Bear Brook State Park has something for all visitors, from hiking trails to archery ranges. Discover everything you need to know before you go.
Bear Brook State Park spans more than 10,000 acres, making it the largest developed state park in New Hampshire. The park, located just 10 miles from Concord, is heavily forested and features multiple ponds and scenic rolling hills.
In the park, you’ll find wildlife ranging from songbirds and white-tailed deer to beavers and black bears. Whether you’re visiting for the day or pitching a tent and staying a while, there is plenty to explore inside the park.
In this guide, we share everything you need to know in order to enjoy your visit to Bear Brook State Park, including the best hiking trails, where to fish or swim, and what your lodging options are. Keep reading to learn more.
Quick facts
Before we get into all the fun things you can see and do in Bear Brook State Park, here are a few important details you need to know.
Address: 157 Deerfield Rd., Allenstown
Hours of operation: The main park grounds are always open, unless otherwise noted. Day-use areas are open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends. During the off-season, the park is unstaffed, and comfort stations are typically closed.
Entrance fee: $4 per adult, $2 per child (ages 6-11), free for children five years old or younger and New Hampshire residents 65 years or older
Pets: Pets are allowed on hiking trails and at the campground, but they must remain leashed.
Best time to visit Bear Brook State Park
Bear Brook State Park is open year-round, but your experience will vary depending on the season.
Thanks to the abundance of outdoor recreational activities the park offers, summer is the most popular time to visit. If you want to camp or rent a cabin (more details on this below), plan to book early, especially for weekend or holiday stays.
Fall is the most scenic time to visit. Because the park is so heavily forested, there are plenty of leaf-peeping opportunities throughout.
Bear Brook State Park is popular among snow sport enthusiasts in the winter months, but keep in mind that many of the facilities are closed and the park is unstaffed.
Spring can also be a rewarding time to visit, particularly if you want to see blooming wildflowers and active wildlife.
Activities
There is no shortage of activities for Bear Brook State Park visitors to enjoy. Camping, hiking, biking, archery, swimming, and fishing are all common.
Bear Brook State Park is home to two archery ranges: a 15-target range and a four-target practice range.
Boating is another popular activity, and rentals are available at both Beaver Pond and Catamount Pond. Both of these ponds also have sandy swimming beaches; however, Catamount Pond is the park’s primary day-use swimming area.
There are multiple areas where you can fish within the park. Archery Pond, Beaver Pond, Catamount Pond, and Spruce Pond are a few favorites. Children’s Pond, located across the road from Archery Pond, is reserved for fishers who are 12 years old or younger.
If you need a break from the outdoors, check out the park’s Museum Complex. Here you’ll find the New Hampshire Antique Snowmobile Museum, Old Allenstown Meeting House, and the Richard Diehl Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Museum.
During the winter months, activities like snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and ice fishing are popular.
Hiking
Bear Brook State Park is home to about 40 miles of trails for hikers, bikers, and equestrians. The trails lead to ponds, marshes, bogs, and summits through heavily wooded—and highly scenic—areas.
Here is an overview of some of the park’s trails:
One Mile Trail: This trail is an excellent starting point for hikers because it provides access to many of the park’s other trails. The trail is wide and well-maintained.
Difficulty level: easy
Bear Brook Trail: This is a scenic trail that takes you through the woods and is well shaded, keeping temperatures relatively cool even on hot summer days. On this trail, you’ll also pass by cascading streams.
Difficulty level: moderate
Hemlock Trail: This trail takes hikers on a moderately challenging route along a bench cut above Bear Brook, providing great views of the water.
Difficulty level: moderate
Catamount Trail: Catamount Trail is one of the park’s more challenging trails (it’s quite steep and can be rocky in areas), but it’s also one of the most rewarding. This trail leads to one of the park’s best lookouts with impressive views.
Difficulty level: difficult
Camping
With so many activities and areas to explore, you may want to spend more than a day at Bear Brook State Park. If so, you have three camping options.
The first is Beaver Pond Campground. This 101-site campground is located next to Beaver Pond and features a beach, a trail around the pond, a play area, and a softball field. Other amenities include restrooms with showers, an additional playground, an office and store, and a dumping station.
Your second option is Bear Hill Pond Camp cabins. These cabins come in two different sizes—four or six-person maximum occupancy—and while they don’t have electricity, they do come furnished. If you choose to stay here, you’ll have easy access to hiking trails, a swimming beach, and Bear Hill Pond, where you can boat or fish.
Your final option is also the most rustic. Smith Pond Shelter is an Adirondack-style, lean-to shelter that features two wooden bunks, a stone cook place, and two outhouses. The best part about this camping option is its view: the shelter is located on top of a hill that overlooks its namesake pond.
Events
If you want to host an event in Bear Brook State Park, such as a family reunion or birthday party, there are two main pavilions available for rent: Bathhouse Pavilion and Shelter Pavilion.
Both are surrounded by open grassy areas where guests can spread out, with practical amenities like overhead lighting and electrical outlets in the pavilions.
Bathhouse Pavilion (capacity: 100) is the more rustic of the two, with restrooms below it that are shared with day-use visitors, as well as a large grill. The highlight here is that it overlooks Catamount Pond.
Shelter Pavilion (capacity: 400) is larger and has more amenities. It features private bathroom facilities, a fireplace, on-site parking, running water, a charcoal grill, and a barbecue pit. There is a beach directly across the street.
Tips for first-time visitors
Here are a few tips to help ensure your first visit to Bear Brook State Park is an enjoyable one:
- Arrive early on busy weekends to ensure you get a parking spot
- Bring insect repellent—especially during the summer months
- Pack water and snacks for longer hikes
- If you’re bringing a pet, don’t forget their leash
- Check the weather before heading out, and dress accordingly
- Wear comfortable shoes if you plan to hike
- Download a trail map before arriving (cell service can be spotty within the park)
