Self-Guided Walking Tour: Of Benson Park, Hudson, NH

One mile through a park that once housed a gorilla, an elephant, and a working circus

This self-guided smartphone walking tour of Benson Park in Hudson, New Hampshire covers one mile narrated by John T. Benson, the park's original founder, and takes about 30 minutes anytime between 5 AM and 8 PM. You download the WalkNTour app to your phone before arriving, then follow the audio guide through the Gorilla House where Tony lived, Swan Lake, the Butterfly Garden, and nine other stops that trace the park's history from "Benson's Wild Animal Farm" (opened 1924) through its decades as a circus venue to its present wildlife habitat. Once downloaded, you own the tour and can retake it or share it with a friend at no extra cost.

Step-by-step itinerary

Self-guided walking tour of Benson Park

• Download WalkNTour app
• Start tour at Benson Park entrance
• Visit Gorilla House
• Walk to A-Frame picnic area
• See Amphitheatre
• Explore Swan Lake
• Visit Butterfly Garden
• Stop at Old Shoe on Storybook Hill
• Browse Benson Park Store & Gift Shop
• View 9-11 Memorial
• Finish tour

The experience

You arrive at Benson Park on your own schedule and download the WalkNTour app before you get there. The link is in your confirmation. The tour is available from 5 AM to 8 PM any day, so a free afternoon or an early morning works equally well. Once you start, the audio guide walks you through the one-mile interior loop, stopping at the Gorilla House (where Tony the Gorilla lived), the A-Frame picnic area, Swan Lake with its fish and turtles, the Butterfly Garden, and the Old Shoe on Storybook Hill. John T. Benson's narration tells you what the park looked like when it opened in 1924, which exotic animals lived where, and how the daily circus acts and amusement rides drew crowds for six decades before the park shifted to its current role as a nature preserve.

The walk is easy and flat, covering about one mile total. Public restrooms are near the entrance at the Gorilla House, and leashed dogs are welcome. The Benson Park Store is open Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 4 PM if you want ice cream or a snack after. The park is wheelchair accessible and suitable for all fitness levels, so families with strollers and visitors of any age can complete it. Once you download the tour, you own it permanently and can take it as many times as you like or send the link to a friend for free.

What’s included

• Audio-guided smartphone tour narrated by the park's original founder.
• one-mile walking route through Benson Park covering the Gorilla House, Swan Lake, Butterfly Garden, Amphitheatre, 9-11 Memorial and eight other stops.
• permanent access to the tour after download so you can retake it anytime or share it with a friend.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (18 to 54 years) · Senior (55 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (2 to 12 years) · Infant (under 2)

GroupPrivate

Audio guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPets welcome

Operated by Benson Park WalkNTour

Is this one for you?Solo travelers and families can move at their own pace without a guide or group, making this ideal for a free afternoon or early morning when you want to explore at your own speed and revisit any stop as long as you like.

Traveler reviews

3.67★★★★★★★★★★

6 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (2 to 12 years); Infant (under 2).

Can I take this tour whenever I want, or is there a set time?

The tour is available anytime between 5 AM and 8 PM, so you can start whenever fits your day. You control the pace and can pause or replay any section.

What animals will I hear about on the tour?

The narration covers Tony the Gorilla, Betsy the Elephant, lions, tigers, monkeys, bears and other exotic animals that lived at Benson's Wild Animal Farm during its 60 years as a working circus venue and amusement park.

Do I need to download anything before I arrive?

Yes, download the WalkNTour app to your phone before you get to the park. Links for Android and Apple are in your confirmation email, and the app is free.

What is there to do if I finish the tour early?

The Benson Park Store sells ice cream, cold drinks, snacks and souvenirs, open Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 4 PM. Public restrooms are available near the entrance, and the park itself is open to explore beyond the tour route.

Can I bring my dog to Benson Park?

Leashed dogs are allowed throughout the park, so you can bring your pet along on the walk.