In Atkinson, nature and history come into focus at specific destinations: a short walk, a trail network with several types of paths, access to the water at Big Island Pond, and traces from the 18th century each offer a different experience. When choosing accommodation, start by considering whether your stay will be shaped mainly by outdoor activities, the water or local history.
Access to the Water at Big Island Pond
The Town Canoe/Kayak Launch on Stickney Road provides access to Big Island Pond for canoes, kayaks, paddleboards and similar watercraft. The facility is for private recreational use only; commercial use is prohibited. Check local conditions before use.
Forest and Trail Walks
In Atkinson Town Forest, the Caroline Orr trails wind through 57 acres of wooded land with ponds, streams and other points of interest. The town’s 2024 trail map and guide describe them as easy and well marked; allow about 30 minutes for a short walk.
The Crown Hill Trail System offers a different focus: yellow-blazed trails cross two conservation areas and include old farm roads as well as hiking and mountain biking trails. The trails pass over rolling, newly forested high ground, follow streams and wind through a network of 18th-century stone walls. The main access point for the Crown Hill-Noyes Trail System is on East Road, with a second entrance on Crown Hill Road. Named sights on the Crown Hill-Noyes Trail System include the old three-town boundary marker (A/P/H) and the Noyes rock shelter.
The town’s trail guide also notes seasonal hunting; take this into account when planning your visit. The Caroline Orr description gives a general idea of how much time to allow; at Crown Hill, the choice between hiking and mountain biking and the landscape features are the main considerations.
School, Cemetery and Local History
Atkinson Academy was founded in 1787, burned down in 1802 and was rebuilt on Academy Avenue in 1803. Today, it is considered the oldest surviving coeducational school building in the United States and also serves as Atkinson’s elementary school. Coeducational means that girls and boys are taught together.
An exhibit about life in Atkinson includes artworks on the American Revolutionary War created by students at Atkinson Academy. Old Atkinson Cemetery was established in 1773 and is the burial place of many of Atkinson’s earliest residents. The cemetery also commemorates Atkinson’s patriots of the American Revolutionary War.
Atkinson’s Town Pound, a local landmark, was built around 1787. Its stone-walled enclosure illustrates how early New England communities confined stray or trespassing animals.
Discover more destinations: Sandown, Seabrook, Greenland, Hampton Falls, Northwood, Portsmouth, Londonderry, Exeter.
For the broader travel overview: Rockingham.
