Van Loan Preserve

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Town:
Bedford

Acreage:
67.9 acres

Trail:
1.5 miles

Originally protected by the Bedford Land Trust and conveyed to PLC on January 1, 2020. The property is owned by the Town of Bedford, subject to a conservation easement held by PLC.

 

Van Loan Preserve has easy, level hiking trails that wind through woods and along active beaver ponds, which contain several beaver dams. In the fall of 2016, the Bedford Land Trust added a new spur trail that leads to an open view of a beautiful wetland area on the west edge of the property.

Van Loan Trails

Description:
This 68 acre parcel is located on Wallace Road and North Amherst Road in Bedford, NH

Key Features:
Wetlands, an old dam, forestland

Directions:
Trailhead 1: 340 Wallace Road Bedford, NH (access directly across from Benedictine Park entrance)
Trailhead 2: 87 North Amherst Road Bedford, NH (parking diagonally across the road, at Muller Park entrance)

Parking:
There is off-street parking for trailhead 1 at Benedictine Park; for trailhead 2, use the off-street parking area for Muller Park.

TRAILS

 

Van Loan Trail (.7 miles)

The Van Loan Trail can be accessed by crossing Wallace Road from Benedictine Park or by crossing North Amherst Road from Muller Park. The trail brings you around the property and along Riddle Brook. A lovely walk in the woods for all ages.

Anna & Pic Loop (.4 miles)

The Anna & Pic Loop can be accessed from the Van Loan trails. This loop provides access to three other trails and brings you deeper into the woods.

Riddle Brook Overlook (.05 miles)

The Riddle Brook Overlook is a short loop that provides an overlook of Riddle Brook. This trail can be accessed from the Anna & Pic Loop.

Hemlock Trail (.11 miles) 

The Hemlock Trail provides an additional trail loop to become emersed in the numerous hemlock trails. This trail is accessible from the Anna & Pic Loop.

Gene's View (.06 miles)

The Gene’s View Trail is a quick out and back that ends with overlooking the Riddle Brook wetlands. The trail can be accessed from the Anna & Pic Loop.

 

Learn more about trail construction of the Gene's View Trail:  Click Here!

 

Download Trail Map

 

 

 

Help us preserve the land.

  • Passive recreation allowed (hiking, xc skiing)
  • Dogs must be kept on leash
  • Stay on designated trail
  • No wheeled vehicles
  • No hunting
  • No camping or fires 

Still have questions about allowed uses? This property is owned by the Town of Bedford: give the Town's Planning & Zoning Department a call at (603) 472-5243

History:

Access to this pristine natural wildlife area was made possible by a generous donation of a conservation easement to the Bedford Land Trust by the Van Loan family in December of 2000. The BLT hired the Appalachian Mountain Club to construct trails on the property and to build a bridge over Riddle Brook. Two eagle scouts were also involved with building a kiosk and helping with the bog bridging and blazing. The trails were opened to the public in May of 2007. In 2010 the Van Loan family donated the property to the town. The conservation easement on the property, which protects the land and allows public access to the trails for passive recreational uses, remains in place forever.