About the Property
One of New Hampshire’s most beloved paddling destinations, Grafton Pond is a 319-acre lake with an almost entirely undeveloped shoreline. There are numerous bays and uninhabited islands to explore, offering excellent swimming, fishing, and wildlife watching opportunities. A state-owned boat launch near the parking area offers the best spot for putting in a canoe or kayak. Pack a lunch and paddle out to enjoy it on one of the numerous flat rocks along the pristine shoreline.
The Forest Society owns and manages 933 acres along the shoreline—forever protecting the wild experience this lake offers. Watch for loons as you paddle, but keep your distance to reduce stress on this threatened bird species. The recommended viewing distance for loons is 300’.
Grafton Pond can be very busy on summer weekends, so you may want to try an early weekday morning for the sublimely peaceful experience that this wild pond can deliver. If you do plan to paddle, please ensure that your boat is free of any hitchhiking weeds, clean, and drained of all water before you enter Grafton Pond. The pond does not have aquatic invasive plants or animal species at present and we are working hard to keep it that way!
Gas powered motorboats are not permitted; water levels may vary considerably throughout the season.
If you don’t have a canoe or kayak, there is also a short hike out to a point on the pond’s shore that begins about 500’ south of the parking area at a green Forest Society gate.
The protected forest reservation surrounding Grafton Pond was the gift of an anonymous donor who wanted to preserve the wilderness character of the pond, and its seven miles of shoreline as a sanctuary for nesting loons. The Forest Society expands upon that important emphasis by preserving important natural areas, improving commercial timber stands, and enhancing wildlife habitat.
Please see our Visitor Use Guidelines page for a complete list of rules and regulations for Forest Society reservations.
Fishing Guide
This is one of the Forest Society’s larger reservations, and thanks to the donors and other local conservationists, most of the pond frontage is protected. Launch your canoe or kayak at the public landing, and explore the bays and islands. This is warm-water fish habitat, and you’ll enjoy casting for bass and other warm water species around the rocks and fallen trees. Loons nest here, and rarely does one go to Grafton Pond during the summer without seeing or hearing these spectacular birds.
Special Thanks
Hypertherm H.O.P.E Foundation provides generous financial support, as well as volunteer time given by employees, for the Forest Society’s stewardship efforts at Grafton Pond.
Trail Information
Trail
None
This trail is short (about 0.3 mi, one way) but lovely, with an old stone wall to the north and a variety of young trees throughout. On the ground, fresh moose and deer tracks can often be found. The trail ends at a point on Grafton Pond’s shoreline, where the pond's islands can be seen, along with a stunning view of Mount Cardigan.
From the parking lot adjacent to the Grafton Pond Dam, walk south on Grafton Pond Road for about 500’. A trailhead is on the left, marked by a green metal gate.
Recommended Properties Nearby
***Note: All trails on Reney Forest are temporarily closed and are not expected to be open again until December 2024 due to a forest management project. To learn more about this and other forest management projects, visit Recent Forestry Projects or Cutting for Conservation***
Like much of the region, the slopes of Barton Hill were cleared for farm pastures and timber by the mid 1800s. The abandonment of hill farms allowed this land to gradually revert to a forest of poplar, white birch, and pine.