The Horse Hill Nature Preserve is tucked right into the neighborhoods of Merrimack, offering a very accessible nature retreat. Easy to get to, it is only 5 minutes from the highway and straightforward to find. At the main entrance there is a large paved parking lot with an information kiosk.
Lastowka Pond
Stroller friendly, wildlife viewing, accessible water’s edge
The Loop Trail heads out from the main parking lot’s information kiosk. It starts out as a wide, clear trail and is very stroller friendly. (Bring the jogging stroller for a smooth ride though.) On this initial section you will pass the Lastowka Well, a hand dug well left over from the first owners of the land who used it for pasture/farming. In less than half a mile, you will reach the pond. There is a bench to sit on with an information board about beavers and conveniently, the beavers have built their home right offshore from this spot.
A beautiful space to take in the pond, stopping here to explore a bit and then heading back can be a full outing in itself. The area around this section of the pond is open so you can walk around easily. We had a two year old with us on one visit and I know he would have been endlessly entertained hanging out here, finding sticks and moving them from here to there. So bring a coffee, sit on the bench and relax watching the tiny explorers explore!
A Mini Loop Trail
To tackle the entire Loop Trail would be a commitment of over 4 miles. If you’d like a hike where you don’t end up carrying all the things and all the tiny people, using the Long Pond Bypass route brings it under 2 miles. This route is all beginner level hiking, making it tiny-hiker-friendly. There are some cool big rocks to stop and climb along the way, making it still an engaging walk for older kiddos. The route is not stroller friendly.
Note: The All Trails data above stops at the pond (black dot). It doesn’t capture the section from the pond back to the car (blue dot).
Quick Facts: Horse Hill Nature Preserve
| Paved parking lot at trailhead |
| Merrimack Outdoors’ Official Trail Map |
| Walk to the pond is stroller friendly |
| Trails are NOT stroller friendly |
| Loop Trail via the Long Pond Bypass is an easy hike |
| No bathroom |
| Address: 184 Amherst Rd, Merrimack, NH |
Nearby Resources
| Shaw’s (6 minutes) | Grocery store & bathroom |
| Wasserman Park (5 minutes) | Playground, porta-potty |
| Buckley’s Bakery & Cafe (9 minutes) | Coffee, lunch, snacks & bathroom |
Be safe, be seen: Wear your oranges
At over 500 acres, this is a large space with lots of wildlife. Hunting is permitted so pay attention to hunting seasons and wear your orange as you set out on the trails.
