Henderson-Swasey Town Forest
Managed by Town of Exeter
249 acres7.9 mi of trail
Green LoopWestern front (Blue Blaze)Gas LineIPA Connector+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto Trestle Parking Lot
Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0A+Outdoors
Outdoors in Exeter
Exeter has 62 miles of mapped trails, 3.2 for every square mile of land
32% of Exeter’s land is conserved, about 3,976 acres. 938 acres are parks and preserves, 58 per 1,000 residents. The biggest trail networks: Henderson-Swasey Town Forest (7.9 mi), Oaklands Town Forest (5.9 mi), Piscassic River Wildlife Management Area (1.7 mi).
Ahead of 98% of U.S. towns · #3 of 126 in New Hampshire. What drives it
Conserved land
32%
3,976 acres · of 19.6 sq mi of land
Trails
62 mi
3.2 per sq mi of land
Park land
938 ac
58 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
88%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
3.5 mi
1.6 mi lanes
Highest peak
174 ft
Beech Hill
Lakes & rivers
12
1 boat launch
What kind of outdoors town is Exeter?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
A trail town3.2 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, more than 98% of U.S. towns.Land that stays wild32% of the land is conserved; a typical New Hampshire town, 19%.Parks close to home88% of residents live within a half mile of a park.History along the way10 places on the National Register.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Exeter have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Exeter is ahead of 98% of U.S. towns, #3 of 126 in New Hampshire. All four inputs are above most U.S. towns; trail miles rank highest, the share of residents near a park lowest.
A+
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of Exeter’s overall grade.
Conserved land32% of the land · typical NH town 19% · U.S. 4%ATrails3.2 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (62 mi) · NH 1.2 · U.S. 0.4A+Park land58 acres of park per 1,000 residents (938 acres) · NH 44 · U.S. 13A−Parks close to home88% of residents within a half mile of a park · NH 40% · U.S. 72%B+
All U.S. towns we grade (21,298)Ahead of 98%
LessMore
New Hampshire towns of 2,500+ (126)Ahead of 98%
New Hampshire towns conserve more land than most (a typical one, 19%; the U.S., 4%), so Exeter’s 32% is ahead of 88% of New Hampshire towns, while its trails per square mile lead 99% of them.
How sure. Graded on any three of the four inputs instead, the letter would still be A+. Trails and many small parks come from OpenStreetMap, mapped by volunteers, so coverage varies from town to town; the half mile is a straight line from each census block, so a river or highway in the way isn’t counted against it.
PAD-US, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors), Census 2025 Gazetteer and 2020 blocks; details in Sources below. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Henderson-Swasey Town Forest, with 7.9 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Oaklands Town Forest
Managed by Exeter Conservation Commission
228 acres5.9 mi of trail
Demoralizer (Hillzilla)BLT SouthMiddle EarthHamberger Hill+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto Oaklands Newfields Road Parking Lot
Piscassic River Wildlife Management Area
Managed by NH Fish & Game
576 acres1.7 mi of trail
BC Connector
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the trailhead
Little River Conservation Area
Managed by Exeter Conservation Commission
400 acres1.7 mi of trail
Little River Trail WestLittle River Trail East
Dogs allowed
Directionsto the parking lot
Morrissette Conservation Area
Managed by Town of Exeter
37 acres1.3 mi of trail
Orchard Trail
Dogs on leash
Directionsto the trailhead
Raynes Farm
Managed by Exeter Conservation Commission
41 acres0.9 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
McDonnell Conservation Area
Managed by Exeter Conservation Commission
46 acres0.5 mi of trail
McDonnell Conservation Area Trail
No dogs
Directionsto the trailhead
Kimball Reserve
Managed by Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire
13 acres0.4 mi of trail
Blue TrailPennell Path
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the trailheadWebsite ↗
