Contoocook Riverway Park

Written by kb@rnes471 on November 15, 2019. Posted in Multi-use

Riverway Park, located in the center of Contoocook Village, provides river access for kayaks, canoes and rowboats. The park is a hub of activity during warmer months when it is the site of a Saturday morning Farmer’s Market. During the summer, the town’s Recreation Department hosts musical events in the Lewellen Bandstand.

The historic Contoocook Railroad Depot is adjacent to the park and includes the Depot Visitor Center, a 1907 vintage passenger coach, a late 1800’s section house, and the world’s oldest surviving covered railroad bridge. More information about the Contoocook Railroad Depot can be found at https://www.contoocookdepot.org/.

The Little Tooky Trail begins in Riverway Park and connects through the Contookcook Cemetery to the trailhead on Little Tooky Road.
Parking is available in the town lot next to the bandstand.

Kimball Lake

Written by kb@rnes471 on January 11, 2018. Posted in Multi-use

This lovely lake, approximately 28 acres in size, has adjoining cabins and hiking trails and is located at 185 Main Street in Hopkinton. Residents are encouraged to use this area for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, hiking, mountain biking, fishing and canoeing/kayaking.

A nature walk is also available. The trail begins at the end of the gravel road, which is adjacent to the main cabin. This woodland trail follows the shore of Kimball Lake and offers two options for walkers. The shorter route loops back to the lake while the longer route connects to South Road via New Road, an unmaintained town road. From there it’s an easy walk down Hopkinton’s Main Street back to Kimball Lake. Alternatively, turn left on Main Street and walk to Old Putney Hill Road to join the Hopkinton Village Greenway, a 4.5 mile loop that connects the Kimball Lake trails to the trails at Ransmeier Woods and Hawthorne Forest.

Directions:
Located at 185 Main Street in Hopkinton Village; accessed via the gravel road next to Kimball Lake. Parking is available at the main log cabin.

Walking times:
Short yellow loop: 10 minutes; yellow trail from cabins to New Road: 20 minutes
From the parking area at the cabin, follow the gravel road to a footpath along the lake. The original trail, marked with yellow blazes, follows along the lakeshore to the height of land and then loops back through the woods to the shore.

The main trail, part of the Hopkinton Village Greenway, continues west to New Road, a Class 6 road that connects to South Road. This section of the trail was built by the Hopkinton Conservation Commission after additional land was deeded to the town by the developers of the adjacent Fieldstone Road neighborhood.

There is a short loop off the main trail, marked with red blazes, that leads to some large boulders.

History

The Kimball Lake property was given to the town in 1982 by the Swiftwater Girl Scout Council who received the property through a bequest from the Kimball Estate. The lake and cabins were developed by two public-spirited natives, John C. Kimball of Manchester and Harold C. Kimball of New York City.

In 1931, the Kimballs hired unemployed workers in Hopkinton to rebuild the former mill dam on Mill Creek, dredge the swamp and create a lake. They constructed log cabins and operated the property as a lakeside resort, Horseshoe Trail Camp, for many years. The Kimball’s purchased the old blacksmith shop on the corner of Main Street and turned it into a restaurant called Horseshoe Tavern.

Residents are encouraged to use this area for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, hiking, mountain biking, fishing and canoeing and kayaking.
TThe Kimball Lake trail map is shown below. Please click the text or image link to open/download/print the PDF map.

Kimball Lake Trails – Click here to open/download/print PDF map.

Elm Brook Recreation Area

Written by kb@rnes471 on September 26, 2017. Posted in Multi-use

Overview

The Hopkinton-Everett Lakes Reservoir is maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The reservoir protects Contoocook and other towns and cities down river from flooding.

Hopkinton-Everett Lakes is a multiple use facility that provides many recreational opportunities for visitors to the 10,000 acre project. Hunting, fishing and hiking are just some of the activities enjoyed here. In Hopkinton there is one developed recreation areas on the project: Elm Brook Park. Elm Brook Park offers picnic tables and grills, playground equipment, horseshoe pits, a swim beach (no lifeguards, swim at your own risk), a short nature trail, a boat ramp, and four picnic shelters which can be reserved in advance for a fee (unreserved shelters are available for use on a first come, first served basis).

Canoeing on the Contoocook River is also a popular activity at Hopkinton Everett Lakes. In addition to the boat ramp in Elm Brook Park, a second boat ramp on Elm Brook Pool is located off of Route 202 / 9. There is no access fee charged for the use of this boat ramp.

Website links:
Army Corps of Engineers website page for Hopkinton-Everett Lakes
New Hampshire State Parks page for Elm Brook Park