Four Walking Loops

Blackwater River Loop: This walk begins at the edge of the cornfield on Burrage Road, the road directly across from the entrance to Bohanan Farm. After a short walk along the Contoocook River, look for the sign that marks the beginning of the Blackwater River Loop. The path starts in the woods next to the cornfield and enters a flat wooded area of well-managed pine and mixed hardwood. A network of woods roads and foot paths leads past vernal pools before reaching the edge of the old river bed, now floodplain along the Blackwater River. A side loop called the Contoocook Overlook Trail leads to Horne Town Forest and a spectacular lookout at the confluence of the Blackwater and Contoocook Rivers. Other lookout points along the Loop offer river views. The relatively level terrain and wide pathways make this ideal for cross country skiing as well as walking.

Contoocook Overlook Loop: This loop trail was added in the fall of 2016 to provide access to Horne Town Forest, a 14-acre parcel acquired in 2015. The new town forest is surrounded by Bohanan Farm at the confluence of the Blackwater and Contoocook Rivers. The trail to the overlook leaves the Blackwater River Loop at the half way point, adding ¾ of a mile to the Blackwater Loop (2.2 miles total with the overlook trail). The trail follows a bluff above the Blackwater River before turning toward the Contoocook River where an overlook provides beautiful views where the two rivers converge. The trail climbs a short hill to a bluff along the Contoocook River, follows through mature woodlands with views over Bohanan fields, and rejoins the Blackwater River Loop.

Corser Hill Loop: This walk begins by turning left from the parking area at Bohanan Farm and following the gravel farm road as it passes through farm fields. Access to Corser Hill is on the right side of the road shortly after turning onto the farm road. This path follows along the edge of a field before reaching the woods road that leads to Corser Hill. (Note that this access way may change from time to time depending on agricultural activities.) The loop enters the Corser pasture through a stile at the stone fence, and climbs through the open pasture to the top of the hill where a grove of large maple trees marks the site of Ham Corser’s cellar hole. Large boulders in the field have markings where Native Americans ground their corn. Be aware of the cows grazing in the pasture in season. The path continues north through the pasture to a stile at the far end, then follows a woods road back to the juncture south of the pasture. Retrace the path and farm road back to the parking area.

Amesbury Field Road: This walk begins by turning left from the parking area at Bohanan Farm and following the gravel farm road as it passes through farm fields. After passing through the Bohanan fields, the road crosses onto the Dustin property which was protected by a conservation easement in 2014. The roadway connects back to Bohanan Farm land and the Amesbury Field at approximately 1.6 miles. The farm road traverses several interesting water features including a small oxbow pond to the north (once the river channel) and an area along the Contoocook River that still floods during high water, helping to prevent downstream flooding during heavy rains. The silver maple floodplain forest provides an unusual and dynamic environment, which makes the area an important habitat for wildlife.

History

This farm has been under the careful management of the Bohanan family since 1907 and is now being run by a member of the fifth generation of the family. The farming history of the land goes back to the 1760s, when Enoch Eastman won two acres of the land in a game of horseshoes and gave it to his son Simeon who started farming there. There is an historic marker on the farm showing the site of the second ferry across the Contoocook River, built in 1772.

In 2009, the town worked with Five Rivers Conservation Trust (www.5rct.org) to purchase a conservation easement on 413 acres, excluding an area around the house and barns. The property includes four miles of frontage on three different rivers, the Contoocook, Blackwater and Warner Rivers. In 2014, the town again worked with Five Rivers Conservation Trust to acquire a conservation easement on the 36-acre Dustin property, thereby linking the two Bohanan parcels and providing public access to Amesbury Field.

These conservation easements allow the family, and any future owners, to continue sustainable agriculture and forestry, but prevents any further development. Please treat the land with consideration and be aware that sections may be closed to public access from time to time to accommodate agricultural and timber harvest activities.

Hunting is permitted in season with appropriate license.

The 68-acre Ransmeier Woods property has two trails, offering both a field and woodland hiking experience within just a short drive of Hopkinton Village. The shorter trail circles a large hayfield and passes Smith Brook near an old dam. The longer trail continues through a mature woodland with views of the brook at the base of a steep ravine. The Ransmeier Woods trails connect to the Hopkinton Village Greenway from the longer loop trail.

Directions:
Parking for Ransmeier Woods is located next to the Police Station, 1696 Hopkinton Road between Hopkinton and Contoocook. The parking lot for the Ransmeier property is not plowed in the winter.

Walking Time:
Orange Loop: 25 minutes; Blue loop via Orange Loop: 45 minutes

The 68–acre Ransmeier Woods property has two trails, offering both a field and woodland hiking experience within just a short drive of Hopkinton Village. The shorter trail circles a large hayfield and passes Smith Brook near an old dam. The longer trail continues through a mature woodland with views of the brook at the base of a steep ravine. This trail connects to the Hopkinton Village Greenway trail.

Both trails start at the Police Station, skirting the right hand edge of the hayfield, then entering the woods and following Smith Brook along the edge of the woods close to the field. The trail passes near a now-broken dam/road across the brook that once provided access for farm vehicles. Shortly before a footbridge, the orange trail turns uphill to the left and returns to the field, circling the edge of the field back to the parking area. The Blue trail continues across the footbridge, with nice views of the brook, especially at times of high water, passing through mixed woodlands with some steeper pitches, crossing through some old stone walls and returning back to the bridge.

To connect to the Hopkinton Village Greenway from the trailhead parking area, follow the orange trail to the blue trail, cross over the footbridge and continue on the blue trail to its junction with the Greenway. Heading southwesterly (counter clockwise on the Greeway), follow the blue and yellow markers to the bridge marked “Derek’s Brook”. From there the trail crosses the brook, follows along a stone wall and crosses several boardwalks before crossing Route 103, about 500 feet north of the trailhead parking area. Heading northeasterly (clockwise) from where the blue trail intersects the Greenway, follow the Greenway to Old Stagecoach Road.

History

The area around Ransmeier Woods was settled before the town was incorporated in 1765. Numerous stone walls throughout the property are reminders of those early days. The original owner of the land lived across Smith Brook on nearby Briar Hill Road, where the house and barn still stand. A dam across Smith Brook created a farm pond which may have provided water storage for a sawmill downstream on Dolf Brook. After the Civil War much of the land here and throughout New Hampshire was allowed to grow back into woods.

The town purchased this land in 2006 from Joseph and Margaret Ransmeier with money voted from the town’s Open Space Bond, augmented by a grant from the State’s water supply protection program, awarded because the property is upstream from the Hopkinton Village Precinct’s water supply.

The land is further protected by a conservation easement held by Five Rivers Conservation Trust (www.5rct.org). The trail system was built by a group of Concord High School students under supervision of the Hopkinton Conservation Commission.