NH Poet Laureate Jennifer Militello will present her new book Identifying the Pathogen: An Inquiry tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Gibson’s Bookstore, 45 S. Main St. in Concord, gibsonsbookstore.com.
Thursday, Feb. 5
Comedian Katherine Blanford takes the stage at the BNH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com) tonight at 7:30 p.m. Blanford is known for her “human golden retriever presence” on stage. Tickets are $32 in advance through the Capitol Center’s website or $37 at the door.
Friday, Feb. 6
Lotus Land: the definitive Rush tribute act performs at the Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, 437-5100, tupelomusichall.com) tonight and tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 7, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $50 through the Music Hall’s website.
Friday, Feb. 6
The Jewel Music Venue (61 Canal St., Manchester, 819-9336, jewelmusicvenue.com) hosts Loud Entertainment’s 2-Year Birthday Bash tonight starting at 7 p.m., featuring Hit-N-Run: Tickets are $20.98 through eventbrite.com.
Friday, Feb. 6
Mentalist Jon Stetson performs a live 18+ show of mysterious mental abilities tonight at 8 p.m. at Chunky’s Cinema Pub (707 Huse Road, Manchester, 206-3888, chunkys.com). Tickets are $35 through the Chunky’s website
Saturday, Feb. 7
Local author Robert B. Perreault will be signing copies of his books from 1 to 4 p.m. today at Barnes & Noble in Manchester (1741 S. Willow St., bn.com). His latest, Courtship in Purgatory, is his first historical romance novel. Perreault is also the author of nonfiction titles about Manchester history.
Sunday, Feb. 8
Join the High School Musical sing-along at the BNH Stage (16 S Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com) today at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance through the Capitol Center’s website, or $20 at the door.
Sunday, Feb. 8
Watch your New England Patriots face off agains the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Sunday, Feb. 8, starting at 6:30 p.m. The game airs on NBC and via Peacock.
Monday, Feb. 9
The Glimpse Gallery, 4 Park St. in Concord, theglimpsegallery.com, opens its newest show with the works of six featured artists — Barbara Morse, Linda Graham, Larry Smukler, Peter Sandback, Tessa Magnuson and Bonnie Beauchamp-Cooke — today. The show runs through March 9. See the website to RSVP to a Feb. 21 opening reception and to make an appointment to see the exhibit.
Save the Date! Friday, Feb. 13 The Community Players of Concord NH will present Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson Apt 2D at the Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St., Concord, 228-2793, theaudi.org) at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13, and Saturday, Feb. 14, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15. Oddball female roommates Sherlock Holmes and Joan Watson join forces solving mysteries and kicking butts until they come face to face with the villain who seems to have all the answers. Tickets are $22 for adults and $20 for guests under 13 or over 64 years old. Visit communityplayersofconcord.org or buy tickets at the box office 90 minutes prior to curtain.
Featured photo: Courtship in Purgatory by Robert B. Perreault
In a Facebook post on Feb. 2, Greater Nashua Mental Health said that the 440 Amherst St. location in Nashua is closed due to the fire on Monday afternoon. Three firefighters were injured and the building was destroyed in the fire after a natural gas leak and explosion, according to a Feb. 3 report on WMUR. Greater Nashua Mental Health advised patients to call during business hours if they are scheduled for in-person appointments at the 440 Amherst St. location; Greater Nashua Mental Health locations on Prospect and Pine streets are “operating as usual,” the Facebook post said. See gnmhc.org.
Discover science
SEE Science Center, 200 Bedford St. in Manchester, will hold a Community Discovery Night on Friday, Feb. 13, from 5 to 8 p.m. “During this free event SEE is inviting all members of the community to discover Black influence in Science Technology Engineering and Math,” according to a press release. Sign up by Wednesday, Feb. 11, at see-sciencecenter.org. This family event will feature food, demonstrations, activity stations, a scavenger hunt and more, the website said. “SEE will continue the celebration during February to celebrate Black History Month. The scavenger hunt will be available daily and pop-up activities will be available on select weekend and vacation days,” the press release said. SEE will be open extra days for school breaks in February: Monday, Feb. 16, and Monday, Feb. 23, from 10 a.m to 4 p.m., the release said.
