Fremont Trails

The Fremont Trails at the Fremont Conservation Land in Peterborough, New Hampshire is an easy 2.5-mile out-and-back trail that features vistas of the surrounding mountains along with views along a beaver pond.

Trail name: Fremont trails.

Location:  The Fremont Conservation Land, Old Jaffrey Road, Peterborough NH.

Allowed activities:  hiking, geocaching, nature study, picnicking, snowshoeing.

Forbidden activities:  no atvs.

Hours:  Daylight use only.

Fees and Parking:  There are no fees to park or use trails. Parking is Limited.

Pets: Dogs are allowed and are supposed to be kept on a leash at all times. Waste must be picked up and carried with visitor. Please do not leave dog waste in bags along the trail to “pick up on the way back”. Remove waste as it happens and take it with you! Violators are subject to hefty fines.

Accessibility:  The trails are not wheelchair accessible.

Sanitation: No restrooms or trash bin. Please carry out all waste.

Length and Trail information:  The Fremont Conservation Land is a 172 acre nature preserve.  The trail is an easy 2.7 mile trek done as an “out and back” hike. There are no trail blaze markers along the trail and the trail name is not posted.  Although there are no markers, the trail is easy to follow because it is well maintained and well-traveled. This area is bordered by private property, and visitors should be careful not to venture too far off of the trail especially if they happen to be searching for the geocaches that are hidden here.

The trail begins through an old stone wall where a sign is posted reminding dog owners not to let their dogs soil the trail and another sign prohibiting use by ATV’s.  Across from the signs is a mail box that holds a visitors log where hikers can leave a message if they care to and information about invasive plants.

Around the edges of the Fremont field visitors will notice numerous nesting boxes. These boxes were placed here to help encourage bluebirds and tree swallows to raise their chicks here.  The caretakers of this land cut back the field each summer in an effort encourage the growth of milkweed which is the only food source for the offspring of the Monarch Butterflies. In the fall, goldenrod grows here which will help to support the bee population and other vital pollinators. Nature lovers will not doubt notice the many different wild flowers growing in the field and along the trail including pink and white clover, dianthus, yarrow, buttercup and of course, milkweed. At the other side of the field, another sign is posted reminding hikers not to let their dogs contaminate the area. They are VERY serious about keeping this area clean of all dog waste, so please do your part when you visit and do not leave dog waste along the trails.

The trail leads down a small hill, over a culvert and past a marsh area with a small beaver pond and through to another field.  A memorial “Picnic Rock” bench has been placed in this spot, which is known as Sunrise Knoll.  The memorial bench dedicated to Richard C. Johnson has been engraved to read “Welcome to my world”.  The bench has been placed near a large pine tree on the field to the right. This is a lovely spot to stop and sit, watch the sparrows darting around feeding on bugs or listen for the call of the Red Winged Black birds nesting in the nearby beaver pond.  Beyond the bench, the path leads to edge of the field and into the woods and passing under a powerline and back into the forest.

The trail leads through a mixed forest known as “Wolf Pine Heights” offering plenty of shade on a hot day. The substrate is mostly flat and wide and easy to hike with few trip hazards. There are some spots that are gravely, most likely caused by erosion due to spring run-off.  The change in elevation is gradual and not prolonged.  A small low rock cairn marks a junction point in the trail.  If hikers take the path to the right of the cairn, the trail will lead them to a small scenic pond complete with beautiful blooming water lilies, croaking frogs, a Beaver dam and hut.  There is no human development at this pond and the habitat provided creates a perfect spot to observe waterfowl if you can approach the pond quietly.

Retrace your steps back to the cairn marker and take the trail to the right (in the original direction); hikers will come to yet another small, low rock cairn that marks an interesting old cellar hole. There is a fun geocache hidden nearby.  The cellar-hole and rock cairn mark the end of the official trail at Old Wilder Road. From this point we turned around to head back through the forest and fields to our parking spot.