Candia

This 82-acre gem sits in a crucial wildlife corridor linking Bear Brook and Pawtuckaway State Parks. Two miles of hiking trails wind through mixed forest that locals love for its peaceful setting and recent trail improvements by Eagle Scouts. The forest offers a true sense of wilderness despite being easily accessible from Route 43.

A 66-acre forest harboring one of Candia's most sensitive natural treasures - a Great Blue Heron rookery where up to 10 nests have been counted in treetop nests above Kinnicum Pond. The Hermann Sander Trail honors a local doctor who donated the land. Visit after June when young herons are less vulnerable to disturbance.

Recently renamed in 2022 to honor a beloved local road agent and conservationist, this quiet forest features a new bridge built by volunteers and a handcrafted wooden sign. The conifer-dominated trails with mixed hardwoods offer a contemplative walk through what locals consider a living memorial to community service.

A historical marker along the Rockingham Rail Trail marks where an 1889 railroad station once stood in East Candia. The old railbed rises above the forest floor here, threading through high granite cuts blasted during construction. It's a peaceful spot where railroad history meets nature, largely overlooked by casual visitors.

The lesser-known Candia stretch runs from Abe Emerson Marsh on Pattern Hill Road to Old Candia Road, offering flat walking through shaded woods with glimpses of marshland and old stone walls. Locals appreciate this quiet section for its lack of crowds and easy access to Candia First Stoppe for refreshments.