Farming conference
The Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Hampshire will hold its 24th Annual Winter Conference on Saturday, March 7, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Colby-Sawyer College in New London, according to a press release. The conference, featuring the theme “Taking Root: Nourishing Community,” is open to farmers, gardeners, food system professionals, organic advocates and others, and will feature more than 20 workshops, the release said. The day also features a Green Market Fair and a keynote with David Trumble of Good Earth Farm and Sara Hansen of Kearsarge Gore Farm, the release said. See nofanh.org for tickets.
Housing conference
New Hampshire Housing will hold a homeownership conference at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord on Wednesday, March 18, from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., according to an email about the event. “The agenda includes discussions on housing affordability, property taxes, and housing finance trends, along with a keynote fireside chat,” the email said. Tickets cost $75 and include breakfast. See nhhfa.org.
The Eleventh Letter Writing Gallery, 146 N. Main St. in Concord, in partnership with the Women’s Caucus for Art/New Hampshire Chapter, will hold a free drop-in Valentine’s Day Art Event on Saturday, Feb. 7, from 1 to 3 p.m., with supplies provided to decorate an “I Am Grateful For You” postcard, according to a press release. See theeleventhletter.com.
“Paint Your Partner” at Stark Brewing, 500 N. Commercial St. in Manchester, on Saturday, Feb. 14, 1 to 3 p.m., during a special Valentine’s Day event from Junior Service League of Concord and NH Craft Club. Registration for a pair costs $45 — “bring a significant other or a friend!” the press release said — with craft materials provided, and Stark Brewing’s menu will be available to purchase from. See jslconcord.org/upcoming-events.
Spyglass Brewing Co., 306 Innovative Way in Nashua, will hold a competitive puzzle night on Thursday, Feb. 5, from 6 to 8 p.m, according to spyglassbrewing.com. The fastest team (of up to four players) to put together a 500-piece puzzle wins a prize and bragging rights; limited spots available, the website said.
After his band The Ghost of Paul Revere called it quits after a dozen years together, singer, songwriter and guitarist Griffin William Sherry went solo. His debut album, Hundred Mile Wilderness, was greeted as one of 2024’s best. His live shows, sprinkled with Ghost songs, were equally lauded, and his fan base grew steadily.
However, as a recent phone interview got underway from Sherry’s home in Augusta, Maine, Sherry’s old band was top of mind. In mid-January, news broke of a fall reunion show and a reboot of Ghostland, the annual festival that ended with the dissolution of the much-loved band, amidst hopes it might carry on without them.
“That cat just ran out of the bag,” a laughing Sherry said. “Yeah, we’re getting the band back together, Blues Brothers style. Carrie Fisher will be exhumed from the grave and chase us down with a missile launcher…. We always wanted to play a show together and kind of kept that door open in case.”
He’s especially pleased that his band will perform at Ghostland, on Sept. 6 at Thompson’s Point in Portland, Maine. “That was something I really wanted to happen, for people that might not have been paying attention the last couple of years to see what I’ve been working on.”
His solo material is story-forward and personal, like “Roll Down Slow,” a hard-luck tale drawn from life on the road.
“As a touring musician, you tend to meet a certain type of people that tend to go pretty hard after the sun goes down,” he said. “That kind of flagrant irresponsibility was super interesting to me, and not something I was unfamiliar with.”
Written for his wife the morning after Roe v. Wade was overturned, “We Will Fight” is a defiant love song that resonates at shows. “I use it as an opportunity to platform both Planned Parenthood and also what I see as a civic duty to stand up for your neighbors and not let the times roll over you,” he said. “I think it’s pretty important right now.”
Hundred Mile Wilderness was recorded in Nashville’s legendary Studio B with producer Eddie Spear, who helmed Luke Bryan’s multi-platinum American Heartbreak and also worked with Brandi Carlile, Sierra Ferrell and breakout star Jesse Welles. Sherry played with a band of ace session players.
