Francestown: Forest Trails and History

Francestown combines extensive forest areas and trails of varying lengths with historic sites and golf. When choosing your stay, you can consider whether hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing or local history should take priority. The trail descriptions offer specific points for comparison: distance, activities and elevation change.

Forests and Trails in Francestown

Crotched Mountain Town Forest covers 900 contiguous acres. Its landscape includes swamps, vernal pools, streams, open fields, ledges, rocky outcrops and diverse forest cover. Alongside forest areas, this large contiguous tract therefore includes both wetland and open-land features.

The Link Trail in Crotched Mtn Town Forest is 0.67 miles each way and is suitable for walking, hiking and mountain biking. From the parking lot, the Summit Loop totals 5.7 miles round trip, including the Link Trail; its elevation gain is 1,100 feet. The distinction between the figures matters when comparing them: the Link Trail distance is one way, while the Summit Loop distance covers the full round trip.

In Lord Town Forest, a trail passes through a 25-acre mixed hardwood forest with beech and oak trees, scattered hemlocks and a small stream. The trail is accessible from Pherson Road and is less than a mile long. In Fisher Hill Town Forest, the Putnam Loop Trail is a 0.75-mile loop for hiking and mountain biking. Three trails in Fisher Hill Town Forest were designed for mountain biking.

Trails in the Dinsmore Brook Conservation Area range from 1 to 3 miles and are suitable for walking, hiking and mountain biking. There are also gently sloping trails suitable for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and walking. Another option is the trail to the top of Brennan Falls: it passes a beaver pond, is easy to moderate, and is suitable for hiking and snowshoeing. Brennan Falls is a 15-foot cascade waterfall in Francestown.

The trails by the water also differ in their details. The Shattuck Pond Trail is 2.2 miles round trip from Pleasant Pond and connects Pleasant Pond Road with Shattuck Pond Road. Shattuck Pond Town Forest has significant wetlands and borders the 25-acre Shattuck Pond for more than 5,000 feet. There is a public boat ramp at Pleasant Pond; parking is available along Pleasant Pond Road. Check local notices before setting out.

Local History and Events

The exhibits at the Francestown Heritage Museum cover five areas of life in the past: agriculture, commerce, fire protection, the home and transportation. The museum is part of the Town Historic Common, which also includes the Francestown Improvement and Historical Society “Beehive,” Town Hall, the Horse Sheds and the Fairbanks Scale.

The Old Meeting House of Francestown was completed in 1803, seats 250 and serves as an event venue. Since its beginnings as a place of worship, it has also been used for weddings, music events and community activities. Together with the museum’s exhibits, it offers a look at different aspects of local history: from everyday life and its activities to community and religious uses.

Golf as Another Activity

If you would like to include golf alongside trails and historic sites, Crotched Mountain Golf Club in Francestown offers an 18-hole course. The front nine were designed by Donald Ross. Golfers can practice their swing at the driving range. Francestown therefore offers different themes to choose from when planning a stay, from forest trails with clearly stated distances to golf and local history.

Discover more destinations: Bedford, Merrimack, Nashua, New Boston, Peterborough, Manchester

Return to the regional travel overview: Hillsborough County.