While many visitors may assume that as the capital city of New Hampshire, Concord is a bustling metropolis, the city is actually a very welcoming and beautiful destination. Set along the banks of the famous Merrimack River, Concord boasts many expansive outdoor spaces, a lively arts scene, and some of the best walking trails and bird watching destinations in the state.

With its beautiful landscapes, many rivers and ponds, and well-kept parks, New Hampshire's capital city is the ideal place for trail walking, picnicking, bird watching, and a variety of other peaceful outdoor pursuits. Those of all activity levels can find an enjoyable and restful way to bask in the beautiful New England scenery surrounding Concord.

At Havenwood Heritage Heights, we're proud to call Concord home. As the warm weather starts creeping in around April and May, it becomes the perfect time to get outside and explore all that the greater Concord area has to offer.

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The Best Nature Walks and Trails in Concord

In order to better facilitate the enjoyment of its many walking and hiking trails, the city of Concord, NH maintains a complete guide to local area trails. The skill level and difficulty of each trail varies from easy walking to more rigorous hiking, ensuring seniors of all activity levels can find an enjoyable outdoor experience.

Easy to Moderate Trails

Merrill Park Trail

This easy to moderate trail system features a convenient loop design perfect for a relaxing country walk. Ideal for just about any time of day in the spring, summer, and fall seasons, the Merrill Park trail offers beautiful scenery without demanding terrain. Stop along the trail to photograph the duck pond or take a break at the bridge to enjoy the view. East Concord's Merrill Park also offers covered picnic areas large enough to host outdoor parties and gatherings, making it perfect for a full afternoon outing.

Kiwanis Waterfront Park

Situated along the banks of the Merrimack River, Kiwanis Waterfront Park is a great destination for Concord residents and visitors alike. In addition to several great picnic areas and a fun skateboarding park, you'll find a number of easy trails along the water. To get the most out of your walk and look for birds, bring a blanket and pack a few snacks for a riverside picnic. The park's accessibility and beautiful water views make it ideal for leisurely afternoon strolls.

Moroni Park Trail

Located near Beaver Meadow Golf Course with easy access from Second Street, Moroni Park Trail features a wide path with an easy 1.4-mile hike nestled along the edge of the Merrimack River. Early spring is the best time to check out this fun trail loop, where you can expect to find herons, ducks, beavers, and even otters in the river. Keep in mind that as warm weather progresses, the grass along the trail will continue to grow, making it more difficult to walk in late spring and early summer.

Upton-Morgan State Forest Interpretive Trails

Seniors who desire a relaxing and easy stroll in nature will find the Upton-Morgan State Forest Interpretive Trails well-suited to their abilities while offering beautiful views of the surrounding pine and aspen forest. These groomed trails provide a particularly peaceful walking experience.

Terrill Park Trails

Terrill Park's miles of trails along the banks of the beautiful Merrimack River provide wonderful views of the State Capital Building. These groomed walking paths offer particularly peaceful walks through well-maintained green spaces.

Moderate Trails

Mast Yard State Forest Trails

Immerse yourself in the great outdoors with an afternoon at the Mast Yard State Forest Trails. Here you'll find a relatively easy walking trail that has few changes in elevation but plenty to feast your eyes upon. Plan on spending about two hours total along the trail if you'd like to complete the entire five-mile loop. Don't forget to bring your bird watching gear to catch the spring wildlife staying busy.

Contoocook River Park Trails

Located near the northern Concord village of Penacook, this web of trails crisscross along an old railroad bed, offering spectacular views of the forest, wetlands, and the Contoocook River. The trails are suitable for visitors of all ages and skill levels and are even pet-friendly. During your outdoor excursion, you can expect to discover Canada mayflower and wintergreen on the ground, along with hemlock trees, maples, and birch.

Broken Ground Trails

If you're looking to set out on a great adventure, the Broken Ground Trails are a great destination to explore over a few different outings. With more than six miles of trails, it's easy to spend a full day on the path and realize you'll need to come back again to take in the sights once more. All trails here are pet-friendly and range in difficulty from easy to moderate. Make sure you're prepared to photograph the marshlands, herons, beaver ponds, and ducks during your adventures.

