Stonehouse Pond (NH) August 16th, 2026

Stonehouse Pond

Location: Barrington, New Hampshire
Mileage: 1.8 Miles
Elevation Gain: 147 Feet
Trails Used: Locke Trail, Overlook Trail, Ledges Loop
Views: From Ledges Loop Trail
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Hiking Lists: Barrington Trail Trekker/10 Seacoast Hikes

I had never done this hike before today, which was a shame because it turned out to be a really nice, easy trail with decent views. With Amy spending the day with her good friend Linda, it became a solo hiking day for me. Stonehouse Pond sits in Stonehouse Forest, a 230-acre conservation area in Barrington, New Hampshire, and covers about 14 acres itself. SELT owns the land via conservation easement. I made the roughly hour-long drive from home to the Stonehouse Pond Trailhead, where just one other car was parked.

Stonehouse Pond is part of the Barrington Trail Trekker Patch, which involves hiking over 30 miles of maintained trails in Barrington. It’s also included in the 10 Seacoast Hikes, aiming to explore all family-friendly hiking trails along the Maine–New Hampshire seacoast. There’s even a companion book, *The Freelance Adventurer’s Seacoast Hikes and Nature Walks*.

The main parking area for Stonehouse Forest and Stonehouse Pond is located near the trailhead. I parked in the upper lot and strolled down to this spot to start my hike.

I think some parts of the hiking trails double as snowmobile trails, but they’re still pretty easy to get through.

The junction where Locke Trail meets Overlook Trail has signs at every intersection showing the mileages.

The final climb to the ledges with views over Stonehouse Pond.

From the ledges overlooking Stonehouse Pond, the view was serene, with a lone person quietly fly fishing.

It seems this rock wall has been used as a climbing spot. I didn’t spend much time exploring the area

The Stonehouse Pond ledges as seen from the boat ramp parking area.

It was a beautiful summer day for a hike, with lovely views overlooking Stonehouse Pond and plenty of trails in Stonehouse Forest still to explore, ensuring a return visit in the near future. This family-friendly hike offers a rewarding view, and on a warm day, it’s a popular spot for swimming and jumping off the nearby diving rocks.