Russell-Shea State Forest is a state forest located on the banks of the Turkey River in Concord, New Hampshire. The forest features a diverse landscape of mixed hardwood forests, craggy granite ledges, hidden ponds, marshes, and brooks. This natural environment, home to flora such as mountain laurel and witch hazel, provides a setting for several sports like hiking, road cycling, jogging, touring cycling, and more.
Things to do in Russell-Shea State Forest include…
77
Routes
4.6
(28)
Average rating
367
People visited

3
hikers
2.61km
00:40
0m
10m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

2
hikers
3.57km
00:55
20m
20m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

1
hikers
4.70km
01:15
50m
50m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

1
hikers
4.00km
01:03
30m
40m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.8
(8)
23
riders
22.8km
00:57
180m
180m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

6
riders
39.0km
01:44
380m
380m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5.0
(1)
18
riders
36.4km
01:34
260m
260m
Moderate road ride. Great for any fitness level. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

4.5
(4)
13
riders
32.4km
01:25
310m
310m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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12
runners
5.93km
00:37
30m
20m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5
runners
5.89km
00:36
10m
10m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

12
runners
9.16km
00:58
100m
100m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

11
runners
5.08km
00:32
40m
50m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.0
(1)
10
riders
23.0km
01:23
180m
180m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

39.1km
02:27
420m
420m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

2
riders
8.42km
00:35
20m
20m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

8
riders
14.1km
01:18
120m
120m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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7
riders
12.9km
01:13
220m
220m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

7.78km
00:35
20m
20m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

8
riders
14.4km
01:11
130m
130m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

7
riders
9.63km
00:52
110m
110m
Hard mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.
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3
riders
30.8km
02:06
440m
440m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

2
riders
46.3km
02:54
460m
460m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

1
riders
41.1km
02:43
380m
380m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

2
riders
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Russell-Shea State Forest offers a variety of outdoor activities including hiking, road cycling, jogging, touring cycling, mountain biking, and gravel biking. The forest features mixed hardwood forests, granite ledges, ponds, and brooks. More than 1,200 visitors have explored the area.
Yes, Russell-Shea State Forest provides trails suitable for various ability levels, including easy loops. The White Farm loop, approximately 2.6 miles (4.2 km) long, is an easy option. For more choices, consult the guide on Easy hikes in Russell-Shea State Forest.
Popular hiking routes include the White Farm loop (2.6 miles / 4.2 km), Rollins Park and Martin Park loop (3.7 miles / 6 km), and the Jerry Hill loop (4.7 miles / 7.6 km). These trails traverse varied terrain, from easy paths to moderate inclines. Further details are available in the Hiking in Russell-Shea State Forest guide.
The area around Russell-Shea State Forest offers several road cycling routes, with options ranging from easy, mostly paved surfaces to more challenging rides. Routes like the White Farm and Whittier Pond loop or the Rum Hill – White Farm loop are accessible. Explore options in the Road Cycling Routes in Russell-Shea State Forest guide.
Yes, mountain biking is an available activity within Russell-Shea State Forest. The forest's varied terrain provides opportunities for off-road cycling. Specific routes and information can be found in the MTB Trails in Russell-Shea State Forest guide.
Russell-Shea State Forest offers family-friendly hiking options. Trails suitable for families are available, providing accessible paths for various ages. Consult the guide on Family-friendly hikes in Russell-Shea State Forest for specific recommendations.
The forest features a diverse landscape including mixed hardwood forests, craggy granite ledges, hidden ponds, marshes, and brooks. Flora such as mountain laurel and witch hazel are present. Historical remnants of an 1818 potato starch mill operation also exist.
The varied terrain and network of trails in Russell-Shea State Forest are suitable for jogging. Runners can find routes that cater to different fitness levels. For detailed running paths, refer to the Running Trails in Russell-Shea State Forest guide.
Routes in Russell-Shea State Forest have an average rating of 4.44 out of 5 stars on komoot. This rating is based on feedback from more than 70 users. Over 1,200 visitors have shared their experiences in the forest.
Russell-Shea State Forest is overseen by the New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands. The official website for the division is www.nh.gov/nhdfl. For direct inquiries, the phone number for the forest office is 603-271-2214.
Yes, komoot offers guides for various cycling activities in the forest. These include Road Cycling Routes in Russell-Shea State Forest, Cycling in Russell-Shea State Forest for touring, and MTB Trails in Russell-Shea State Forest. There are also guides for traffic-free bike rides.