“My Juliet” is a breezy looking-for-love country song with a character highly informed by the studio band. Sherry allowed that many tracks reflect what he termed “the Nashville bluegrass [and] Americana sound that’s popular right now,” but his spirit, along with his original vision, still guides the effort.
“A lot of the stuff that I had brought to Eddie we ended up using on the final record,” he said. “The instrumentation we chose, certainly having Billy Contreras on fiddle, made it seem a little bit more like a bluegrass record. But that band … I can’t speak highly enough about all those guys.”
Sherry and his touring band, including guitarist Zachary Bence and bass player McCrae Hathaway, are at Manchester’s Rex Theatre on Jan. 30. He was at the venue around the same time last year, bringing filmmaker Ernest Thompson on stage to do “Cross The Bridge,” a song he co-wrote with Joe Delault and Thompson for the movie The Constituent.
Several new songs have made their way into sets lately, including the dreamy “Cathedral of Pine,” released in November, and “Moline,” a brooding ballad yet to be recorded. Sherry explained that he enjoys sharing his works in progress with an audience, and gaining insights from the experience.
“I don’t feel like a song is truly written until I’ve performed it in front of a bunch of people, to see where the reactions are and what needs to be changed or reinforced,” he said. “So I love playing songs for crowds before we put them on a record, so I have a little bit more of an idea what that song’s identity is.”
Griffin William Sherry When: Friday, Jan. 30, 7:30 p.m. Where: Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester Tickets: $40 at palacetheatre.org
Featured photo: Griffin William Sherry. Courtesy photo.
One of the attractions of going out for Korean barbecue or hot pot is the ability to completely design your perfect dish — literally from soup to nuts. OBA Korean BBQ & Hot Pot on South Willow Street in Manchester, which opened in mid-December, sets its customers up to make fundamental decisions about their meals, from the ingredients in their dishes to how they are cooked.
According to OBA’s Francesca Cardeo, customers will select ingredients for their meals and cook them themselves at their table. Each table is fitted out with a grill for cooking proteins and recessed heating elements where each customer can cook their hot pot.
“Everyone gets to pick their own hot pot base, which is a soup base,” Cardeo said. “And everything is raw. You cook everything yourself. And so say I pick the tom yum [Thai soup base], it will come out to your table, you turn the button on the heating element and it will bring it to a boil, and then you cook all your meat in it, and then your vegetables. Everyone does it differently. Some of the heating elements are stronger than others, but I will say that last night they brought my hot pot out and it was boiling within two minutes.”
“When I take people’s orders, I see if everyone wants to pick their hot pot first,” Cardeo said, “because I like to get the broth out first and get it going, even though it doesn’t take that long. And then I like to bring them any meat they’ve ordered. And then I do the fish and the extra stuff, followed by the ramen and the vegetables. And then I’ll flip, and then I’ll do the barbecue stuff.”
Cardeo said this style of dining gives groups of people an opportunity to try new foods.
“I had a table earlier of six people and they all chose their own broth and they all tasted each other’s broth. Then they know the next time they come which broth they want.” She said sometimes everyone at a table will want to grill the same meat, then customize their meal afterward. “If it’s a large table, and if someone wants bulgogi [a Korean cut of beef], we’ll ask, ‘Does anyone else want bulgogi? And then I’ll put in the amount of people that I have at the table. Then, when the meat comes out, it will all be on one tray. And then everyone shares it.”
Cardeo’s favorite combination of ingredients would be difficult to order off a menu.
“My favorite for the hot pot is the beef belly,” she said. “Then I get fried tofu. I get shiitake mushrooms, I get rice cakes, and then tofu skin, bean curds, and bok choy. That’s my favorite.”
Even though most customers associate tableside grilling and cooking with beef or pork, there are dozens of protein options to choose from, from different cuts of meat, to Spam, to baby octopus, chicken, shrimp and other, more vegetarian-friendly, options. “We do actually have a lot of vegans, and vegetarians that come in,” Cardeo said, “and they have a ball with the tofu, and stuff and all the vegetables.”
