Bretzfelder Park

Length: 0.4 mile loop

Difficulty (click for info): Beginner

Elevation Gain: 60 feet (loop total)

Rating (click for info): 4/10

Driving Directions:
Trailhead and parking area are on Prospect Street in Bethlehem, NH. Prospect Street leaves the north side of Rt. 302 in the center of Bethlehem, 0.3 miles west of the junction with Rt. 142. The park is located on the left side of the road 1.1 miles up. Click here for a Google map.

About the Hike:
The Forest Society's Bretzfelder Memorial Park is centered around a massive, historical white pine tree that was popular with 19th-century tourists. The park offers short nature walks around nice forest scenery, and good opportunites for picnicking. Most of the trails take off from the kiosk near the famous tree. Take a moment to appreciate the stature of the tree, which is now reinforced with brick, before exploring. Off to the left is an open field with interpretive signs around the perimeter providing facts about the trees in the area. Walking to the field, around it, and back to the pine tree will be just over 0.1 miles. For another quick tour of the property, walk over to the right side of the parking area and bear right onto the yellow-blazed nature trail. Descend through lush forest and cross a small brook on a nice wooden bridge. Turn left at a junction with a connecting path to another parking area and cross the brook again. Soon, a short spur path leads out to the shore of a small pond, which has mowed, grassy banks and some picnic tables available. Continue on the main loop as it climbs back uphill to the parking area. Total distance for the loop is 0.3 miles.

Printable directions page