Favorite Trails

Bear Brook is better than the average. The sheer scale of park means there’s plenty of room for runners.

While many know its name from the haunting echoes of the New Hampshire Public Radio podcast by the same name, Bear Brook State Park is a paradise for trail runners.   

I first fell in love with the trails here when training for the inaugural Bear Brook Marathon in 2012, a race still held here each September. I’ve spent co

untless hours in the 15 years since exploring what often feels like a private 10,000-acre playground. With more than 40 miles of flowing single and double track meandering through the lush woods of southern New Hampshire, it’s the rare place where you can still find solitude without traveling far. 

The park’s magic lies in its diversity. On the northerly edge, the Bear Brook and Hemlock trails trace the contours of the park’s namesake waterway. Nearby is the strenuous stair climb to the summit of Catamount Hill, while Ledge Trail winds behind Bear Hill and along the base of a jagged rock formation, and Chipmunk Trail skitters back and forth through the forest. At the southerly edge of the park is Hall Mountain, and not far from Podunk Road the intrepid searcher can find the Civilian Conservation Corps’ Lost Camp and the Leavitt Cemetery – relics from another time.

The water-rich park is dotted with beaver ponds and criss-crossed with streams and marshes. These make for frequent water crossings and summer swimming at the campground beach. They also make great breeding grounds for bugs and if you plan to brave the park in late spring through mid-summer; the deer flies are as dedicated as the runners. Try deer fly patches or hang a Bounce dryer sheet from the back of your hat or pack as deterrents.

There are seasonal bathrooms and running water at the Beaver Pond Campground. While you may share the “flow” with mountain bikers — many of whom volunteer with NEMBA to maintain these pristine paths — the sheer scale of the park means there is plenty of room for everyone.

Plan your visit: NHStateParks.org – Trail map, parking information, day use/reservation fees and additional details.
Park office: 603-485-9869