Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Nature preserve
2,406 acres20 mi of trail
Appalachian TrailMoose Mountain Trail (AT)Nat Thompson Trail: Segment 1Mountain Road Extension+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto AT 3 Mile Rd Parking
Photo: Ken_Gallager (Uploads) · CC BY-SA 3.0A+Outdoors
Outdoors in Hanover
Hanover has 143 miles of mapped trails, 2.9 for every square mile of land
31% of Hanover’s land is conserved, about 9,817 acres. 614 acres are parks and preserves, 53 per 1,000 residents. The biggest trail networks: Appalachian National Scenic Trail (20 mi), Trescott Water Supply Lands (17.1 mi), Huntington Hill Wildlife Management Area (7 mi).
Ahead of 96% of U.S. towns · #6 of 126 in New Hampshire. What drives it
Conserved land
31%
9,817 acres · of 49.0 sq mi of land
Trails
143 mi
2.9 per sq mi of land
Park land
614 ac
53 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
78%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
2.8 mi
2.0 mi lanes · 0.8 mi paths
Highest peak
2,303 ft
North Peak
Lakes & rivers
12
2 beaches · 1 boat launch
What kind of outdoors town is Hanover?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Hanover have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Hanover is ahead of 96% of U.S. towns, #6 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 Hanover’s overall grade.
Conserved land31% of the land · typical NH town 19% · U.S. 4%ATrails2.9 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (143 mi) · NH 1.2 · U.S. 0.4A+Park land53 acres of park per 1,000 residents (614 acres) · NH 44 · U.S. 13A−Parks close to home78% 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 96%
LessMore
New Hampshire towns of 2,500+ (126)Ahead of 96%
New Hampshire towns conserve more land than most (a typical one, 19%; the U.S., 4%), so Hanover’s 31% is ahead of 87% of New Hampshire towns, while its trails per square mile lead 97% of them.
How sure. Graded on any three of the four inputs instead, the letter would range from A to 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 Appalachian National Scenic Trail, with 20 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Trescott Water Supply Lands
Nature preserve
1,166 acres17.1 mi of trail
South Perimeter TrailStone Hill LoopAscutney View TrailFern Bather+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto Trescott Road Trailhead Parking
Huntington Hill Wildlife Management Area
Managed by New Hampshire Fish and Game Department
509 acres7 mi of trail
Georgia's TrailAllegra's Field TrailHansy's Loop TrailSlade Brook Link Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the trail sign
Pine Park
Park
96 acres2.9 mi of trail
Rope Ferry TrailGirl Brook TrailRiver TrailFern Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Baum Conservation Area
Nature preserve
234 acres2.7 mi of trail
Baum Blue Loop TrailBaum Yellow Loop TrailTom Linell TrailPasture Road Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto Baum Conservation Area ParkingWebsite ↗
Shumway Forest
Managed by Hanover Conservancy
267 acres2.4 mi of trail
Peter's Logging TrailBear Cub TrailHarris TrailPicnic Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto AT 3 Mile Rd Parking
Balch Hill Natural Area
Managed by Hanover Conservancy
83 acres2.1 mi of trail
Maple TrailGrasse Road TrailHemlock TrailPiane Trail+1
Dogs allowed
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Dana Pasture Natural Area
Managed by Hanover Conservancy
130 acres1.8 mi of trail
Pasture Road TrailTom Linell TrailPond Loop TrailBaboon Bypass+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto Trail Parking
All 47 parks & preserves
Appalachian National Scenic Trail2,406 acres · 20 mi of trail
DirectionsTrescott Water Supply Lands1,166 acres · 17.1 mi of trail
DirectionsHuntington Hill Wildlife Management Area509 acres · 7 mi of trail · New Hampshire Fish and Game Department
DirectionsPine Park96 acres · 2.9 mi of trail
DirectionsBaum Conservation Area234 acres · 2.7 mi of trail
DirectionsShumway Forest267 acres · 2.4 mi of trail · Hanover Conservancy
DirectionsBalch Hill Natural Area83 acres · 2.1 mi of trail · Hanover Conservancy
DirectionsDana Pasture Natural Area130 acres · 1.8 mi of trail · Hanover Conservancy
DirectionsMink Brook Nature Reserve115 acres · 1.8 mi of trail
DirectionsStorrs Pond Recreation Area76 acres · 1.7 mi of trail · Hanover Improvement Society
DirectionsGreensboro Ridge Natural Area117 acres · 1.5 mi of trail · Hanover Conservancy
