Kuncanowet Town Forest, Dunbarton NH

• 3-star hike
• 2 to 6 mile options
• Easy | Gain 112 to 535 feet
• Dunbarton, NH | Merrimack Region
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The image shows a serene lake surrounded by a dense forest of tall trees. The water is very calm, creating a perfect mirror reflection of the trees and the clear blue sky above. The scene is framed by some branches extending from the top right corner of the image.

A crystal clear morning at Stinson Mill Pond.

Kuncanowet Town Forest offers quiet, mostly easy going forest trails with several ponds and moderate elevation gain. The park is a nice diversion for locals and a nearby attraction for campers staying nearby at the popular Cold Springs Camp Resort. A carpet of pine needles cushions much of these trails, interrupted by occasional boggy sections closer to the ponds; and rocks and roots in the Western hills. The route is well marked with painted blazes and wayfinding won’t pose much of a problem.

Because this trail is lightly trafficked, expect to startle the local fauna of mostly squirrels and chickadees. We also spotted a turtle in Gorham Pond, though access to the pond from the Perimeter Loop trail does require some light bushwhacking.

Trail Options Expand KML · Google Earth ·

⬤ 3★ Stinson Mill Pond Loop 2.0 mi loop, easy, gain 110 ft
AllTrails · GPX File · Directions GPX?

⬤ 3★ Kuncanowet Perimeter Loop 5.8 mi loop, easy, gain 540 ft
AllTrails · GPX File · Directions

The trailhead has at least half a dozen spots for parking, and there were no parking restrictions as far as we were able to observe. We recommend a couple of different loop trails depending on your time and ability.

⬤ Stinson Mill Pond Loop
A short looping hike into the woods to find solitude at Stinson Mill Pond. Follow the wider Mill Pond Trail out from the trailhead and take a right onto Pond View Loop. Returning back along Mill Pond Trail and then branching off onto the Hobblebush Trail will provide the greatest variety of terrain.

⬤ Kuncanowet Perimeter Loop
Explore the whole park on this expedition around the park's perimeter. The best views in the park are at Stinson Mill Pond on the Pond View loop and unfortunately there is little access to Gorham Pond from the available trails. The loop into the western Kuncanowet Hills provides some varied terrain but little in terms of views. There's also the Stone Wall Trail should you wish to cut short this extended loop.

The image shows a tree in a forest with three wooden signs attached to it. The signs indicate different trails and directions. The top sign reads 'LOST LAKE LOOP' with a yellow arrow pointing to the right. The middle sign reads 'GUM TREE TRAIL' with a blue arrow pointing to the left. The bottom sign reads 'OUT' with a blue arrow pointing downward. The background consists of trees and a clear blue sky, suggesting a hiking or nature trail setting.

Wayfinding on the Lost Lake Loop

Tangents:
• Official: Official
• Public Map at AllTrails: Kuncanowet Town Forest
• Facebook Group: Comment, Follow Us

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