Champlin Forest

Length: 2.5 miles out-and-back

Difficulty (click for info): Beginner

Elevation Gain: 30 feet (+90 feet on return)

Rating (click for info): 2/10

Driving Directions:
Trailhead and parking area are on Rt. 108 in Rochester, NH. Look for a large dirt lot with a kiosk just off the south side of the road, 1.5 miles northwest of the junction with Rt. 236 and 2.8 miles southeast of Rt. 125 in the center of Rochester. Click here for a Google map.

Trail map

About the Hike:
The Forest Society's Champlin Forest offers a peaceful nature walk in close proximity to the urban areas of Rochester. The tract of land is located across the street from the Skyhaven Airport and encloses an area around Clark Brook including two dried-up ponds at the former locations of dams. Another notable feature of the property is the site of a small 19th-century quarry. To start your hike through the property, head out across the open field behind the kiosk on a narrow footpath and enter the woods. Follow the path downhill on a woods road for 0.1 miles to a fork. Bear right for now and continue for another 0.1 miles as the trail swings left and arrives at the location where the old dam once stood. The trail continues 0.15 miles across the sandy, shrub-filled flats and ends at the current outlet of the wetland (once Champlin Pond) on Clark Brook. Return the way you came back to the fork and continue on the other trail to explore further. The trail stays on the old road as it runs across a hillside for 0.3 miles, then swings right across flatter terrain. After 0.4 miles further, you will pass the quarry site, a depression filled with rock slabs just off to the side of the trail. Just past this, the trail comes out into the clearing of what was once the lower Champlin Pond, where you will notice a similar environment as before. Shortly after this, the trail splits into a quick loop, and you can return the way you came.

Printable directions page