Spring, summer, fall birding.
At Clark Pond, waterfowl and such water-loving passerines as Tree Swallow and Eastern Phoebe. Along the adjacent Rail Trail and the Little Massabesic Lake Trails, passerines such as Eastern Towhee, Mourning and Blackpoll Warblers, Red-breasted Nuthatch, and migrant birds.
Clark Pond is a modest-sized pond that is part of the Griffin Brook system that flows into Lake Massabesic about 2 miles south at Clairs Landing (which can easily be visited before or after this location). Walk around the small backwater pond next to the parking area and up onto the Rail Trail to get a view of Clark Pond.
Clark Pond is located on Depot Road. From NH-101 exit 2 (Hooksett Road), go south 0.7 miles to Depot Road, which is just over the crest of a hill. Turn left and go 0.2 miles to a parking area on the left.
The Rail Trail extends west through the woods to Manchester and east to Newfields and is bordered by trees and a few small marshes and ponds. It is very popular with bicyclists, and on weekends and late-weekday afternoons during fair weather, the parking lot may be almost filled.
Across the road from the parking area and through the small field is the beginning of the Little Massabesic Trail System. A map depicting the trails is posted at the far end of the field. Many of the trails are old roads; those meandering up the hill are not.
The AllTrails website has a description and map of a hike on the Rockingham Recreational Trail to Clark Pond.
Restrooms on site
Wheelchair accessible trail
Entrance fee
Last updated October 23, 2023