River trails, parks, and historic sites give Merrimack a variety of distinct highlights. For your stay, you can choose what to focus on depending on whether you are looking for time by the Souhegan River, public recreational opportunities, or traces of historic transportation routes. The natural areas also vary: alongside individual parks, there is a contiguous woodland property and a conservation area with a waterfall.
By the Souhegan River and in the Parks
A trail along the Souhegan River opened in September 2024, connecting Watson Park with the Wildcat Falls Conservation Area. The river forms Watson Park’s southern boundary. This trail therefore brings together a riverside park and a conservation area as its endpoint, without specifying a walking time.
Wasserman Park also offers a wide range of activities, including picnicking, swimming, and fishing, as well as tennis, pickleball, volleyball, basketball, and field sports. These two parks can help guide your choices if you would like to include different recreational activities in Merrimack.
At 5.8 acres, Weston Park is a smaller park near Merrimack’s geographic center. Activities listed there include fishing, picnicking, and sledding in winter; visitors are expected to provide their own transportation for boating. Sledding stands out as a seasonal activity among the options listed.
Woodland, Habitats, and a Waterfall
Grater Woods Forest is a contiguous 480-acre property created through land acquisitions by the Merrimack Conservation Commission. The Wildcat Conservation Area encompasses 87 acres of managed pine and hardwood forest and includes Wildcat Falls. The areas differ both in size and description: one is a contiguous woodland property, while the other is a forest area with a waterfall.
Weston Park also has a notable range of habitats, from wetlands along the Souhegan River to dry, higher-elevation areas at Old Meeting House and Graveyard. The burial ground in Weston Park has been relatively undisturbed for over 200 years. A variety of native grasses, lichens, and wildflowers grow there, including species that are threatened or endangered in New Hampshire. For visitors interested in nature, these habitats offer a different focus from the parks’ recreational activities.
In the area around Merrimack, Horse Hill Nature Preserve offers hiking trails of varying difficulty. This adds a nearby hiking area to your options, while the parks and conservation areas mentioned above each have their own distinct, individually described features.
Traces of Historic Transportation Routes
Reeds Ferry was a colonial-era ferry across the Merrimack River, operated by William Read. The Reeds Ferry Site marks the location of the original landing on the west bank. Canal boats carrying passengers and freight to Newburyport were loaded there. The site thus points to the river’s former importance for passenger and goods transportation.
Other historic landmarks offer different points of interest: Chamberlain Bridge is made of local granite and features an unusual design. Simonds Rock served as a landmark for both Indigenous peoples and early settlers. Together, these sites illustrate different aspects of local history without needing to be linked into a single route.
Practical Information for Visiting the Parks
Parks in Merrimack open half an hour before sunrise and close half an hour after sunset. Before your visit, check whether any temporary closures are in effect. This lets you take park hours into account when planning your day and choose activities that suit your interests.
Discover more destinations: Bedford, Manchester, Francestown, Nashua, New Boston, Peterborough
Return to the regional travel guide: Hillsborough County.
