The Loop Trail at the Horse Hill Nature Preserve in Merrimack, New Hampshire is an easy 4.2-mile loop hike that passes along the outer perimeter of the park and also passes Lastowka Pond.
Location: Horse Hill Nature Preserve, 184 Amherst Road, Merrimack NH.
Trail name(s): Loop Trail.
Allowed activities: Picnicking, hiking, nature study, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, mountain biking, geocaching, hunting per NH RSA’s.
WARNING: Hunting is allowed at Horse Hill Nature Preserve. Be safe, wear Hunters orange.
In addition to hunting, the Granite State Bowhunters and the Watanic Bowmen have archery camp that has archery shoots throughout the year: they post when they will be using the camp.
Prohibited activities: No motorized vehicles, No ATV’s, No fires, No target shooting, No electric bicycles, No littering, No trespassing on private property.
Hours: There are no hour’s restrictions on this property.
Parking and fees: There is a massive amount of parking at the trailhead. Equestrians are allowed on the trails and there is plenty of room for parking very large horse trailers. There is no fee to park or use the trails.
Pets: Dogs are allowed on the trails and some dogs may not be leashed. While it is not specified that dogs MUST be leashed, it is posted that they must be “under your control”. Dogs are allowed as long as waste is carried out with the owner/hiker.
Accessibility: There is only a very short section of the Loop Trail where a wheelchair or stroller could navigate. The trail quickly turns to rock strew incline making the trail not wheelchair accessible.
Sanitation: There are no restrooms or trash receptacles. Please carry out all trash.
Trail information: There is an information Kiosk near the parking area that has a map posted of the trails at Horse Hill Nature Preserve. The trail blaze on Loop trail is a white square. Maps are available to take or borrow at the Kiosk or Trail maps can be downloaded or printed by following the link below. The map is on page 2.
http://www.merrimackoutdoors.org/application/files/3615/0759/4432/Horse_Hill.pdf
Length and features: This hike is an easy 4.2 mile trail that loops. The Horse Hill Nature Preserve encompasses a land area that is roughly 563 acres. It consists mostly of mixed hardwood, with some 60 acres of wetlands. This is relatively “Young” forest, with trees ranging in age from 20 to 60 years old. There is an abundance of young birch trees, a favorite of the local beaver(s) that call this Nature Preserve Home. At the Lastowka Pond, visitors will be able to observe a working beaver hut, and observe the associated tree felling activities surrounding the dam. There are several Blue Heron bird nests that inhabit the tall trees, standing like telephone poles out of the pond. There are two benches at the Lastowka pond, one with an information placard. These are lovely spots to rest, or quietly observe the wildlife.
There is a Trailhead marker near the Lastowka Pond and Hikers begin the “loop” of the Loop trail. For this hike, we chose to head southward to the RIGHT and approach the Loop Trail in a counter clockwise direction. Many of the trails within the Preserve were once logging roads and therefore many are wide and flat. There are some hills and slopes, but none are difficult to hike. The Loop trail changes back and forth from a wide path to a single file trail and then back again. The trail is very well marked and there tall green and white wooden “named” markers at all major trail junctions. The Preserve has a Powerline easement, and the Loop Trail crosses over or runs along at four points. Because the forest here is still relatively “young”, plenty of sunlight can still penetrate the forest floor allowing for Blueberries, Huckleberries, Partridgeberries, Winterberries, and several kinds of mushrooms to flourish here. Where the trail crosses over or through the Powerline easement blueberries, wild grapes, blackberries and raspberries are abundant and are a fun trail side nibble.
Shortly after the last Powerline crossing, hikers will come upon the Spaulding Foundation site. There is a fence surrounding the foundation, and thick vegetation obscures the view of the site, however there is a marker on a large rock that explains the historical significance of the site. Further along, the trail crosses over streams and muddy sections. Boards or bridges have been placed to ease bicycle or pedestrian crossing; however these boards and bridges are NOT safe for equestrian crossing.
A beautiful spot to stop for a rest or a picnic is at the Watson Overlook. This spot is just off of the Loop Trail to the right. A bench has been placed here to honor Harold Watson who was a retired Air Force Lt. Col with over 22 years of service. He received two Purple Hearts with more than 25 other awards and decorations. Mr. Watson served on the Horse Hill Nature Preserve Committee and 2006, he and his wife were awarded the Humanitarian Award in recognition of valuable contributions to their community by the NH Charitable foundation. The bench overlooks a stream with two large beaver dams and a tranquil pond below.
Not too far from the junction of the Loop and Twister trails, hikers will see a beaver pond in the making. Newly felled and beaver chewed trees are just by the trail. Evidence of branch dragging can be seen on the forest floor leading to the growing pond. The Loop Trail continues to an information Kiosk that lets you know where you are on the trail. Keeping on the Loop Trail hikers will travel up a small incline and through the woods leading back to the Trail junction at the Lastowka Pond where the Loop will close and hiker can retrace their steps to the parking lot.
There are several trails that spur or loop off of the Loop Trail so visitors can come back time and again to enjoy different combinations of trails. There are multiple fun and challenging geocaches hidden within the Preserves boundaries which make this Nature Preserve a great place for family fun.
