Stonehouse Pond

Tucked into the woods of southern New Hampshire—only about 20 miles from the Atlantic coast as the crow flies—there’s a 13-acre pond by the name of Stonehouse. When you go there, the name makes perfect sense. The pond is named for a 150-foot granite cliff rising up at the edge of the water, providing expansive views for those adventurous enough to scramble to the top. The pond is popular with anglers and nature lovers seeking solitude and glimpses of local wildlife.

A place this loved deserved to be protected for generations to come. So in 2007, Trust for Public Land worked with a number of partners to get it done. Among them were the Strafford Rivers Conservancy, New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, the Town of Barrington, Carolyn S. Bedford Trust, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, New Hampshire Conservation Committee, Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership grants, and individuals.

The first stage of this work in 2007 focused on 11.5 privately held acres with an access road and parking area. Then, for the next three years, we continued working to acquire the 230 additional acres, including Stonehouse Pond. This ensured that the public could enjoy not only the pond but the surrounding land as well.

Today, the Stonehouse Pond protected area offers year-round, low-impact recreation, including hiking, cross-country skiing, hunting, fishing, trapping, canoeing, and birding. The multiyear effort was anything but simple, but it was well worth it for the countless people who enjoy this outdoor haven.