All 18 parks & preserves
Henderson-Swasey Town Forest249 acres · 7.9 mi of trail · Town of Exeter
DirectionsOaklands Town Forest228 acres · 5.9 mi of trail · Exeter Conservation Commission
DirectionsPiscassic River Wildlife Management Area576 acres · 1.7 mi of trail · NH Fish & Game
DirectionsLittle River Conservation Area400 acres · 1.7 mi of trail · Exeter Conservation Commission
DirectionsMorrissette Conservation Area37 acres · 1.3 mi of trail · Town of Exeter
DirectionsRaynes Farm41 acres · 0.9 mi of trail · Exeter Conservation Commission
DirectionsMcDonnell Conservation Area46 acres · 0.5 mi of trail · Exeter Conservation Commission
DirectionsKimball Reserve13 acres · 0.4 mi of trail · Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire
DirectionsGilman Park13 acres · 0.4 mi of trail · Exeter Parks and Recreation Department
DirectionsExeter Recreation Complex22 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Town of Exeter
DirectionsBrickyard Park13 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Exeter Parks & Recreation Dept
DirectionsSwasey Parkway9 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Swasey Parkway Trustees
DirectionsGooch Park1 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · RiverWoods
DirectionsConnor Farm Wildlife Mangagement Area218 acres · NH Fish & Game
DirectionsSmith-Page Conservation Area56 acres · Town of Exeter
Park Street Common2 acres · Town of Exeter
DirectionsTown House Common1 acres · Town of Exeter
DirectionsExeter Gas Works1 acres · Unitil
DirectionsWho protects it
3,976 conserved acres
32% of Exeter’s land. Who manages Exeter’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
Town or city1,183 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits1,098 ac
State fish & wildlife310 ac
Other state land190 ac
Other or Unknown Local Government160 ac
State natural resources53 ac
USDA easements (NRCS)45 ac
Conservation Easement · 2,087 acLocal Other or Unknown · 746 acPrivate Conservation · 483 acLocal Resource Management Area · 473 acResearch or Educational Area · 450 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 1,539 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 123 of 167 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phillips Exeter Academy Land Local Conservation Area | Not recorded | 458 | Unknown |
| Piscassic River Wildlife Management Area Private Conservation | Land trusts & nonprofits | 213 | Unknown |
| Oaklands Town Forest Local Resource Management Area | Not recorded | 204 | Unknown |
| Little River Conservation Area Local Resource Management Area | Not recorded | 203 | Unknown |
| Forest Ridge OSA Local Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 132 | Open |
| Houck / Kazanjian Local Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 73 | Unknown |
| Katz Land Local Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 67 | Unknown |
| Raynes Farm Local Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 58 | Unknown |
| Captains Meadow Local Conservation Area | Not recorded | 57 | Open |
| Piscassic River - Baglin Private Conservation | Land trusts & nonprofits | 52 | Unknown |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
29 places to go in Exeter
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Public pools in Exeter
Dan Healy Memorial PoolFee · In Exeter Recreation Complex
DirectionsPlaygrounds in Exeter
Kids Park
DirectionsPark Street Common PlaygroundIn Park Street Common
DirectionsPlanet PlaygroundIn Exeter Recreation Complex
DirectionsPlus 12 playgrounds without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Dog parks in Exeter
1 dog park without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Boat launches in Exeter
1 boat launch without a name on the map.
Waterfalls in Exeter
Great Falls
DirectionsLower Falls
DirectionsScenic views in Exeter
2 scenic views without a name on the map.
Peaks in Exeter
Beech Hill174 ft elevation
DirectionsProspect Hill
DirectionsPicnic areas in Exeter
2 picnic areas without a name on the map.
Campgrounds in Exeter
Green Gate Campground Function Hall
DirectionsWinding Rivers CampgroundFee
DirectionsCommunity gardens in Exeter
1 community garden without a name on the map.
