HomeNew HampshireKeene › Otter Brook Lake

Otter Brook Lake

4.5 ★★★★★ 203 Google reviews · Running trail in Keene, New Hampshire · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Otter Brook Lake'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.

ShadedScenicRestroomsQuiet

Picturesque lakeside park with a large sandy beach, boat ramp & designated swimming area.

What runners say about Otter Brook Lake

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (203 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 7 mentions

“Had a Birthday party for two littles today at Otter Brook Lake the rental platforms and picnic tables were clean and awesome some shade some sun lots of fun!”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 10 mentions

“Gorgeous views, plently of walking trails, quiet, serene, a great place for a walk, quick drive, or to eat lunch.”

🌳 shaded & cool 3 mentions

“Had a Birthday party for two littles today at Otter Brook Lake the rental platforms and picnic tables were clean and awesome some shade some sun lots of fun!”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 4 mentions

“Gorgeous views, plently of walking trails, quiet, serene, a great place for a walk, quick drive, or to eat lunch.”

This place is in a beautiful spot. Surrounded by greenery, hills, sand and water. Only probs are there is absolutely NO SHADE. Personally, I like the option to sit in the shade if too hot and it's imp for kiddos to get out of the sun here and there. The other issue is that it gets slimy pretty quickly.

★★★★☆ — Sara , Jun 2018

Gorgeous views, plently of walking trails, quiet, serene, a great place for a walk, quick drive, or to eat lunch. There is no public car access to otter brook beach, but there is a trail that you can walk to the beach. I go here all the time, it's beautiful.

★★★★★ — Zach , May 2021

DISK GOLF!!!!! ♡ Fun place to hike, swim, play disk golf, have a birthday party, fly a kite.. etc. A great family park! AMAZING disk golf course! (So much fun!!)

★★★★★ — Kerri , Jul 2019

Great walk from the dam to the beach. Can be very icy walk during the winter but it's very pleasant all other parts of the year. It looks like you can swim at the beach with the bouys. There's a portapotty. There's rangers who patrol the park all hours of the day.

★★★★★ — Liam , Jun 2023

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 203 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 13 mentions

“Gorgeous views, plently of walking trails, quiet, serene, a great place for a walk, quick drive, or to eat lunch.”

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🚻 Restrooms 5 mentions

“Quiet, clean, picnic tables, bathrooms, and grills.”

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🌳 Shaded / tree cover 4 mentions

“Had a Birthday party for two littles today at Otter Brook Lake the rental platforms and picnic tables were clean and awesome some shade some sun lots of fun!”

More trails like this →

🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 4 mentions

“Gorgeous views, plently of walking trails, quiet, serene, a great place for a walk, quick drive, or to eat lunch.”

More trails like this →

Plan your run at Otter Brook Lake

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.
  • ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
  • At the trailheadrestrooms — reported by runners
  • Websitenae.usace.army.mil
  • Phone(603) 352-4130

Hours

Monday Closed
Tuesday Closed
Wednesday 8 AM–7 PM
Thursday 8 AM–7 PM
Friday 8 AM–7 PM
Saturday 8 AM–7 PM
Sunday 8 AM–7 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 Otter Brook Lake

NH-9, Keene, NH 03431

Get directions

Running trails near Keene

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

Beaver Brook Falls Nature Walk

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Robin Hood Park

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Recreational park on wooded acreage, offering a swimming pool, sports facilities, trails & a pond.

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Drummer Hill Conservation Area

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Natural preserve suitable for kids with trails for walking.

2.5 miles away

Greater Goose Pond Forest

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2 miLoopNatural surfaceScenic

Wooded park featuring a pond and trails for hiking and biking, plus swimming.

2.8 miles away

Railroad Square

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Ashuelot River Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 418 reviews

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PavedScenicDog-friendly

This 157-acre wooded park features a river & wetlands, plus trails & a paved bike path.

3.4 miles away

All running trails in Keene, 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.