Dancing Bear Trail
Photo: ihamr, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- 0.4 mi
- one way
- 71 ft
- climb
- 753 ft
- high point
- Point to point
- route
- Apr–Oct
- best months
Dancing Bear Trail is a 0.38-mile hike in New Hampshire's Oak Hill, managed by the State Department of Natural Resources. It is a short, moderate outing with a total elevation gain of 71 feet, and the route is flat for most of the way, with the steepest stretch at about 0.1 mile, where the grade reaches 8%. The trail is a point-to-point route, and it is rated moderate. Bikes are allowed. Late spring and early fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Concord show May highs around 69°F and September highs around 74°F, while winter brings frequent snow days. Several other trails start close by. Krupa Loop and Tower Trail are each about 0.1 mile away, and Bowl Trail is about 0.2 mile away. Potter Ridge Trail is about 0.3 mile away.
- Krupa LoopHiking0.1 mi
Tower TrailHikingPhoto: ihamr, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)0.1 mi- Bowl TrailHiking0.2 mi
- Potter Ridge TrailHikingPhoto: ihamr, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)0.3 mi
- Big Quarry aka "Tadpole Quarry"Rock climbing4.4 mi
- Little Quarry aka "Fish Quarry"Rock climbing4.5 mi
- Merrimack RiverRiver fishing4.8 mi
- Contoocook RiverRiver fishing9.5 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- Tower TrailHiking · Next doorPhoto: ihamr, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
- Bowl TrailHiking · Next door
- Potter Ridge TrailHiking · Next doorPhoto: ihamr, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
- Knowlton TrailHiking · Next doorPhoto: ihamr, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
Upper TrailHiking · Next doorPhoto: ihamr, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- Murray TrailHiking · ~1 min drivePhoto: ihamr, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
- Ledges Pass TrailHiking · ~1 min drivePhoto: ihamr, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
- Krupa LoopHiking · Next door
- Lower TrailHiking · ~1 min drive
- Luti TrailHiking · ~2 min drive
Best time to visit Dancing Bear Trail
Best months: April–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
32° / 13°
11 wet · 8 snow
Feb
35° / 15°
10 wet · 7 snow
Mar
44° / 23°
12 wet · 5 snow
Apr
57° / 33°
11 wet · 1 snow
May
69° / 44°
12 wet
Jun
78° / 54°
12 wet
Jul
83° / 59°
11 wet
Aug
82° / 57°
10 wet
Sep
74° / 49°
9 wet
Oct
61° / 38°
11 wet
Nov
48° / 29°
11 wet · 2 snow
Dec
37° / 20°
12 wet · 6 snow
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Concord Muni Ap, NH, 5.6 mi away at 346 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
