Stratham Hill Park, Stratham, NH
This is not an ocean view and I don’t love the two playgrounds here BUT I love the pump track for riding bikes so I have to mention it! My kids have the BEST time on this pump track, they could easily stay for hours. I went recently after my oldest got out of school and brought sandwiches for dinner. We were there for 2 hours and they were so sad to leave. When we leave we aren’t a sandy, wet mess, so that is a plus of visiting here! Stratham Hill Park is all free to park, so that is really nice too!
Getting there and parking
Honestly, the parking situation here is tough. If you are driving south down Portsmouth Ave, the main entrance will be on your left, located at 270 Portsmouth Ave, Stratham, NH. There is a large parking lot here that you can park at. There is a paved path leading you most of the way to the pump track from here. It is pretty far though, I would definitely recommend bringing a wagon or stroller EVEN IF your kids are on bikes. My kids legs suddenly are too tired to bike on our walk back to the car when we are here.
Another option for parking for the pump track is down Jack Rabbit Lane. To get here, it is your first left after the main entrance to Stratham Hill Park. Once you are on Jack Rabbit Lane, take your first or second left (either one brings you into a parking lot). This is right next to a very small playground, bathroom facilities and a baseball field. There are not signs posted here that you can not park. BUT make sure you don’t drive further down the street because there is a small parking lot closer to the pump track, but that is for Stratham residents only.
Pump track
Once you park, you follow the road down Jack Rabbit Lane or the paved path (from the main parking lot). See this link HERE for a map that has the pump track clearly labeled. Jack Rabbit Lane becomes Tote Road and then the pump track is further down. At Stratham Hill Park, Tote Road is not clearly labeled, it is a dirt road just past the residents only parking lot. From the parking lot next to the bathrooms, it is about a 0.4mile walk to the pump track.
Pump track rules
Dogs are allowed in Stratham Hill Park but they are not allowed inside the pump track. See below for further rules. This track is great for my three kids because there’s one side of it that has smaller bumps and is perfect for my 2 year old on his balance bike. On the other side of the track, the bumps are a little bigger and my 6 year old loves it!
Bathrooms
At the parking lot on Jack Rabbit Lane and at the main entrance parking lot there are bathroom facilities that are seasonal. There is a porta-potty in the Stratham Residents only parking lot closer to the Pump Track.
Playgrounds
Like I said above, my kids don’t love these playgrounds. The playground located near the main entrance is small and geared towards older kids. The slides have a steep set of stairs to climb and then another structure that my 4 year old could climb up, but couldn’t get down himself. On that structure there are multiple fun ways for the kids to get up, but only a pole to slide down in the middle to get down. The pole was a little far from the sides though and my 4 year old couldn’t reach it. There is another small playground near the parking at Jack Rabbit Lane that is easier for smaller kids!
