Updated 10/15/2025

The Weather Forecast Looks Great for Our Ribbon Cutting/Grand Opening!

Saturday October 18, 2025

11:00 AM -1:00 PM

After nearly 3 years of work, the Atkinson Conservation Commission is thrilled to announce that we have completed construction of 3,600 feet of Universally Accessible trails in the Slade Town Forest. Please check back here soon and often for updates. We hope you’ll join us on October 18.

About the Trails

Our 6-foot wide trails are surfaced with a compacted, 6″ deep layer of “Hardpack” crushed stone material, making them suitable for various types of wheelchairs, rollator walkers, strollers, and other assistive devices. Walkers/hikers of all abilities should find secure footing on the uniform surface. The relatively gentle slopes of the Slade Town Forest allowed us to comply with accessible grade requirements with minimal need to reshape the forest floor. Painstaking efforts were taken to protect the roots of the towering, mature trees while providing some close encounters with them. Our goal was to have our trails look like they were simply dropped into the forest. We think we’ve achieved this objective.

Location

You’ll find both a trailhead parking lot and a roadside trail entrance on Pope Road (not to be confused with Woodlock Park Lane, which was called Pope Road until 2010). The “real” Pope Road can only be accessed from Main Street/Route 121. The intersection is clearly marked with a white road sign and a green sign for Settlers Ridge. Our 2 access points are on the right, just beyond #4 Pope Road. Note the location in this aerial view: