Need a reset between classes, research, or writing? These hikes are close to campus, easy to reach without a car, and perfect for clearing your head. Remember to bring water and wear sturdy shoes.
Pine Park (Hanover, NH)
- Time: ~30-45 minutes
- Distance: ~1.5 miles
- Bus access: Red or Blue line to campus or walk from downtown Hanover.
- Pro tip: Start from Occom Pond or the golf course.
Mink Brook Nature Preserve (Hanover, NH)
- Time: ~40 minutes
- Distance: ~1.3 miles
- Bus access: Blue line to Sachem Village or Route 120.
- Pro tip: Look for herons if you go in the morning.
Slade Brook (Hanover, NH)
- Time: ~35 minutes
- Distance: ~1 mile
- Bus access: Blue line to Etna Road (short walk from the stop)
- Pro tip: Stop by the waterfalls in the spring or after a rainstorm for the best views.
Balch Hill Summit Trail (Hanover, NH)
- Time: ~30-45 minutes
- Distance: ~1.5 miles
- Bus access: Red line to Reservoir Road
- Pro tip: Lots of milkweed in the meadow, look for monarch butterflies.
Boston Lot Lake, Lower Loop (Lebanon, NH)
- Time: ~45-60 minutes
- Distance: ~2 miles
- Bus access: Blue line to the Wilder Dam stop.
- Pro tip: This loop is manageable in under an hour if you stick to the bottom trails.
Looking for Company or More Trails?
You don’t have to hike or picnic solo (unless you want to)!
- Find a hiking buddy by posting in one of the Dartmouth grad student or postdoc Slack channels—chances are, someone else is also looking to get outside.
- Join a group walk around Occom Pond, hosted regularly by Kerry Landers as part of the GuariniGRAD Dialogue Programs. It’s a great way to connect, stretch your legs, and chat with fellow students and postdocs.
Want to discover more trails?
- Explore the Trail Finder site for Upper Valley routes
- Check out the Trailhead app by the Dartmouth Outing Club and Dartmouth Outdoor Programs.
- Or browse AllTrails.com for reviews, maps, and difficulty ratings
Happy hiking!
