New Hampshire's Stonehouse Forest Is A Unique Place To Visit
By Ken MacGray|Published March 14, 2023
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Ken MacGray
Author
Hey! I'm a freelance writer and guidebook author. I've authored "New Hampshire's 52 With A View - A Hiker's Guide", serve as editor of Appalachian Mountain Club's "Southern New Hampshire Trail Guide", and and am co-editor of the "White Mountain Guide", also for AMC. I'm currently beginning work on the 6th Edition of AMC's Southern New Hampshire Trail Guide, which will be published in 2025. I live in southern New Hampshire and can usually be found wandering throughout the state's mountains and forests.
The southeastern part of the state often gets overlooked due to its lack of tall mountains. But don’t let the lack of open, sweeping summits deter exploration here; there is still much to see. In the small town of Barrington, Stonehouse Forest offers the chance to experience diverse natural features within one of the newest conserved areas in this corner of New Hampshire.
Stonehouse Forest is currently more than 1,700 acres in size and is one of the largest conserved areas in southeastern New Hampshire. It is open year-round for passive recreation such as hiking, cross-country skiing, and mountain biking (on designated trails).
The centerpiece of the forest is Stonehouse Pond and the tall cliff that rises above it. A climb to the top of the cliff reveals excellent views to the northeast.
While Stonehouse Forest is owned and managed by Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire, tiny Stonehouse Pond is under the supervision of the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department for fly fishing.
A longer hike option uses Locke Trail (in combination with other routes) to circumnavigate the forest. While the walk is easy, the overall distance covers almost five miles.
Marsh Road is an unmaintained town road that allows for various loop hikes within the forest, and also connects trails on the north and south ends of the property.