Chapin Pond is a 5.3 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Newport, New Hampshire that features a lake and is good for all skill levels. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from January until January. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
dogs on leash
kid friendly
cross country skiing
hiking
snowshoeing
trail running
walking
forest
lake
river
wild flowers
wildlife
blowdown
bugs
muddy
old growth
over grown
rocky
snow
washed out
I parked at the end of Cornish Turnpike and found Chapin Pond to be about 1.4 miles in. Beautifully quiet with the largest beaver lodge I’ve ever seen.
Gentle incline up, then the left to Chapin Pond is marked. It’s another .3 miles in.
I would’ve rated this easy hike higher if not for all the mud (I’ll go back at the end of the summer) and because I encountered four or so ATVs.
If you take this way in, make sure to note the yellow “slow” sign in the woods to the left to mark the way back to Cornish Turnpike. I overshot it on my way back on a hot day with an elderly dog. :-(
I hiked this today with my 6 year old and 20 month old son (he was in a pack). It was a nice hike and good distance. I actually drove to the top of Cornish TPK and walked from there. It was still around 3-4 miles up and down. It's not the hardest hike I've done but I wouldn't rate it as easy. My daughter thoroughly enjoyed it and found a ton of orange salamanders that she released at Chapin Pond. Basically you stay straight/to the left on the trail which is an ATV trail and eventually across from the fenced in area is a very obvious trail that leads left. If you go down there you will arrive at the beautiful pond. The downside is that it is not well marked for Chapin Pond but you shouldn't miss it. Great spot for a picnic lunch!
Mainly this is snowmobile and atv trail system but all hikers bikers walkers and shoe-ers are able to use these trails they just ask that you yield to the riders and STAY AWARE!!!