HomeNew HampshireHudson › Benson Park

Benson Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 2,149 Google reviews · Running trail in Hudson, New Hampshire · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Benson Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

ScenicDog-friendlyRestroomsTrailhead parkingQuiet

Roomy park featuring forest space with trails plus a playground & small animal farm.

What runners say about Benson Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (2,149 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 9 mentions

“The park is clean, well-maintained, and has a really peaceful atmosphere.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 17 mentions

“There's lots of greenspace, Picnic tables, Walking trails, Walking path, Beautiful trees, and especially Beautiful birds, turtle, fishes, rabbits.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 5 mentions

“The park is clean, well-maintained, and has a really peaceful atmosphere.”

👟 good for all levels 3 mentions

“The playground is excellent and engaging for children (our grandchildren loved it), and the trails and green spaces are pleasant and fun for all ages.”

I LOVE COMING HERE. I hike hereal.ost every day. The trails are awesome. The farm trail is by far the greatest. It's a piece of history and for some their childhood. It's so beautiful. I cannot wait to get fall photos. 100/10 oh and the owls and blue herons love making an appearance.

★★★★★ — Rachael , Apr 2025

This park was beautiful, interesting, and tranquil. Went one morning early looking for a place to stretch our legs and let the kids play, and ended up exploring and hiking the trails. Found it fascinating that this used to be a zoo, and that you can still see many of the old exhibits.

★★★★★ — J. , Aug 2021

Some years ago, this was Benson's Wild Animal Park and Zoo. It was transformed into a free public space. The playground is excellent and engaging for children (our grandchildren loved it), and the trails and green spaces are pleasant and fun for all ages.

★★★★★ — Mark , May 2022

Great park to walk around. Plenty of parking and benches to sit and relax. A lot of wildlife to watch. Good place to go birding. Does get little crowded in the summer months.

★★★★★ — Maurice , Dec 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 2,149 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 19 mentions

“Welcome to Benson Park on a Spring Day, the kids are rolling down the hills overlooking the playground and the dogs are walking their owners down the paths around the ponds.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 7 mentions

“Welcome to Benson Park on a Spring Day, the kids are rolling down the hills overlooking the playground and the dogs are walking their owners down the paths around the ponds.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 5 mentions

“The park is clean, well-maintained, and has a really peaceful atmosphere.”

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🚻 Restrooms 3 mentions

“Restrooms are clean, and a nice playground for the kids.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 3 mentions

“They have lots of parking, but entrance needs paying attention to the road because i almost miss it everytime.”

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Plan your run at Benson Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websitehudsonnh.gov
  • Phone+1 603-886-6018
  • Social Facebook

Hours

Monday 5 am–9 pm
Tuesday 5 am–9 pm
Wednesday 5 am–9 pm
Thursday 5 am–9 pm
Friday 5 am–9 pm
Saturday 5 am–9 pm
Sunday 5 am–9 pm

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Benson Park

Gorilla House, 19 Kimball Hill Rd, Hudson, NH 03051

Get directions

Running trails near Hudson

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Rangers Town Forest

4.5 ★★★★★ 4 reviews

Hudson, NH

under a mile away

Merrifield Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 30 reviews

Hudson, NH

under a mile away

Heritage Trail

3.4 ★★★☆☆ 5 reviews

Nashua, NH

2.5 miles away

Nashua River Rail Trail

4.2 ★★★★☆ 28 reviews

Nashua, NH

2.8 miles away

Greeley Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 1,232 reviews

Nashua, NH

LitScenic

125-acre riverside park with a bandstand, sports fields, picnic facilities & a community garden.

3.2 miles away

George M. Muldoon Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 182 reviews

Pelham, NH

ShadedDog-friendly

Recreational park offering football & soccer fields, baseball diamonds & a disc golf course.

3.5 miles away

All running trails in Hudson, NH →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.