OBA has been designed around the concept of personalization; while the focus is on grilling and hot pot, there are different side dishes to customize with as well.
“We have a hot spot at the buffet with egg rolls, crab legs and all different kinds of hot food,” she said. “And then we have salads, kimchi, seaweed salad, that’s all included, once you pay your base price. So you can either do just hot pot, you can either do just Korean barbecue, you can do both. We don’t do takeout, and we don’t let people take food home, though.”
OBA Korean BBQ & Hot Pot Where: 371 S. Willow St., Manchester, 932-2168, obakoreanbbqhotpot.com Hours: seven days a week from noon to 10 p.m., and until 10:30 on Fridays and Saturdays.
Local actors, directors and more will be honored at the New Hampshire Theatre Awards
Granite State stages were quite busy last year, and the ballot for the upcoming New Hampshire Theatre Awards is proof. There are 236 semifinalists from 80 productions done by 25 youth, community and professional companies on a list of 31 categories. Additionally, three special awards will be presented at the ceremony, on Jan. 30 at Concord’s Capitol Center.
There’s more to the event than who wins, however. Attendees are promised a night of entertainment, with an emphasis on comedy. It will be provided by an ensemble directed by Ro Gavin, whose eponymous company’s production of Seussical! is up for three awards. Breanne Aria Battey serves as Musical Director.
Winning is rewarding, but it’s not everything, Irene Cohen, President of the New Hampshire Theatre Alliance said in a recent phone interview.
“The feeling in this gigantic room, with over 800 people participating, is one of community and collaboration and support,” Cohen said. “We have something so special.”
That said, a few companies stood out on this year’s semi-finalists list. Actorsingers, Arts In Motion and Ovation Theatre Company each had four productions that received multiple nominations. Andy’s Summer Playhouse, Barnstormers, and Theatre Up each had three. Several companies had a dozen or more individual nominations.
Special award winners include Dr. Alan Kaplan, founder and outgoing artistic director of Manchester Community Theatre Players. He’ll receive the Francis Grover Cleveland Award for Lifetime Achievement. “He’s created this legacy,” Cohen said. “It’s an example of people doing it for the love of theatre, and the benefit of what it can bring to the community.”
Ryan Kaplan, also a nominee this year for his supporting role in Ovation’s Spamalot: Youth Edition, will be recognized for Special Achievement in Youth Theatre. “He started a theatre group when he was 12 years old, which has evolved to producing plays,” Cohen said. “He does it for the love of it, and it’s extraordinary what he has inspired among his peers.”
An award will also be presented for Excellence in Playwriting. “For an original play or script,” Cohen said. “That’s not given every year, because there isn’t always a work that gets submitted, but we had three this year. It’s exciting to honor the efforts of people producing original work.”
A handful of professional companies, those whose actors are paid for their roles, are up for awards. They include The Barnstormers Theatre, whose founder Grover Cleveland is the namesake for the NHTA’s Lifetime Achievement Award, along with Peterborough Players, Firelight Theatre Workshop and Weathervane Theatre.
The majority of semi-finalists are in it for their passion for acting, but that does not discount their efforts, Cohen believes.
“There’s a thought that you only get quality with professional productions, and that’s just not true,” she said. “There are some extraordinary actors and actresses and youth performers in this state who participate in a production and deliver a performance that is very believable and convincing and artistic and individualized.”
She further urged folks who’ve thought about attending in the past consider coming to this year’s event.
“We’re infusing a little more humor in it, so it’s a good time to give it a try,” she said, adding both levity and solidarity are good responses to 2025, a year that was filled with challenges. “We’re at a juncture where, especially in this state, we need to speak loud and clear about the role of the arts in life and in our state.”
21st New Hampshire Theatre Awards When: Saturday, Jan. 30, at 7 p.m. Where: Capitol Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main St., Concord Tickets: $54 at ccanh.com
Featured photo: New Hampshire Theatre Awards. Photo by Chuck Swierad.
