New Hampshire is known for its granite rock formations. Tourists and residents alike enjoy climbing the White Mountains to reach the rocky summits and enjoy spectacular views above the treeline.

But we don’t always have time to drive to the mountains or the energy to hike to the top of a peak. On a beautiful Sunday afternoon in July, my husband and I decided to take a walk in the woods at the Pulpit Rock Conservation Area. As with so many other good ideas, we weren’t the only ones who decided to take advantage of this lovely spot. The parking lot (off New Boston Road near the Bedford-New Boston town line) was full. Fortunately, parking is permitted along the road, so we sprayed on the insect repellent and set off down the Kennard Trail.

The forest trail is relatively easy, with wooden boardwalks and bridges over the wet areas. We passed couples walking their dogs on leashes and families with infants in back carriers. (The trails are not suitable for a stroller.) Families with young children were teaching them how to follow trail markers. Everyone seemed to enjoy the quietude of nature, broken only by the sounds of the running brook, the singing of birds and the croaking of frogs.

Since the ground was relatively dry, we decided to walk down the somewhat more challenging Ravine Trail. Admittedly a lot less challenging than Tuckerman’s, it’s not as easy as the Tufts, Campbell or Kennard trails. The new Pulpit Brook Trail connects the Pulpit Rock Conservation Area through Amherst to the Joppa Hill Farm Loop Trail. The new Martin Trail leads to an open meadow near the intersection of the Bedford, Amherst and New Boston town lines.

This 330-acre property is owned by the town of Bedford, subject to a variety of conservation easements. It includes more than 3 miles of walking trails. It also provides a fantastic sanctuary for wildlife.

Of course, the highlight of this area is Pulpit Rock, a large rock formation created by glacial ice melt at the end of the last ice age. Although it was a tourist attraction in the 1890s, it is now barely known to most residents of Bedford. For those who have the opportunity to walk in this area, however, it is an impressive sight.