Pulpit Road Trail-head Parking - Bedford, NH
Pulpit Road Trail-head Parking – Dog-Friendly Trails in Bedford, New Hampshire
Pulpit Road Trail-head Parking gives you access to the stunning Pulpit Rock Conservation Area, a 338-acre haven filled with well-marked, pet-friendly hiking trails, scenic rock formations, tranquil wetlands, and picturesque waterfalls. Located conveniently in Bedford, New Hampshire, this spot is ideal for dog owners seeking an outdoor adventure close to home. With multiple trail options suitable for all experience levels, this area offers serene walks, beautiful viewpoints, and a chance for you and your pup to explore nature together.
The trailhead parking area is paved, with space for about 10–12 cars, and is equipped with a trash can and trail signage. The trails are generally wide, level, and accessible year-round, with natural shade from mature trees. You’ll find this spot especially popular among local hikers, dog walkers, and nature lovers, making it an excellent destination for dog-friendly hiking. While there’s no designated off-leash or fenced area for dogs, the pet-friendly trails offer plenty of enjoyment for leashed pups. Be sure to bring your own water and waste bags, and please help keep the park clean for everyone!
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are dogs allowed at this park? Yes, the trails are dog-friendly, and many visitors enjoy walking their dogs here.
- What are the park’s leash requirements? Dogs must remain on-leash while exploring the park and trails.
- Are there waste stations or trash cans available? There is at least one trash can at the trailhead parking area, but it’s recommended to bring your own dog waste bags.
- Is there parking available? Yes, there is paved parking for about 10–12 cars at the trailhead, with additional parking options nearby.
- Are there shaded areas? Yes, the trails offer natural shade from mature trees throughout the park.
- Are there walking or hiking trails connected to the park? Yes, the area features an extensive network of marked hiking trails, including access to Pulpit Rock and Joppa Farm.
- Is the park open year-round? Yes, visitors enjoy the trails in every season, including winter.
- Are there restrooms available? Portable restrooms may be available near the parking lot.
- Is the park regularly cleaned and maintained? Reviews indicate the park and trails are clean and well maintained, but visitors should always pick up after their pets.
- Are there other trails nearby? Yes, there are additional trailheads on New Boston Road and at Joppa Farm.
Reviews
Hiked trail in July with temps over 90F. We found this trail to be quite challenging for senior hikers. Very fast elevation change with a ton of rock and wood steps. Very beautiful view. Be ready to definitely get your stair steps in.
Walked four of the trails and had a mostly great time!
Tufts trail, is perfect, really good shape, clear signage and not much to stumble on, would recommend for any skill level. Leads right up to the viewpoint on top of “Pulpit Rock”.
Campbell is a bit iffy, the red trail markers are easy to miss and at the top you can be led to think you’re on the right path but it just leads to a “private property” area, easy enough to backtrack and the trail itself was OK.
Scouting trail was nice, leads up to a leafier forest-area that opens up a little bit, it’s pretty and worth walking the extra 20minutes there and back to the main trail.
Ravine trail, nice trail but I would recommend not walking two dogs on leash here, you need to be able to get a solid grip in some areas when the ground is slippery and wet. At the end of this little trail you get well rewarded by the base of Pulpit Rock!
PS! I hiked in the fall, so low to no bugs, I can imagine it gets quite bad during summer because there is a lot of standing and slow moving water so bring your bugspray.
A great place to park to go to Pulpit rock. A trash can, trail sign and parking for about 10 to 12 cars if everyone parks tight can be found here. We managed to squash quite a few cars in with our hiking group despite people before us taking up two spots and not parking tight. The parking lot is paved with a steep hill going down to the hiking trails. At the bottom of the hill trails go left to the Joppa farm and right to Pulpit rock. This spot is about 1/2 way between both locations.
The trails were great in the winter months and I look forward to heading back as they can be enjoyed in any season. The major place to visit from here is pulpit rock. But you also have easy access to Joppa Farm. Both can be seen on one visit for a 7 mile round trip walk. But there are lots of trails and the trip can also be longer. Not sure if you can shorten the hike to both. Pulpit rock was about 3 miles round trip from this parking area.
The Pulpit Rock Conservation Area is a the 338-acre parcel of land perfect for hiking, bird watching, and close-to-home outdoor experiences. This area features the gorge and ledge named “Pulpit Rock”, wetlands, stone walls, Pulpit Brook, a number of small picturesque waterfalls; rocky outcroppings, glacial erratics such as Indian Rock, beaver lodges, the remnants of Gage’s Mill. There is also Joppa Farm at one end along with streams, wetlands, fields, forest and fauna.
There is also additional parking on New Boston Road and at Joppa Farm.
Great trail system. We covered 3.1 miles as a Scout hike today with so much to see. Waterfalls, antique equipment, amazing rocks, the pulpit, stone walls, the Mill area, the old farm location, helpful bridges, and more. Everything was well blazed and marked. There are even a few caches.
This is a gem of a place I never knew existed even though I have lived in the area for decades. Stunning rock features and water and a network of short hiking trails. We look forward to returning in spring