This year the Appalachian Mountain Club marks its 150th anniversary as the country’s oldest outdoor hiking group. It’s worth noting that the club’s first trip was to New Hampshire’s White Mountains. The state is both beloved and feared among hikers, with terrain rugged enough for aspiring Mt. Everest climbers to train on.
There are 48 peaks over 4,000 feet in the state, but it’s also a magnet for casual hikers seeking bracing air and brilliant vistas. The organization serves both constituencies, and AMC New Hampshire chapter’s Chair, Diana Moore, equally enjoys strenuous and relaxing hikes.
Moore recently talked about AMC NH’s efforts and more.
A schedule of classes and activities offered by the organization is available at the outdoors.org website. The AMC NH Winter School happens Feb. 27 through March 1 at their Cardigan Lodge facility in Alexandria, with instruction in winter mountain travel, backcountry skiing, and snowshoeing for all levels.
“You get to stay at the lodge, meet a bunch of really cool people, and learn something,” Moore said. Classes in introductory, intermediate and advanced winter hiking, and classes in leadership, are included. “It’s really an amazing experience that I would recommend for anybody.”
Organized hikes are also offered, like a snowshoe journey up Mt. Crotched in Francestown on Feb. 17 rated as moderate. Indoor activities, like a monthly Climbing Social at NH Climbing & Fitness in Concord, are also available. They offer a chance to network and climb away from the elements. The next one happens Feb. 19.
Moore grew up in Philadelphia and first hiked in the Poconos, though her first trip there she recalls asking, “where are the mountains?” After living in South Florida for a few years, she moved to New Hampshire in 2012. “I really missed the four seasons,” she said. “I wanted to go someplace where winter was winter.”
While in a relationship with someone who’d done not only the New Hampshire 48 but all 111 in the Northeast in winter, Moore hiked up Mt. Liberty, her first in winter conditions (it was November, so it wasn’t official — that requires a calendar winter date). She was awestruck when they arrived at the peak.
“I couldn’t believe how amazing it was, and she said, ‘welcome to my world.’ That was the turning point for me, I just never looked back,” she recalled. “I learned as much as I could about winter hiking, and became a hike leader for the AMC. That’s pretty much the story.”
Easy to moderate hikes like those listed below can usually be done with regular footwear.
Kenard Trail to Martin Trail. Courtesy photo.
“It depends on the terrain,” she said. “If there’s no snow on the trail, you can just use your bare boots. If there’s a packed snow, you’d use your micro spikes, which are really easy to carry in a little day pack.”
Moving to snowshoes may be necessary, she continued, “if you find that your feet are starting to post-hole, where you sink down really deep and make a big footprint. You don’t want to do that. You can hurt yourself. You could twist your ankle, but it also ruins the trail for everybody until it all melts in late spring.”
Before heading out, consult the AMC Winter Hiking Essential Gear List, at bit.ly/4a5J2uh.
Moore likes hiking around the Massabesic Lake Watershed, run by Manchester Water Works. “Hiking out to Audubon Center there, that’s probably one of my favorite trails,” she said. “About 4 miles … just a lovely little hike. Another is Tower Hill Pond, a 3-mile loop right outside of Manchester.”
Finally, Moore highlighted AMC NH’s inclusion efforts. “I did want to plug in LGBT Outdoors, we have a New England chapter for that, and I am one of the ambassadors,” she said. “There are other groups out there as well for people who want to hike in a place where they feel safe to be their authentic selves.”
One of hikers’ favorite apps
Before planning a hike it’s a good idea to consult alltrails.com. Since launching 15 years ago, the path-finding app has grown to the world’s most popular tool for getting out in the wilderness (there’s also a website). Its database reports on length, terrain, difficulty and average completion time for more than 450,000 trails.
