, the trail is a pleasant walk on its own without the continued climbs found at Swope and Winant Parks.

From Winant Park, the trail leaves the uphill side of the parking area next to the brook, and quickly crosses Fisk Road. It follows an old logging access road to a junction. Left brings one to Hopkinton Road and the St. Paul’s School campus. Turning right at the junction, the trail heads toward Swope Park. It gradually climbs over exposed ledges and past an area that was recently logged before reaching a height of land and a vast hay field belonging to St. Paul’s School. The trail turns left to skirt the field and eventually leaves the field behind and crosses a small but lovely seasonal brook. After the brook, the trail follows an old logging road, paralleling a stone wall and rolling across alternating wet drainages (all with trail bridges) and steep small ridges. To the left are views of Jerry Hill and Swope Park, across a recently logged Concord City conservation area.

At the top of steepest and final climb, the trail leaves the old road and goes left through the stone wall. It is a short distance to Long Pond Road, but quite rocky and rugged. The trail crosses Long Pond Road at a slight diagonal and briefly parallels the road before ending just in front of the kiosk at the Swope trailhead.

Access to the connector trail is from the Swope Park trailhead on Long Pond Road (see Map 25 on the City website) or the Winant Park trailhead on Fisk Road (see Map 21 on the City website).

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.

The Best Fall Hiking Trails in Concord NH: Part 2