Frank Bolles Preserve
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Frank Bolles Preserve is a 74-acre protected area located in Hanover, New Hampshire.
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Summary
It is owned and managed by the Hanover Conservancy, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving natural spaces in the region.
The preserve is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including black bears, bobcats, and moose. Visitors can enjoy hiking on the 2.5-mile trail system that winds through the forest, wetland, and meadow habitats. The trails are well-marked, and visitors can pick up a trail map at the parking area.
One of the main attractions of the preserve is the scenic overlook, which offers stunning views of the Connecticut River Valley. Other points of interest include the beaver pond, which provides an opportunity to observe these industrious creatures at work, and the wildflower meadow, which is particularly beautiful in the spring and summer months.
Interesting facts about the area include the fact that the land was originally owned by Frank Bolles, a former professor at Dartmouth College who was instrumental in the establishment of the Appalachian Mountain Club. Bolles was a passionate naturalist and conservationist who believed in the importance of preserving wild spaces for future generations.
The best time of year to visit Frank Bolles Preserve is in the spring or summer, when the wildflowers are in bloom and the weather is mild. However, the preserve is open year-round, and visitors can enjoy snowshoeing or cross-country skiing in the winter months. Overall, Frank Bolles Preserve is a beautiful and peaceful natural space that is well worth a visit for anyone interested in hiking, wildlife, and conservation.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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