More than 1,000 acres of town forest, wetlands and historic sites give a stay in Bow several specific points of interest. To choose where to explore, it is worth distinguishing the forest areas by their features and also considering the waterscapes and the town’s history.
Forest Areas and Their Distinctive Features
Hammond Nature Preserve is a 143-acre forest that includes Paul’s Falls and a former sawmill site. Knox Forest covers 318 acres and borders the 105-acre School Forest. Bow has more than 1,000 acres of town forest in total. The acreage gives a sense of the scale of the different areas; their specific features can help you decide what kind of nature experience to focus on.
Knox Forest’s landscape includes a watershed, vernal pools and wetlands. Nottingcook Forest offers a different mix: it has swamps, several streams, a reclaimed gravel pit and Kettle Hole, a glacial formation. This combination of wetlands, waterways and a geological feature makes Nottingcook Forest a nature destination in its own right in Bow.
Trails and Practical Information
The trails in Nottingcook Forest are used mainly for hiking, walking and nature outings. They are open year-round. Check local trail conditions before your visit so your plans take the current conditions into account.
Parking for Knox Forest is available on Robinson Road and Knox Road. Parking for Nottingcook Forest is on Woodhill Hooksett Road and South Bow Road. Check local information before you set out. This lets you plan directions for each forest separately instead of assuming that parking for one area is available at another.
Turee Pond and Waterscapes
Turee Pond is often visited for its sunsets and nature walks. This offers a different focus from the forest areas: here, the pond and nature walks take center stage. There is also a boat ramp at Turee Pond, managed by NH Fish and Game. Check local conditions before launching a boat. The sunsets, walks and boat ramp are distinct points of interest that you can consider separately when planning.
Historic Sites in Bow
The town’s history can also be part of your visit. The historic Bow Bog Meeting House was built in 1835 and restored in 2011. The two dates distinguish its construction from its restoration and give the building a clear historical context.
A map prepared by the Heritage Commission helps visitors locate historic sites in Bow; it is dated 2022. Together with Bow Bog Meeting House, it complements the nature destinations with a historical focus. If you are considering a stay in Bow, you can weigh the forest features, trails, Turee Pond and historic sites without reducing all your interests to a single destination.
Discover more destinations: Sutton, Andover, Warner, Pembroke, Loudon, Hooksett, Wilmot, Henniker.
For the broader travel overview: Merrimack County.
