Imagine, like myself, that you enjoy hiking out to a scenic and attractive pond. Now imagine a place where you can not only visit multiple ponds but also an old orchard, vernal pools, beautiful forests, and more. That all sounds like a great day out to me! Spanning across four towns, the Heald Tract offers this kind of diversity as a great New Hampshire pond hike. It’s also a wonderful place to spot the local wildlife.

The Heald Tract spans nearly 1,500 acres in the towns of Wilton, Temple, Greenville, and Mason, and is permanently protected by the Protection of New Hampshire Forests.
Jessica L'HommeDieu/All Trails
The Heald Tract began life as a farm in the early 1700s and was owned by the Greely Family. Over time, parcels of land were donated to be conserved by the Heald family.
Lisa Belanger/All Trails
The property is a showcase of the ecologically diverse habitat that New Hampshire has to offer. Wildlife such as bears, deer, otters, moose, birds, turtles, and salamanders are common here.
Mary O'Reilly/All Trails

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About five miles of trails are located on the tract which allow access to its scenic backcountry ponds, where, if you are quiet and fortunate, you may spot a heron.
Frank Leblanc/All Trails
Most of the trails in the tract provide easy and beautiful woods walking. Fisk Hill Trail, which straddles the Wilton/Temple town line, is slightly steeper.
Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests/Facebook
Trails that skirt the ponds offer views of beavers' lodges and are carpeted with water lilies during the late summer.
Taf L/All Trails
Some important things to know about visiting: There is no guaranteed winter access; plants and animals should not be disturbed, and fires and camping are prohibited.
Aqua Master/All Trails

If you could only pick one New Hampshire pond hike, give this walk a try. I’m sure you won’t be disappointed! For more information about exploring the Heald Tract and to download a trail map, visit the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests. Make sure you are also well prepared for a safe outing in the woods. Enjoy!

Here are some more ponds to add to your hiking checklist: Mountain Pond in the White Mountain National Forest, Wachipauka Pond in Warren, Kilburn Pond at Pisgah State Park, and Foster’s Pond in Windham.

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Featured Addresses
Heald Tract Trailhead, 276-2 Kimball Hill Rd, Wilton, NH 03086, USA