Manchester Cedar Swamp Preserve (TNC) — Attraction in Manchester

My husband and I just discovered this place and we've been there several times and loved it each time!

This trail is accessible via a parking lot just off the road. It has a decent amount of parking, and there are handicap spots available as well. I've also seen a bus go through there a couple times, so there is an accessible bus route, too.

There is a portipotty there as well. There are no other bathrooms on premises or along the trail.

At the start of the trail there is a sign that displays all of the trails. It displays distances, and for the all-person trail it marks where all the benches are and indicates the typical distance between benches.

There are two types of trails here. The all-person trail, and the woodland trail. The all-person trail is a wide gravel path lined with stones that is flat and level. The path is designed with all people in mind. It's about a mile round trip, and towards the end of the trail it splits into a loop. Going into the loop you end up on these wooden walkways that go through the swamp. It's a beautiful view. The loop circles back on itself so you end up back where you started.

Periodically along the all person trail, there are several informational boards. They cover various topics of interest along the trail. Wildlife, trees, different types of flowers, etc. It also talks about the native American history throughout the area and how they made use of the land. It's very interesting.

The second trail is the woodland trail, which you can get to from the all-person trail. It's a much larger loop through the woods, and the trail is more like a deer path and not a wide, groomed path. The gradation of the trail varies quite a bit, so I recommend good shoes and water. The trail is marked by small arrow signs placed periodically to indicate direction. Halfway through the trail there is also a side loop that you can go down into that takes you to a rhododendron area. It's really beautiful down there and I can't wait to see it in the spring. The woodland trail does not have any benches or other man-made areas to rest.

For the most part this place is very quiet and secluded, but there are occasions where planes will go overhead and it can be rather loud.

I've seen a number of people on the trail when I have gone, but I wouldn't call it busy by any means.

Overall, I think this is an excellent addition to the area and I intend to go there frequently. Highly recommend if you like nature, and it's great if you want a nice nature walk with children, elderly or...

Three terrific trails located here with fun information to read along the way for both kids and adults. It is unfortunate that only service dogs are welcome as it would be a great walking trail for many dogs, but I understand how that is a slippery slope to go down and how it lessens the purpose behind the trails being built. My wife, 5 year old daughter, and I began on the Woodland trail, which had some minor elevation changes, and very much felt like any trail you would encounter on a hike through the woods in NH. The trail was well marked but definitely covered with exposed roots, rocks, and other obstacles, so being mindful of where you step is important. It was a very buggy walk so I would recommend bug spry if you pursue that trail. After finishing that trail we continued on to the all persons trail which felt like walking on a freeway after doing the Woodland Trail. The All Persons Trail was very wide, flat, well maintained, and easy to navigate as expected. There were placards along the trail to educate you on birds, plants, history of nature, and other information as well as multiple benches and areas to pull off if interested. The Rhododendron lookout was particularly interesting to see so many of them growing wildly that deep into the woods. We completed the loop at the end which was almost entirely by way of a bridged path and was once again very clean, in great shape, and easy to navigate. That portion of the walk made it feel as if you were not in NH and more like a jungle of sorts whith how it was cut directly into the forest/swamp with little impact to the area around it. We then made the walk back to the lot and all agreed we would make this a regular visit. I hope to see these trails continue to be well maintained and can't wait to experience the trails in the fall and winter as well. Please respect the trails if you use them, carry out any trash you bring or happen to see, keep the trail clear of any debris, and enjoy the walk through nature. The full 2.2 miles we did (The 1 mile Woodland loop trail and the 1.2 mile out and back All Persons trail) took us about 45 minutes walking at a steady pace with a few breaks for water and placard reading. We didn't see or hear much wildlife other than a few birds, including multiple Great Crested Flycatchers, which also happen to be a...

If you are going here in the Summer definitely bring at hat and bug repellent. Some of those bugs like to dive bomb into your hair, so the hat is helpful. Also this is a very poorly marked trail, with endless roots and uneven rocks for a trail, you often don't know where the path is, you know where it is not. So if you are new to the trail, or pretty much anyone, it's NOT a good path to hike close to sundown.

A picture of the walking path was posted, it's a fair representation of the hiking trail throughout. It would be great if the parks dept. actually made signs that made sense. You can run into multiple trail forks, one after the other, and both paths will have the exact same name, "rhododendron loop" to the right and "rhododendron loop" to the left, so the signs are...