DirectionsMayor-Niles Forest96 acres · 1.5 mi of trail · Hanover Conservancy
DirectionsThe Dismal at Pressey Brook200 acres · 1.4 mi of trail · Upper Valley Land Trust
DirectionsHeadwaters Forest148 acres · 1.4 mi of trail · Hanover Conservancy
Mink Brook Natural Area47 acres · 1.4 mi of trail · Town of Hanover
DirectionsFerguson Field21 acres · 0.9 mi of trail · Town of Hanover
DirectionsHanover Town Forest594 acres · 0.6 mi of trail · Town of Hanover
Jim and Evalyn Hornig Natural Area34 acres · 0.6 mi of trail · Hanover Conservancy
Dartmouth Green5 acres · 0.6 mi of trail
DirectionsBritton Forest84 acres · 0.5 mi of trail · Hanover Conservancy
Rinkier-Steele Natural Area25 acres · 0.5 mi of trail · Hanover Conservancy
DirectionsAngelo Tanzi Natural Area18 acres · 0.5 mi of trail · Town of Hanover
South Esker Natural Area14 acres · 0.5 mi of trail · Town of Hanover
DirectionsMoose Mountain South Public Lands62 acres · 0.4 mi of trail · Town of Hanover
College Park13 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
Mink Brook Community Forest263 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · Hanover Conservancy
Trescott Ridge Wetlands13 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · Hanover Conservancy
Marshall Brook Natural Area100 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Town of Hanover
Plummer Tract90 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Town of Hanover
Garipay39 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsNan & Allen King Bird Sanctuary5 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Hanover Conservancy
Great Hollow Forest11 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Town of Hanover
Hayes Farm Park4 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Town of Hanover
DirectionsTunis District Conservation Area553 acres · Upper Valley Land Trust
McKinley Tract123 acres · Hanover Conservancy
Mill Pond Forest17 acres · Hanover Conservancy
DirectionsConservation Easement13 acres
Kendal Riverfront Park11 acres · Town of Hanover
DirectionsTenney Park7 acres · Town of Hanover Recreation
DirectionsBeryl Piper Little Nature Preserve6 acres · Hanover Conservancy
Wilson's Landing2 acres
DirectionsIvy Pointe Open Space2 acres
Costello Memorial Field2 acres
DirectionsTunis Brook Mill Lot2 acres · Hanover Conservancy
Bear Hill Conservancy Land1 acres · Bear Hill Conservancy Trust
Nicole Cormen Memorial Conservation Area at Rix Ledges1 acres · Upper Valley Land Trust
Nathan's Garden1 acres
Who protects it
9,817 conserved acres
31% of Hanover’s land. Who manages Hanover’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
Land trusts & nonprofits3,861 ac
National Park Service2,670 ac
U.S. Forest Service2,089 ac
Town or city1,212 ac
State natural resources660 ac
State fish & wildlife631 ac
Other or Unknown Local Government449 ac
Conservation Easement · 5,155 acNational Scenic or Historic Trail · 2,279 acNational Forest · 2,089 acWatershed Protection Area · 1,462 acLocal Other or Unknown · 1,007 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 3,121 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 121 of 156 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appalachian National Scenic Trail National Scenic or Historic Trail | National Park Service | 2,279 | Open |
| White Mountain National Forest National Forest | U.S. Forest Service | 2,089 | Open |
| Hanover Water Works Co. Land Watershed Protection Area | Not recorded | 1,462 | Unknown |
| Goodwin Forest Local Resource Management Area | State natural resources | 528 | Unknown |
| Tunis District Conservation Area - GP State Other or Unknown | State conservation | 346 | Unknown |
| Oak Hill Private Conservation | Land trusts & nonprofits | 255 | Closed |
| Dana Property Local Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 253 | Unknown |
| Tunis District Conservation Area - AT Private Conservation | Not recorded | 196 | Unknown |
| Dana Pasture Local Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 130 | Unknown |
| McKinley Tract Local Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 128 | Unknown |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
31 places to go in Hanover
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Beaches in Hanover
Mink Brook Swimming Area
DirectionsPlus 1 beach without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Swimming spots in Hanover
1 swimming spot without a name on the map.
