Cornish, NH

The Cornish Town Forest is an undeveloped property of about 270 acres located in the southwest corner of the town. Its is accessed from Tandy Brook Road in Cornish as well as the class 6 Root Hill Rd from Claremont, and via private lands where permission has been given for use (Directions to Southern Parking or Northeast Parking areas). The purpose of the town forest is to preserve undeveloped land for the benefit and enjoyment of residents. Benefits include preservation of aesthetic, accessible, natural lands; maintenance (or restoration) of forest, shrub and grass ecosystems; hunting access; development and maintenance of trails for hiking, skiing and mountain biking as well as suitable (limited) access for horses and motorized vehicles; access for disabled individuals; opportunities for education about forest and wildlife management, and the ecology, geology and history of the area; preservation of the Connecticut River Valley “scenic corridor”; preservation of water quality; community involvement and management for sustainable forest products. As of 2019 there are about 10 miles of single track and a mile of double track trails in the forest connecting to several miles of trails on nearby properties. Maps and information can be found on Cornish.net and the Cornish Town Forest Facebook page.

To use the Hilliard road trailhead park along Tandy Brook Road (there’s also a good sized parking area a mile north on Chase Hill road). Once parked, bike to Hilliard Road (please NO parking on Hilliard road), past the two houses: you’ll see a gap in a small rock wall on the left, this is where the trail starts.