Pisgah State Park

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Pisgah State Park is NH's largest state park system. With almost 62 miles of varied trails within the park, there is something for everyone.
Trail Activity
Walking Hiking Mountain biking Horseback riding Snowshoeing Snowmobiling Atv riding
Length
61.80 miles, Network
Difficulty
Easy, Moderate
Towns
Chesterfield (NH), Hinsdale (NH), Winchester (NH)
Surface
Packed Earth/Dirt, Gravel/Crushed Stone/Cinder, Rock/Ledge, Boardwalk/Bog Bridging, Road, Unpaved
Pets
Permitted on leash
Fees
No

Description

Pisgah State Park includes over 13,300 acres of rough forested terrain, encompassing a complete watershed north of the Ashuelot River. Within the Cheshire County towns of Winchester, Chesterfield and Hinsdale, the park protects seven ponds (popular for fishing), four highland ridges, and numerous wetlands. There are almost 62 miles of multi-use trail.

Pisgah State Park is the largest property in the New Hampshire State Park system and provides many opportunities for exploration on foot, bike, horse, ATV and snowmobile. Loops or out-and-backs on the many trails ensure that there is something for everyone in the family.

To see which trails are open to which uses, go to the Trail Map tab, click Legend and then click Uses. You can highlight the trails where each use is allowed by checking the box beside the use icon.

Hiking:

One popular 8.5 mile loop, the Pisgah Mountain Loop, leaves from the Hinsdale trailhead on the Kilburn Trail and loops up and around Pisgah Mountain. It goes through many of the diverse habitats of Pisgah State Park and awards hikers with outstanding views. 

Biking:

Biking is allowed on many of the woods roads and multi-use trails in the park. Large loops can be made using the Parker Trail and the Old Chesterfield Road. The Snow Brook trail on the east side of the park also allows biking.

Equestrian:

Horses are allowed on many of the same large loops including the Parker Trail and Old Chesterfield Road on the west side of the Park and down Reservoir Road to the southern end of the Park.

Motorized:

The ATV trails are contained to the eastern and southern part of the park including Reservoir, Broad Brook, Old Chesterfield, and Jon Hill Roads.

Other Information

Park staff monitor the impact of motorized and bicycle use on the park seasonally. Please be advised that trails may be closed for mud season or as other conditions warrant. For information about trail status or about equestrian use, call the Bureau of Trails at 603-271-3254 or visit the trail conditions web page.

The park is unstaffed but is open to the public year-round at no charge. The gate remains closed through mud season. Should an emergency arise during your visit, please call 911 for assistance.

Trail Manager

Visit NH State Parks or Friends of Pisgah, Inc. online for more information, or contact:

Friends of Pisgah, Inc
PO Box 134
Chesterfield, NH 03443-0134
View website
New Hampshire Division of Forests & Lands
172 Pembroke Road
Concord, NH 03301
Phone: (603) 271-2214
View website
NH Bureau of Trails
172 Pembroke Road
Concord, NH 03301
Phone: (603) 271-3254
nhtrails@dncr.nh.gov
View website
New Hampshire State Parks
New Hampshire State Parks
172 Pembroke Road
Concord, NH 03301
Phone: (603) 271-3556
nhparks@dncr.nh.gov
View website

Trail Tips

Plan Ahead and Prepare
Know how to choose and use your gear for each trip, factoring in the terrain and conditions.

Trailhead Information

Six trailheads around the park provide year-round options for hiking, mountain biking, ATV and snowmobile use and short, moderate, and long treks into the backcountry.

Chesterfield Trailhead:

To reach the South Woods Trail and the Old Chesterfield Road, start from the Chesterfield Post Office on NH-63, turn onto Old Chesterfield Road. In 0.25 miles bear right onto Horseshoe Road. Go 1.43 miles to the end of the road, the trailhead, and a nice parking area.

Hinsdale Trailhead:

To reach the Davis Hill Trail and Kilburn trails: from the Hinsdale junction of NH-19 and NH-63 go 3.8 miles north to the Kilburn Trailhead parking on the right. (From Chesterfield, go 4.4 miles south on NH-63 from NH-9.) From these trails, you can reach Baker Pond and Baker Pond Trail, Town Forest Trail, and the Pisgah Ridge Trail.

Ashuelot Trailhead:

From the Hinsdale junction of NH-63 and NH-119, 2.17 miles east is the Reservoir Road ATV parking area on the left. (From the Village of Ashuelot's covered bridge and Fenton Hill Road, drive west for 1.4 miles to the Reservoir Road Trailhead on the right.).  Further up Reservoir Road is another parking area where you can access the Hinsdale Trail and the Dogwood Swamp Trail. 

Winchester Trailheads:

To use the Doolittle Trail, from the Winchester junction of Main Street and Richmond Road, cross the Ashuelot River and head north on Elm Street. In 0.7 miles Elm Street turns into Old Chesterfield Road at a 4-way intersection. Continue on Old Chesterfield Road for 2.3 miles to parking just beyond the park's boundary.

Staying on Old Chesterfield Road for another 2.2 miles, you will pass the Nash Trail and the Dogwood Swamp Trail. This is access to Fullam Pond and the Fullam Pond Trail.

Continue the last 0.2 miles to a parking area to access the Chestnut Hill Trail and the Parker Trail. Further up the Old Chesterfield Road, the North Ponds and Lily Pond Trails leave to the left. 

Legend
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