One of the most valuable aspects of AllTrails is its community of hikers, diligently documenting conditions so folks are prepared for a muddy bog born from a rainstorm, or a hike that requires crampons instead of microspikes. Trail reviews are added daily, and checking them before venturing out is very, very useful. A “freemium” app, AllTrails base plan has trails with photos, reviews, and basic details, GPS navigation (when a cell signal is available), and the ability to save lists of favorites. At $36 per year, the ad-free Plus plan adds offline maps and features like 3D preview and criteria-based search. AllTrails Peak is $80 a year, with more customization and a built-in plant identifier
Resources Appalachian Mountain Club – outdoors.org AllTrails – alltrails.com New Hampshire State Parks – nhstateparks.org State of New Hampshire Fish and Game Department – wildlife.nh.gov New Hampshire Family Hikes – nhfamilyhikes.com Interest- and lifestyle-centric Facebook groups include Hiking Buddies NH 48 and Belknap Range Hikers, and there are more than a few subreddits to search, including r/NH4K and r/newhampshire (with 144K members).
20 winter hikes
Here are 20 local hikes that are favorites of AllTrails users, which they have rated as easy to moderate. The trail information and hikers reviews and notes here are from AllTrails trail descriptions.
• Bear Brook, Cascade, Sentinel PIne, Hayes Farm, Big Bear Loop
Location: Bear Brook State Park (Deerfield Road / Podunk Road, Deerfield). Length: 4.1 miles with 305-foot elevation gain. Difficulty: Moderate, 1.5–2 hours. More at nhstateparks.org. This route combines a series of trails within Bear Brook State Park. AllTrails calls it “a delightful, shaded trail through secondary forest along wide and well-maintained paths.” The trail features a mix of rolling hills and flat sections, and a portion meanders alongside a river.
• Benson Park Hiking Trail
Location: Benson Park (Kimball Hill Road / Bush Hill Road, Hudson). Length: 3.2 miles with 249-foot elevation gain. Difficulty: Easy, 1–1.5 hours. More at hudsonnh.gov. Located on the grounds of Benson’s Wild Animal Farm, a zoo opened in 1924 and since abandoned, this is a fascinating place to hike, even in the snow. Highlights include attractive mixed trails, well-maintained paths, and sections featuring old zoo remains.
• Blodgett Hill and Rocky Trail Loop
Location: Horse Hill Nature Preserve (Amherst Road between Lester Road and Tomaslan Drive, Merrimack). Length: 3.4 miles with 328-foot elevation gain. Difficulty: Moderate, 1–1.5 hours. More at merrimackoutdoors.org. This preserve, once the home of early Merrimack settler Captain Spalding, offers sweeping views of lush valleys and rolling hills, along with some steep and rocky sections. One recent winter hiker reported well packed trails, however, with most sections offering a clear path for walking.
• Bow Woods Loop
Location: Bow Bog Brook (Robinson Road / Vaughn Road, Bow). Length: 2.4 miles with 144-foot elevation gain. Difficulty: Easy, 0.5–1 hour. More at bownh.gov. Maintained by local volunteers, this conservation area is a habitat for all kinds of wildlife. In better weather there are ducks on the pond and woodpeckers in the trees. This simple, charming trail showcases Bow’s natural beauty and is an ideal destination for a refreshing break outdoors.
• Dorrs Pond Loop
Location: Livingston Park (Hooksett Road / Campbell Street, Hooksett). Length: 1 miles with 13-foot elevation gain. Difficulty: Easy, 0.5–1 hour. More at manchester.gov. A kid-friendly walk in the park with lovely views. It loops around the perimeter of Dorrs Pond. This is another favorite of AMC NH’s Chair Diana Moore. Weather permitting, Dorrs Pond is also open for ice skating.
• Eagle, Life, Esker, and Weeblo Trail Loop Location: Hammond Nature Preserve and Walker Forest (Dunbarton Center Road / Woodhill Road, Bow). Length: 3.8 miles with 380-foot elevation gain. Difficulty: Easy, 1.5–2 hours. More at bit.ly/4jUlWKB. An old sawmill site in the Hammond Nature Preserve, this is a mostly wooded trail that winds through brooks, past swampy areas, and through open fields. Though easy to navigate with well-marked trails and scenic views, it has icy sections and potential for muddy areas, so use micro spikes.