Challenging Trails

Oak Hill Trails

Those interested in a more challenging hike might consider the Oak Hill Trails with its sweeping vistas of Mt. Kearsarge, Ragged Mountain, and Mt. Cardigan. This more rigorous hiking option rewards your effort with spectacular mountain views.

Premier Bird Watching Destinations

Those who wish to get closer to nature have plenty of opportunities for bird watching around Concord. The varied habitats—from riverbanks to forests to wetlands—support diverse bird populations throughout the year.

Silk Farm Sanctuary Trails

There are several trails to choose from at the Silk Farm Sanctuary, making it one of the best destinations for bird watching in Concord. Ranging from a quick 15-minute jaunt to a longer 55-minute walk around Turkey Pond, this former silk farm is now home to the Silk Farm Audubon Center.

Bird Diversity
At least 60 breeding species have been recorded in the area, including the bald eagle and New Hampshire's state bird, the purple finch. The New Hampshire Audubon Society maintains a trail guide for the sanctuary, and you can pick up a bird checklist from the Audubon Center to record your findings.

What to Spot
During your walk, you may expect to spot woodland birds such as black-and-white warblers, tufted titmice, black-capped chickadees, nuthatches, and various warblers. Water birds in the midst of migrating and breeding can also be observed along the easy-to-walk trails.

Beyond Birds
This is also a great destination for those interested in spring blooms, as wildflowers grow abundantly in the area. The delightful and charming trails offer the chance to spot blooming fields of wildflowers in late spring and summer as well as ponds teeming with frogs and salamanders.

Other Excellent Bird Watching Locations

Moroni Park Trail offers excellent opportunities to observe herons, ducks, beavers, and otters along the Merrimack River, particularly in early spring.

Broken Ground Trails features marshlands where you can photograph herons, observe beaver ponds, and spot various duck species.

Contoocook River Park Trails provides diverse habitat where woodland and wetland birds thrive alongside the river and through the forest.

Perfect Parks for Picnicking

Concord's many parks provide the perfect setting for a leisurely late spring or summer picnic. Combine your nature walk with outdoor dining at these scenic locations:

Rollins Park

One of Concord's most picturesque green spaces, Rollins Park offers a lovely gazebo as the perfect spot for shady outdoor dining. The park's well-maintained grounds create an ideal setting for a relaxing afternoon.

White Park

One of Concord's largest parks, White Park offers miles of well-maintained trails if you'd like to take a nice stroll after picnicking. The namesake White Park Pond provides a serene setting for sitting and talking. This expansive green space gives you plenty of room to spread out and enjoy a full day outdoors.

Merrill Park

As mentioned above, East Concord's Merrill Park offers covered picnic areas that are large enough to host outdoor parties and gatherings. The combination of covered areas, beautiful trails, and the scenic duck pond makes this an excellent choice for group outings.

Kiwanis Waterfront Park

With several great picnic areas along the Merrimack River, Kiwanis Waterfront Park is perfect for combining a riverside meal with trail walking. Bring a blanket and pack snacks for a peaceful afternoon by the water.

Planning Your Outdoor Adventures

To make the most of your outdoor activities in Concord, consider these tips:

Best Times to Visit

What to Bring

Trail Etiquette

Discover the Great Outdoors in Concord

At Havenwood Heritage Heights, we aim to create an active and fun atmosphere for our residents within our continuing care retirement community. With so much to see and do in New Hampshire's capital city, it's easy to see why our residents have chosen to enjoy their retirement years here.

Our location provides convenient access to all these beautiful outdoor destinations, and many of our residents regularly enjoy nature walks, bird watching, and picnicking at Concord's parks and trails. The variety of services and programs that we offer—including our hiking and biking club—are designed to promote the well-being and continued independence of our retirees.

With dozens of well-kept parks and miles of trails, Concord has no shortage of places for peaceful outdoor pursuits. Whether you prefer an easy riverside stroll, challenging mountain views, or bird watching at a premier Audubon sanctuary, the greater Concord area offers something for everyone.

Interested in learning more about life at our continuing care retirement community? Please contact us to speak with one of our friendly admissions specialists about our premier Concord senior living options and schedule a tour of our campus today.