Francestown combines striking forest landscapes and trails of varying lengths with local history. The museum and historic venues complement the outdoor offerings. This lets you balance nature, culture and activities according to your interests.
Forest Trails by Length and Activity
Crotched Mountain Town Forest encompasses 900 contiguous acres of wetlands, vernal pools, streams, open fields, ledges, rocky outcrops and varied forest cover. The Link Trail in Crotched Mtn Town Forest is 0.67 miles each way and is suitable for walking, hiking and mountain biking. The Summit Loop starts at the parking lot and includes the Link Trail: the round trip is 5.7 miles long and has 1,100 feet of elevation gain. This gives you both a one-way trail distance and a round-trip distance; the Summit Loop also specifies the elevation gain.
Lord Town Forest encompasses 25 acres of mixed hardwood forest with beech and oak trees, scattered hemlocks, a small stream and a hiking trail. This trail is less than 1.0 mile long and is accessible from Pherson Road. Fisher Hill Town Forest has the 0.75-mile Putnam Loop Trail, a loop for hiking and mountain biking. There are also three trails there developed with mountain biking in mind. This distinguishes a single named loop from an offering of three mountain-bike-oriented trails.
The trails in Dinsmore Brook Conservation Area are 1 to 3 miles long and are suitable for walking, hiking and mountain biking. The gently ascending trails there are also suitable for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Another notable trail passes a beaver pond and leads to the top of Brennan Falls: it is easy to moderate, and the cascading waterfall is 15 feet high. The trail is suitable for hiking and snowshoeing.
Ponds and Wetlands
Shattuck Pond Town Forest features significant wetlands and borders the 25-acre Shattuck Pond for more than 5,000 feet. The Shattuck Pond Trail is 2.2 miles round trip from Pleasant Pond and connects Pleasant Pond Road with Shattuck Pond Road. Pleasant Pond also has a public boat launch, with roadside parking on Pleasant Pond Road. Check local visiting conditions before you travel.
Local History at the Museum and Historic Common
The Francestown Heritage Museum’s exhibits cover five aspects of life in the past: agriculture, commerce, fire protection, home life 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. In addition to its original purpose as a place of worship, it is also used for weddings, music events and community activities. Thus, the town’s exhibits on different aspects of life in the past are complemented by a venue with a history dating back to the early 19th century.
Golf and Finding a Place to Stay
Crotched Mountain Golf Club has an 18-hole course, whose front nine were designed by Donald Ross. A driving range gives golfers the opportunity to practice their swing. If you’re looking for a hotel in Francestown, base your choice on the priorities you want to shape your stay—such as hiking, local history or golf.
Discover more destinations: New Boston, Peterborough, Nashua, Manchester, Bedford, Merrimack.
Return to the regional travel overview: Hillsborough County.