• Eastman Meadow Trail and Beaver Brook Trail Loop
Location: Beaver Brook Association (Worcester Road / Irene Drive, Hollis). Length: 2.5 miles with 118-foot elevation gain. Difficulty: Easy, 0.5–1 hours. More at beaverbrook.org. A popular warm-weather hike for fans of wildflowers, this one’s pleasant and quick, but in winter it can get icy, so pack micro spikes. Begin from the parking area on Worcester Road and follow Eastman Meadow Trail north into the woodlands to reach Spatterdock Pond. Then walk clockwise around the pond. Return to the parking area via Beaver Brook Trail.
• Foster’s Pond and Dave Dunn Trail Loop
Location: Foster’s Pond Conservation Area (Park Street / Nashua Road, Windham. Length: 1.6 miles with 42-foot elevation gain. Difficulty: Easy, 0.5–1 hour. More at windhamnh.gov. This walk through a nature preserve with terrific pond views is a quick and easy way to get the blood flowing, but micro spikes are recommended nonetheless. Be on the lookout for five fairy houses placed by Girl Scout Troop 22200 a while back.
• Kenard Trail to Martin Trail
Location: Pulpit Rock Conservation Area (Chestnut Hill Road / New Boston Road, New Boston). Length: 3.1 miles with 374-foot elevation gain. Difficulty: Easy, 1–1.5 hours. More at plcnh.org/pulpit-rock-trails.The end of this hike features Pulpit Rock, which AllTrails calls “an amazing mini canyon/waterfall feature that is smack dab in the middle of this wildlife preserve.” Lots of variety in the terrain, but it’s easy walking throughout.
• Lake Massabesic Trail
Location: City of Manchester Water Works (Audubon Way / Spofford Road, Manchester) Length: 3.7 miles with 170-foot elevation gain. Difficulty: Easy, 1–1.5 hours. Find more at nhaudubon.org. This route offers beautiful winter scenery, peaceful trails, and birdwatching opportunities (fewer in winter, but still…). Challenges may include icy and muddy sections. AllTrails reviewers recommend using traction aids like microspikes and getting an early start.
• Marion Davis Trails
Location: Miller State Park (Route 101, Peterborough). Length: 2.7 miles with 800-foot elevation gain. Difficulty: Moderate, 1–1.5 hours. More at nhstateparks.org. Offers a steady climb through hardwood forests, leading to a summit where on clear days hikers can see as far as the Boston skyline. Due to spots of heavy icy, mushy and packed snow, leaves and mud, a recent AllTrails hiker put on spikes “almost immediately and didn’t take them off.”
• Mine Falls Green Trail
Location: Mine Falls Park (Stadium Drive / Riverside Street, Nashua). Length: 2.1 miles with 75-foot elevation gain. Difficulty: Easy, 0.5–1 hour. More at nashuanh.gov. One of many trails in this urban park, it’s well maintained and perfect for beginners or those seeking an undemanding hike. Bordered by the Nashua River and the Mill Pond canal system, its 325 acres include forest, wetlands, and open fields.
• North Mountain Loop Trail
Location: Pawtuckaway State Park (Reservation Road / Tower Road, Nottingham). Length: 5 miles with 859-foot elevation gain. Difficulty: Moderate, 2.5–3 hours. More at nhstateparks.org. Though rated moderate by AllTrails, this can be especially challenging in winter, with steep sections and icy terrain. A recent New Year’s Day hiker needed both micro spikes and poles for stability. For the hardy, though, it’s a great hike and can be combined with the equally intense Boulder Trail Loop.
• Old Rail and Red Pine Trail
Location: Mast Yard State Forest (Blackwater Road / Horse Hill Road, Contoocook). Length: 4.2 miles with 85-foot elevation gain. Difficulty: Easy, 1–1.5 hours. More at hopkintonconservationland.org. A loop hike that can be buggy during warmer times, it offers nice flat terrain. Some frozen water crossings may force hikers off trail at least once, but this trek can be done without microspikes or snowshoes; good traction boots are usually enough.