Playgrounds in Hanover
Dagmar's Place
DirectionsPlus 3 playgrounds without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Boat launches in Hanover
Wilson's LandingIn Wilson's Landing
DirectionsScenic views in Hanover
Balch HillIn Balch Hill Natural Area
DirectionsNorman OverlookIn Mink Brook Nature Reserve
DirectionsSunset Viewing SpotIn College Park
DirectionsPlus 5 scenic views without a name on the map.
Peaks in Hanover
North Peak2,303 ft elevation · In Appalachian National Scenic Trail
DirectionsSouth Peak2,274 ft elevation · In Appalachian National Scenic Trail
DirectionsMoose Mountain1,650 ft elevation · In Appalachian National Scenic Trail
DirectionsHayes Hill1,365 ft elevation
DirectionsLords Hill1,339 ft elevation
DirectionsPinneo Hill1,273 ft elevation · In Trescott Water Supply Lands
DirectionsHuntington Hill1,247 ft elevation · In Huntington Hill Wildlife Management Area
DirectionsVelvet Rocks1,063 ft elevation · In Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Directions1 more peak
Oak Hill860 ft elevation
DirectionsCampgrounds in Hanover
Campsite 12In Storrs Pond Recreation Area
DirectionsCampsite 14In Storrs Pond Recreation Area
DirectionsCampsite 15In Storrs Pond Recreation Area
DirectionsCampsite 16In Storrs Pond Recreation Area
DirectionsCampsite 5In Storrs Pond Recreation Area
DirectionsCampsite 6In Storrs Pond Recreation Area
DirectionsTrails & water
25 named trails and 12 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 8.9 miHorses · 2.6 miUnpaved · 25.6 mi
Appalachian Trail7.1 mi
Moose Mountain Trail (AT)5.3 mi
Harris Trail4.7 mi
Tom Linell Trail4.4 mi
Morton Farm2.0 mi
South Perimeter Trail1.8 mi
Storrs Pond Trail1.8 mi
Girl Brook Trail1.7 mi
Baum Blue Loop Trail1.7 mi
Mild Steel Loop1.4 mi
15 more trails
Gnomaste
1.3 miWheelock Trail
1.3 miNat Thompson Trail: Segment 1
1.1 miStone Hill Loop
1.1 miWolfeboro Historic Trail
1.0 miOld Highway 38 Trail
1.0 miMink Brook Trail
1.0 miAscutney View Trail
0.9 miFern Bather
0.9 miThe Goat Path
0.9 miPeter's Logging Trail
0.9 miPorcupine Trail
0.8 miMountain Road Extension
0.8 miGeorgia's Trail
0.8 miGeneral's Trail
0.8 miBiking & sports
2.8 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
2.0 mi
painted or protected bike lanes
0.8 mi
off-road bike paths
Courts & fields
20Tennis
7Baseball
5Basketball
4Football
3Soccer
2Softball
2Equestrian
1Field hockey
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →3 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 3 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
When to get out
The best walking months in Hanover: May and 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 | 10.4 | 11.8 | 13.4 | 14.7 | 15.4 | 15.1 | 14.0 | 12.4 | 10.9 | 9.6 | 8.9 |
| High (°F) | 29 | 32 | 41 | 54 | 67 | 75 | 80 | 78 | 71 | 58 | 45 | 34 |
| Rain (in) | 2.8 | 2.4 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 3.6 | 4.5 | 3.0 | 3.4 |
February is the driest month (2.4 in) and July the warmest (highs of 80 °F). 4.5 inches fall in July, the wettest month. The climate in Hanover →
Next door
Hanover and its neighbors
Hanover has the most mapped trails of the 5 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Questions about parks and trails in Hanover
Where can I hike in Hanover?
The longest trail networks: Appalachian National Scenic Trail, 20 miles; Trescott Water Supply Lands, 17.1 miles; Huntington Hill Wildlife Management Area, 7 miles; Pine Park, 2.9 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Hanover is conserved land?
31% 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 Hanover’s trails?
OpenStreetMap records dogs as welcome at Balch Hill Natural Area. For the rest, check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Hanover?
2.8 miles of bike routes are on the map: 2.0 of painted or protected lanes and 0.8 of off-road paths.
Is there public land near Hanover?
19,362 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Hanover or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 3,389 of them inside the town line.
How much outdoors does Hanover have?
Ahead of 96% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #6 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 Hanover 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 →