This Hike Takes You To A Place Some Of New Hampshire’s First Residents Left Behind
Explore the eerie trails of Monson, New Hampshire's first inland colony, which mysteriously became a ghost town.
Now that most of the leaves have fallen from the trees, walking through the New Hampshire woods can be a downright eerie experience. From the wind whistling through the branches of the trees to the amplified sound of snapping of tree branches beneath your feet, a winter hike can be a unique experience. One of our favorite spooky hikes is really more of a walk and it includes some interesting history as well as tales of haunting happenings.
New Hampshire's first inland colony was settled in the 1730s.
But, mysteriously, the entire colony disappeared less than 50 years later. Nobody knows why it was completely deserted, but it left Monson a ghost town.
While the area is overseen and maintained as a dedicated outdoor area to explore, it feels eerie to walk around.
The Forest Society is responsible for ensuring the trails are in good condition, but in addition to outdoor adventures here, visitors will also find a museum set up in a house.
The home is reconstructed based on what was believed to have been erected in the area. And inside you'll find artifacts connected to the people of the time.
Evidence of the colony still exists in the form of archeological ruins, which adds to the eerie, ghostly feel.
The town is comprised of 215 acres of land and has more than 2.5 miles of trails.
There have been many reports of ghostly activity, including visitors hearing the distant sound of Native American drums as well as strange lights in the forest along with cold spots.
Exploring the trails should take between one and two hours, depending on how many times you stop and explore the abandoned home foundations and read the educational signs also located along the trail.
To see more of the area, check out this video exploration:

Head to Chesterfield for another abandoned area that's incredible for exploration. Read all about it here!
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