Welch Family Farm and Forest

At Welch Family Farm and Forest, you’ll find what remains of the homestead and farm of the Welch family, who emigrated from Ireland in the 1860s. The Welches pastured cattle and raised vegetables and fruit trees in the fields. Nearby is the foundation where the farmhouse once stood. You’ll also find a large beaver pond, which in recent years has flooded the main trail connecting Welch Forest to Kulish Forest. On Kulish Forest, an extensive but unmarked network of old woods roads and trails runs through ledgy woods of white pine, red oak, sugar maple and birch. Kulish Forest contains excellent habitat for bobcats, so look for their tracks if you are out snowshoeing in winter months.

• Learn about the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire marker that was added to the property in September 2021.
• Read more about black history at the Welch Family Farm and Forest in this Forest Notes article.

The Welch and Kulish Forests abut one another in Hancock and share access points. The properties are located about 2 miles northwest of the center of Hancock and about 15 miles east of downtown Keene.

Help us care for this property by following these guidelines during your visit:

• This property is open dawn to dusk
• Carry out all trash
• Dogs must remain under control and owners must pack out all dog waste
• No motorized wheeled vehicles
• No camping
• No campfires
• Hunting and fishing are allowed
• Leave natural and cultural features undisturbed