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The Gonic Trails
4.6 ★★★★★ 440 Google reviews · Running trail in Rochester, New Hampshire · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Loop distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from The Gonic Trails' 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.
Laid-back nature preserve featuring marked trails, plus waterfalls and a river.
What runners say about The Gonic Trails
“Great place for a little hike, great trails and they're kept up and the river and falls are beautiful, a great place to pack a lunch and sit by the falls”
“We started out on the easy trail and went through the moderate after, we spent about 2 hours on the trail and walked 4 and a half miles.”
This is a great place to get out of the city and take a walk in the wilderness. There are marked trails and unmarked trails. You can do 20 minutes, 40 minutes or 90 minutes. Trails go up, they go down, they crisscross. Some are easy, some are not.
I love taking the kids here. There are three trails, easy, moderate and difficult. We started out on the easy trail and went through the moderate after, we spent about 2 hours on the trail and walked 4 and a half miles. This type of weather was perfect, 64 and slightly overcast.
Gorgeous, dog friendly spot! If You follow the yellow trail you will have water views for the majority of the trip. (But if you stay on yellow the whole trail, keep in mind it is not a perfect loop, you will have to backtrack a bit.)
We go here about 4 times a year. Gorgeous easy trail by New England standards. The waterfall is absolutely stunning and the water is nice and low for kids to play in. Perfect place to take your 6 to 10-year-old.
Trail conditions & character
“There’s different trails depending on how far you wanna go, I usually go on the blue until it splits to yellow so that I get a short walk to the waterfall”
“We brought our dogs down for a new place to walk, smell, and explore!”
“Muddy is to be expected in Sprng, but even my hiking boots weren't enough at a couple points.”
“(But if you stay on yellow the whole trail, keep in mind it is not a perfect loop, you will have to backtrack a bit.”
Plan your run at The Gonic Trails
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- 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.
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websiterochesternh.gov
- Phone+1 603-332-4120
Hours
| Monday | 7 am–6 pm |
| Tuesday | 7 am–6 pm |
| Wednesday | 7 am–6 pm |
| Thursday | 7 am–6 pm |
| Friday | 7 am–6 pm |
| Saturday | 7 am–6 pm |
| Sunday | 7 am–6 pm |
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