Trails & water
25 named trails and 12 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 29.4 miUnpaved · 23.3 mi
Green Loop1.3 mi
Jolly Rand Trail1.3 mi
X-Trail (Racer X)1.3 mi
XLR81.3 mi
X-Trail1.2 mi
Demoralizer (Hillzilla)1.1 mi
Boulderdash1.1 mi
BLT South1.1 mi
BC Connector1.0 mi
Middle Earth1.0 mi
15 more trails
Cattle Dog
1.0 miBS_2_FR
0.9 miLittle River Trail West
0.9 miGilman Trail
0.8 miBog
0.8 miFrost Line
0.8 mi50/50
0.7 miGilman Spur
0.7 miOrchard Trail
0.7 miLittle River Trail East
0.7 miPowerline
0.7 miDeane's Dream
0.7 miWestern front (Blue Blaze)
0.7 miGas Line
0.6 miYellow Loop
0.6 miBiking & sports
3.5 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
1.6 mi
painted or protected bike lanes
1.9 mi
shoulders & shared lanes
Courts & fields
34Tennis
10Baseball
9Soccer
7Basketball
6Softball
5Multi-sport
4Football
3Lacrosse
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →10 places on the National Register, one a National Historic Landmark
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 63 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
Dudley HouseBuilding · listed 1971
About itFirst ChurchBuilding · listed 1971
About itFront Street Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1973
About itGilman Garrison HouseBuilding · listed 1976
About itEdward Sewall GarrisonBuilding · listed 1980
About itSamuel Tenney HouseBuilding · listed 1980
About itExeter Waterfront Commercial Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1980
About itMoses-Kent HouseBuilding · listed 1985
About itMaj. John Gilman HouseBuilding · listed 1988
About itWhen to get out
The best walking months in Exeter: May to September
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.3 | 10.5 | 11.8 | 13.3 | 14.6 | 15.3 | 15.0 | 13.9 | 12.4 | 10.9 | 9.7 | 9.0 |
| High (°F) | 34 | 37 | 45 | 57 | 68 | 77 | 82 | 81 | 73 | 61 | 50 | 39 |
| Rain (in) | 3.3 | 3.3 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 3.8 | 4.1 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 4.8 | 3.9 | 4.4 |
February is the driest month (3.3 in) and July the warmest (highs of 82 °F). 4.8 inches fall in October, the wettest month. The climate in Exeter →
Next door
Exeter and its neighbors
Exeter has the most mapped trails of the 7 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exeter | 32% | 3.2 | 58 | 88% | A+ |
| Stratham | 20% | 1.2 | 15 | 19% | B+ |
| Brentwood | 30% | 0.9 | 23 | 13% | B+ |
| Newfields | 28% | 2.6 | 47 | 95% | A+ |
| Kingston | 21% | 1.3 | 19 | 29% | A− |
| East Kingston | 17% | 0.5 | 1 | 17% | C+ |
| Kensington | 28% | 1.1 | 45 | 24% | A− |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Exeter
Where can I hike in Exeter?
The longest trail networks: Henderson-Swasey Town Forest, 7.9 miles; Oaklands Town Forest, 5.9 miles; Piscassic River Wildlife Management Area, 1.7 miles; Little River Conservation Area, 1.7 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Exeter is conserved land?
32% of its land, against a typical 19% for a New Hampshire town and 4% nationally (PAD-US). Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors: easements are usually private land.
Are dogs allowed on Exeter’s trails?
OpenStreetMap records dogs as welcome at Little River Conservation Area and Morrissette Conservation Area (on leash). For the rest, check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Exeter?
3.5 miles of bike routes are on the map: 1.6 of painted or protected lanes and 1.9 of shoulders and shared lanes.
Is there public land near Exeter?
16,242 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Exeter or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 958 of them inside the town line.
How much outdoors does Exeter have?
Ahead of 98% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #3 of 126 in New Hampshire. The grade combines the share of land that is conserved, miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, park acres per 1,000 residents and the share of residents within a half mile of a park. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Exeter neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →