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New Hampshire is fortunate that most of its land area whether publicly or privately owned is open to hiking. This article will list some of the various owners and some of their attributes. Future articles will go into more detail.
By far the largest Federal landowner is the U.S. Forest Service. The White Mountain National Forest contains over 800,000 acres in New Hampshire and across the border in Maine. Most of the state's better known hiking trails are in or near the National Forest. Camping and campfires are allowed in many locations, but often not in Forest Protection Areas. Roughly half of the trailheads in or near the National Forest charge a parking fee.
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail crosses New Hampshire. Those portions of the trail corridor that were purchased by the National Park Service are managed by the White Mountain National Forest.
The Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site (fee area) has a short nature trail and a longer trail.
There are also several National Wildlife Refuges in New Hampshire, and several flood control reservoirs owned by the Army Corps of Engineers.
The New Hampshire Division of Parks operates numerous parks, beaches, and wayside areas, including trails to the summits of Monadnock, Kearsarge, and Sunapee. Day-use fees ($3 per person 12 and over in 2002, expected to increase in 2005) are charged at many parks, usually during the warmer months only.
The New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands administers over 218 properties in 144 towns including state forests, some of which have no road frontage and no trails. Well-known destinations include Mt. Cardigan and Mt. Belknap. No camping is allowed and no fees are charged except for the Deer Mountain Campground in the Connecticut Lakes State Forest.
The Fish and Game Department owns several Wildlife Management Areas.
The Bureau of Trails administers primarily multi-use trails such as rail-trails and trails in flood control areas.
Belknap County owns the Gunstock Recreation Area with campground and ski lifts. There are a number of summer hiking trails which become fee ski trails in the winter.
Many communities in New Hampshire have owned town forests since colonial times, while others have more recently acquired conservation properties. Most of these are open to the general public although a few require resident parking stickers. One notable holding is land near the summit of Monadnock owned by the town of Jaffrey.
A variety of non-profit groups administer open space with hiking trails. Some of the better known are the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, the Audubon Society of New Hampshire , the Nature Conservancy, and the Lakes Region Conservation Trust. These properties were often conserved because of their unique features and some may not be developed or open to the public. Each group has slightly different objectives and the necessary regulations are usually posted at each area. Generally, they are open daylight hours only and fires are not allowed. These groups are supported by donations and memberships and usually don't charge fees.
The best known tracts of industrial forest land are in the Connecticut Lakes and Mahoosuc Range areas. These lands are generally open for public recreation including the use of an extensive system of gravel haul roads. Give logging trucks the right of way, and no camping or fires are allowed.
One notable industrial forest is the Phillips Brook Backcountry Area, which has been leased for recreation management while logging continues. A yurt is available for rental while day use remains free. Note that this is not that same area where the yurts used to be - that lease was not renewed.
Traditionally hikers have not expected to pay a fee for their sport in New Hampshire, state park fees excluded. Only a few private landowners presently charge an admission fee for hiking, but the growth of fee ski touring areas including snowshoe trails and the general acceptance of the parking fee in the White Mountain National Forest may indicate that fee hiking on private land will become more common.
In New Hampshire, common law allows passive public recreation such as hiking on undeveloped land unless it is posted or the owner asks you to leave. This does not apply to enclosed property or cropland or allow motor vehicles or damage to the property. (See N.H. Trespass Law). Of course, the owner may decide to post property that is abused so please treat it carefully.
One of the greatest hassles for owners is not the actual hiking but the parking of vehicles where they block driveways, damage lawns, etc. If you want to hike near a house which looks occupied, ask where to park if it's not obvious.
I have had good luck asking for permission to hike on posted property, often the owner wants to forbid only hunting or ATVs but all the store had was "No Trespassing" signs. Farmers may be happy to allow access once the crops are harvested. But do ask: one time I wanted to visit a bare summit in a blueberry field but the property was posted. I got the owner's name from the signs and drove to a phone booth. The owner said the blueberries had been harvested and as long as I didn't have a motorcycle or hang glider I was free to go up that day, but asked how many people were with me. I later learned that the retired owner liked to sit on their back porch half a mile away with a telescope and call the police if trespassers were seen.
There are a number of non-profit groups that maintain trails primarily on lands that they do not own. In a way this is harder because you have to please someone other than yourself. By far the largest and most famous is the Appalachian Mountain Club, which in addition to paid crews offers volunteer, chapter, and adopt-a-trail opportunities.
Regional groups include the Randolph Mountain Club in the Northern Presidentials and Crescent Range, the Wonalancet Outdoor Club in the central Sandwich Range near Ferncroft, the Squam Lakes Association in the Squam Range and around the lakes, and the Dartmouth Outing Club from Hanover to Kinsman Notch.
Groups oriented around particular trails include the Monadnock Sunapee Greenway Trail Club on their trail from Monadnock to Sunapee, the Friends of the Wapack on the Wapack Trail from Mount Watatic in Massachusetts to Pack Monadnock in New Hampshire, the Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway Trail Coalition on their 75-mile loop trail in west central New Hampshire, and The Cohos Trail Association in far northern New Hampshire.
Know of any more hiking trail maintainers that have web sites? Tell the world in our Forum.
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