Located in the heart of the city of Nashua, New Hampshire, is Mine Falls Park. Unique to the city, it offers 325 acres of forest, wetland, and open fields. It is a park open for walking, running, biking, fishing, and, in the winter, cross-country skiing.

Most of the travels follow either the river or the canals; the scenery is always beautiful. You may see some interesting animals like the Belted Kingfisher or the Great Blue Heron that stops by once in a while. More details of some plants and animals you can find at Mine Falls Park are listed on a personal Website, www.hikingwithchuck.com.

For bikers or runners, the trails of Mine Falls are overall easy to intermediate. There are flat trails for a leisurely ride, but there are also some single-track runs that go along the river.  If you can find them all, the trail length totals to 10 to 15 miles. There are many entrances/exits to the park, so it can be used as a gateway for those traveling through Nashua. Mine Falls is bordered by the Nashua River on the north and by the canal system on the south. On one side you can reach Stellos Stadium by Nashua High School South, and on the other you will find yourself in downtown Nashua!

You might want to visit the dam where Mine Falls Park once got its name. It was originally a natural waterfall, but in the early 1800s, lead was allegedly mined from below the falls. A canal system and a dam were installed to drive the growing mill-yard during Industrialization. Today, it is the site of a small, privately-owned hydroelectric plant.

If you are looking for thrills and chills, Mine Falls Park is not the place, but it is definitely great for some quick moderately technical runs. In the summer it offers plentiful shade, and on the whole it can be very relaxing. It is a popular site for the residents of Nashua, yet it is never too crowded, and it is always well-maintained.

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