Bow: Forests, Water and History

Explore Bow through two distinct interests: outdoor nature and local history. The forest areas differ in size and in the landscape features mentioned; at Turee Pond, sunsets and nature walks take center stage. Bow Bog Meeting House and a historic map add a separate historical aspect. As you plan your stay, you can weigh whether you’d most like to discover natural areas, trails or historic sites.

Forests and landscapes

Bow has more than 1,000 acres of town forest. Hammond Nature Preserve is a 143-acre woodland that also includes a former sawmill site and Paul’s Falls. Here, forest, a site of earlier use and a named natural feature come together within the same preserve. If you’d like to discover Bow through its landscapes, Hammond Nature Preserve offers more than a single perspective.

Knox Forest covers 318 acres and borders the 105-acre School Forest. The comparison in size is clear: the area figures stand at 318 to 105 acres. Knox Forest also includes a watershed, vernal pools and wetlands. These features give the area a focus beyond its size: water and varied wetland landscapes also shape the description of the forest. Parking for Knox Forest is available on Robinson Road and Knox Road. Check local information before setting out.

Nottingcook Forest adds further landscape features to the selection. It includes swamps, several streams, a reclaimed gravel pit and a glacial formation called Kettle Hold. Its trails are used mainly for hiking, walking and nature outings. They are accessible year-round; still, check local trail conditions before your visit. Parking for Nottingcook Forest is available on Woodhill Hooksett Road and South Bow Road. Here too, it’s a good idea to check local information before setting out.

Walks and sunsets at Turee Pond

Turee Pond is often visited for its sunsets and nature walks. This gives it a different focus from the forests, whose trails are used mainly for hiking, walking and nature outings. So, when choosing between these destinations, you can take different interests into account: walks and sunsets at Turee Pond, or trails and varied landscape features in the forest areas. There is also a boat launch at Turee Pond, managed by NH Fish and Game. If the launch is part of your plans, check local conditions ahead of time.

Historic sites in Bow

The historic Bow Bog Meeting House was built in 1835 and restored in 2011. The two dates mark different periods in its history: its construction in the 19th century and its later restoration. For more historic sites in Bow, there is a map created by the Heritage Commission. It helps you find historic places in Bow and is dated 2022. The meeting house offers one specific point of interest; the map opens up a view of other historic sites in town.

Bow thus brings together several themes for planning a trip without needing to combine them into a single outing: town forests and wetlands, trails for walks and nature outings, Turee Pond with its frequently visited sunsets, and historic sites. Which ones you focus on depends on whether you’d rather spend your time among landscapes and trails or connect with Bow’s history.

Discover more destinations: Newbury, Loudon, Andover, Pembroke, Wilmot, Henniker, Warner, Hooksett

For the broader travel overview: Merrimack County.