Francestown: Forests, Trails and History

Francestown combines expansive forest landscapes with trails for a variety of activities and a historic town center. If you enjoy spending the day outdoors, you’ll find routes ranging from a short loop to a longer hike with elevation gain. There are also waterscapes, a waterfall, a museum and a historic meeting house—plenty of ways to shape your stay in Francestown.

Forest Landscapes and Trails

Crotched Mountain Town Forest covers 900 contiguous acres. Its landscape includes swamps and vernal pools, as well as streams, open fields, rocky ledges and outcrops. The area is characterized by diverse forest cover. Lord Town Forest offers a smaller-scale setting: this 25-acre mixed hardwood forest features beech and oak trees, some hemlocks, a small stream and a hiking trail.

In Crotched Mtn Town Forest, the Link Trail is 0.67 miles each way and is suitable for walking, hiking and mountain biking. For a longer outing, consider the Summit Loop: starting from the parking area, it is 5.7 miles round trip, including the Link Trail, with 1,100 feet of elevation gain.

A shorter trail runs through Lord Town Forest and is less than 1.0 mile long; access is from Pherson Road. In Fisher Hill Town Forest, the 0.75-mile Putnam Loop Trail is suitable for hiking and mountain biking. Three trails in this forest were also developed with mountain biking in mind. Francestown thus offers specific routes for hiking and biking, not just general forest scenery.

Water, Snowshoeing and Cross-Country Skiing

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 contains significant wetlands and borders Shattuck Pond, which covers 25 acres, for more than 5,000 feet. Pleasant Pond also has a public boat launch; roadside parking is available on Pleasant Pond Road.

The trails in Dinsmore Brook Conservation Area are 1 to 3 miles long and suitable for walking, hiking and mountain biking. Its gently rising trails are also suitable for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, as well as walking. Another option for hiking and snowshoeing is the trail to Brennan Falls: described as easy to moderate, it passes a beaver pond and leads to the top of the 15-foot cascade waterfall, making both the forest trail and the waterfall specific highlights of the outing.

Local History and Events

The Francestown Heritage Museum dedicates its exhibits to five aspects of life in the past: agriculture, commerce, fire protection, domestic life and transportation. It 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. Those interested in local history can explore several named features of this historic ensemble.

The Old Meeting House of Francestown was completed in 1803 and seats 250. It serves as an event venue. In addition to its original role as a place of worship, it is used for weddings, musical events and community activities. The museum and meeting house add a cultural dimension alongside the nature trails, so a visit need not focus solely on sporting activities.

Golf as Another Highlight

Crotched Mountain Golf Club has an 18-hole course. The front nine were designed by Donald Ross. A driving range gives golfers the opportunity to practice their swing. Along with the hiking and mountain biking trails, golf expands the range of activities that may factor into choosing Francestown as a destination.

Discover More Places

You can also discover these places on their own pages: Manchester, Merrimack, Nashua, Peterborough, New Boston and Bedford.

For the broader travel overview: Hillsborough County.