• Overlook, Landing, Deer, and Porcupine Ridge Trail Loop
Location: Musquash Conservation Area (Hickory Hill Drive / Chestnut Hill Drive, Londonderry). Length: 3 miles with 262-foot elevation gain. Difficulty: Moderate, 1–1.5 hours. More at londonderrytrails.org. Located in Londonderry’s largest conservation tract, this hike has well-maintained trails but can get a bit boggy during transitional weather, with a few tripping hazards along the way. Great views of open fields and quiet solitude are worth it.
• Spencer Smith Trail
Location: Center Strafford (Parker Mountain Road, Center Strafford). Length: 2.8 miles with 623-foot elevation gain. Difficulty: Moderate, 1.5–2 hours. More at nhfamilyhikes.com. Lots of rocks and roots; the trail starts gradually but becomes steep as it continues uphill. “The first bit of climbing is pretty legit,” said one AllTrails contributor. The summit is rewarding, with a spectacular view of Bow Lake.
Wildcat Falls via North Loop Trail. Courtesy photo.
• Tower Hill Pond Loop
Location: City of Manchester Water Works (Tower Hill Road, Manchester). Length: 3.9 miles with 170-foot elevation gain. Difficulty: Easy, 1–1.5 hours. More at nhaudubon.org. Recommended by AMC NH Chair Diana Moore, this hike has little elevation change and a few rocks in the path. It can get icy, so while micro spikes aren’t essential, they can help.
• Van Loan and Anne and Pic Trail
Location: Van Loan Preserve (across from Benedictine Park, Bedford). Length: 1.6 miles with 134-foot elevation gain. Difficulty: Easy, 0.5–1 hour. More at plcnh.org/van-loan-preserve-trails. <ade possible by a donation of a conservation easement to Bedford Land Trust by the Van Loan family in December of 2000, this easy hike offers lovely scenery, easy navigation and lots of flat, open sections. An opportunity for sledding at the end might also be of interest.
• Weir Road Trail
Location: Boscawen Town Forest (Weir Road / Elm Street, Bow). Length: 2.7 miles with 377-foot elevation gain. Difficulty: Moderate, 1–1.5 hours. More at boscawenconcom.org. This moderate hike offers a serene atmosphere, beautiful vistas and well-marked paths. Challenges include icy and mucky spots, especially in shaded areas. A recent AllTrails hiker noted that the trail was “fairly well packed down, with few people” and called it “nice and peaceful.”
• Wendy’s Loop
Location: Silk Farm Wildlife Sanctuary (Silk Farm Road / Clinton Street, Concord). Length: 0.4 miles with 6-foot elevation gain. Difficulty: Easy, 0.5–1 hour. More at nhaudubon.org. New Hampshire Audubon maintains this short, easy trail around a harvested pine forest. It’s perfect for youngsters.
• Wildcat Falls via North Loop Trail
Location: Wildcat Falls Conservation Area (Currier Road / Hemlock Street, Merrimack). Length: 1.6 miles with 65-foot elevation gain. Difficulty: Easy, 0.5–1 hour. More at merrimackoutdoors.org.This is a nice mostly flat loop through the woods and along the Souhegan River leading to Wildcat Falls. Highlights are gorgeous views, lovely wooded trails, and beautiful waterfalls, but challenges include icy conditions and narrow paths, according to AllTrails.
NH Fish and Game Department’s 10 Essentials for Winter Hiking “Hiking in the winter demands more. More preparedness and more planning. More outdoor experience and ability, and — perhaps most easily overlooked — more time. The cold months require better decision-making and a more cautious mindset. The same trail you hiked in summer six months ago is a different world now. Just as a wind chill intensifies the cold, winter has a way of magnifying mistakes.” —NH Fish & Game Department
Ten Essentials for Winter Hiking: Map Compass Warm Clothing: Sweater or Pile Jacket, Long Pants (wool or synthetic), Hat (wool) Extra Food and Water Flashlight or Headlamp Matches/Firestarters First Aid Kit/Repair Kit Whistle Rain/Wind Jacket and Pants Pocket Knife
