Breathtaking Views at Sunset Rock: A Jewel of Keene, NH

Getting There

• Walking

  Starting from downtown Keene, head west on Main Street toward the intersection with Washington Street. When you reach the intersection, turn left onto Washington Street. Continue walking straight until you reach the end of Washington Street, where it merges into West Street. Follow West Street for about 0.5 miles. Look for the entrance to the Ashuelot River Rail Trail on your right. Enter the trail and follow it until you reach a fork. Take the left path which leads towards the base of the hill. As you ascend, keep an eye out for signs pointing to Sunset Rock. The hike will take approximately 20-30 minutes depending on your pace. Once you reach the top, you will be rewarded with stunning views of the surrounding area.

• Biking

  If you have access to a bike, start at Central Square in downtown Keene. Head west on Main Street and turn left onto Washington Street. Continue until Washington Street becomes West Street. After about 0.5 miles, you will see the entrance to the Ashuelot River Rail Trail. Turn right to enter the trail. Once on the trail, follow it until you reach a fork and take the left path towards the hill. The bike ride will take about 15-20 minutes. After parking your bike at the base, begin your ascent to Sunset Rock, which should take around 15 minutes.

• Public Transport

  From downtown Keene, catch the local bus service that operates towards the outskirts of the city. Ask the driver to drop you off at the nearest stop to the Ashuelot River Rail Trail entrance on West Street. Once you disembark, head towards the trail entrance and follow the trail as described in the walking instructions. This option may take longer as you will need to check the bus schedule for timing.