The Rocks' trails, fields, and parking lots are CLOSED to the public due to construction work at the Carriage Barn, except for special events and programs.

The Rocks in Bethlehem, New Hampshire is a 1,400-acre forest reservation, owned and managed by the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests. Forest Society North is a multi-year restoration and renovation project at The Rocks that started in 2020 and that we hope to complete by the summer of 2023.

About the Rocks

The heritage of The Rocks reaches from the pastoral beauty of the 1800s through the property's modern day role as a conservation and education center for the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests.
The rambling stone walls and carefully restored historic buildings at The Rocks evoke the pastoral beauty of the turn of the 20th Century in New Hampshire. Now home to the 1,400-acre North Country Conservation & Education Center for the Forest Society, The Rocks was for many years the summer home of Chicago businessman and International Harvester cofounder John Jacob Glessner and his family.
In 1978, two of John and Frances Glessner's grandchildren donated the 1,400-acre Rocks, including 22 buildings, to the Forest Society, with the requirement that there always be a crop in the field. For more than three decades, that crop has been Christmas trees, and people come to The Rocks from near and far each year to find their perfect tree.
The Forest Society offers a host of other activities at The Rocks throughout the year, from the popular springtime Maple Tours and school programs to various natural history talks and customized experiential tours for small groups. The trail system at The Rocks is open daily to visitors.
Restoration Project
After a devastating 2019 fire, the Forest Society has embarked on a renovation and restoration project that is ongoing at The Rocks.

Wildlife

The Rocks is home to several species of native animals, from bear and moose to wild turkey, spotted salamanders, and countless bird species. Many of these animals, their habits, and their habitats are featured in our Natural History Programs, offered at The Rocks and other venues throughout the year.

Christmas Tree Farm

Visit The Rocks & Harvest Your Own Christmas Trees
We invite you to join us at The Rocks each holiday season to select a perfect tree from our farm.
Buy a Conservation Christmas Tree in NH.
At The Rocks, we've been growing Christmas trees for over 35 years as part of our land conservation and management efforts.

Weddings at The Rocks

Rent The Rocks for your fall 2023 or 2024 wedding!
The Rocks has been home to many weddings, proposals, and generations of families making memories during Christmas and maple seasons. (Photo: Courtesy of Heidi Daft)
Looking for a beautiful outdoor space to hold your wedding? The Rocks is a historic gem in the North Country that offers formal gardens, a newly built amphitheater overlooking the Presidential range, and spectacular mountain views across the 1,400-acre property. Owned by the Forest Society, The Rocks is part of our nonprofit organization's mission to perpetuate the forests of New Hampshire.
We provide with your reservation:
* Several choices of ceremony and reception locations with spectacular views (site only- tents and bathrooms would need to brought in);
* Hookups for water, food trucks, and lighting.
Contact Nigel Manley, Senior Outreach Manager:  [email protected] or (603)444-6228.

Education & Adventure

NH Maple Experience
Visit The Rocks during sugar season for a hands-on maple experience including a guide to tapping a tree, boiling syrup and even tasting the final product!
Learn more about Maple Tours

School Programs

The Rocks offers several programs for school groups throughout the school year. Children are thrilled to explore our property's many acres of farmland and managed wildlife habitat, where they can discover much about the natural world around them.

Natural History Programs

The staff at The Rocks is well-versed in the natural history of northern New Hampshire and enthusiastic about the trove of wildlife treasures found in and around our 1,400-acre property. We offer a plethora of programs —  both at The Rocks and at venues around the region —  about the area's wildlife, conservation efforts, and farming.

Experiential Tours

Whether you're interested in learning about wildflowers or maple syrup, wildlife habitat or local history, there's a world of discovery to be had at The Rocks.

Bretzfelder Park Educational Series

A twice-yearly speaker series presented by the Forest Society and the Bretzfelder Park Committee.