In the Upper Valley, we’re surrounded by mountains, hills and forests waiting to be explored.
This year’s list, compiled by Upper Valley Trails Alliance Executive Director Russell Hirschler and his staff, includes hikes of various heights and levels of difficulty. There is something for people of all ages and walks of life to enjoy.
How to get there: From I-91 Exit 8, go 0.2 miles east on Route 131 to the stoplight, turn left on Route 44A for 1 mile.
Good to know: The moderate hike is dog- and cyclist-friendly. There is also an auto road that leads to a parking lot that is 0.7 miles from the summit. It is free to access the Weathersfield Trail; there is a cost for the auto road.
What makes it great: The Weathersfield Trail is a challenging but worthwhile hike that includes fantastic views, cascades and pretty streams. The best part of this hike might be the summit, though, where there are 360-degree views of Vermont and New Hampshire.
Trail: The hike is 2.9 miles total. After 0.4 mile on the trail, cross a stream at Little Cascade Falls. The 84-foot Crystal Cascade Falls is reached 0.7 miles later. After another 1.2 miles, stop at Gus’ Lookout for great views. Just 0.2 miles beyond the lookout is the West Peak vista, which hang gliders launch from. Finally, 0.4 mile beyond West Peak is the summit proper North Peak, complete with a 24.5-foot observation tower. Descend via the same route.
How to get there: Take Route 10 North out of Hanover, through Lyme and into Orford. Just before reaching the green in Orford, turn right onto Route 25A East. Pass through Orfordville in 2.5 miles and continue up the northern shoulder of Mount Cube. After 8.3 miles, pass Mount Cube Farm and former governor Mel Thomson’s famous pancake house. Continue on Route 25A and descend steeply to Upper Baker Pond. Just before crossing a steel highway bridge, 10.2 miles from Orford, the trail leaves from the right-hand side of the road. Park in the parking lot across the bridge.
Good to know: Wild blueberries grow along the moderate, 6.5-mile hike to the summit. Dogs are welcome on the trail.
What makes it great: With open ledges on its north and south peaks, Mount Cube commands views both back down the valley toward Hanover and ahead to Mount Moosilauke and the White Mountains beyond.
Trail: After leaving the highway, the trail, which is included as part of the Appalachian Trail, crosses a swampy area, passes through an abandoned homestead, and begins rising parallel to a brook. At 0.4 miles, the trail perpendicularly crosses a gravel road and continues uphill through hardwood forest. At 1.6 miles, after cresting a small rise, the trail winds down to cross Brackett Brook, rises straight on the far side of the brook and then begins a switchbacked ascent of the mountain’s shoulder. At 2.8 miles, the trail crests the shoulder and climbs gently toward the summit ridge. At 3.1 miles, arrive at a T-junction between the north and south summits. To the right, the blue-blazed side trail leads 0.2 miles to the north summit, with its fine view of Moosilauke. To the left, the Appalachian Trail continues south. At 3.3 miles, reach the south summit of Mount Cube. Smarts and Ascutney mountains dominate a view that covers much of the Upper Valley of the Connecticut. Follow the same trail down.
How to get there: From Route 120 in Meriden, turn west at the yellow flashing light onto Main Street and go 0.8 miles, over the hill past Kimball Union Academy and down to a covered bridge. Turn left onto Colby Hill Road and go through the covered bridge. North Trailhead: From the covered bridge go 0.4 miles on Colby Hill Road to a small pull-off on the left for the start of the French’s Ledges Trail. Middle Trailhead: From the covered bridge go 0.9 miles on Colby Hill Road and turn left onto Columbus Jordan Road. Parking will be on your right along Columbus Jordan Road, half a mile from its junction with Colby Hill Road. The blue-blazed Farnum Loop Trail enters the woods about 25 yards from the parking area across a mowed field to the west. On the other side of the road, to the east, is a yellow-blazed connector trail that links with the French’s Ledges Trail, bringing you to the Ledges in just over three-quarters of a mile. South Trailhead: Continue on Columbus Jordan Road to the South Trailhead where a blue-blazed trail will lead you to the Ledges.
Good to know: The moderate hike is family-friendly and dogs are welcome on the trails.
What makes it great: The four trailheads provide great options for both short and extended hikes to a bald top ledge providing 270-degree views of Mount Ascutney, Grantham and Croydon.
Trails: The red-blazed French’s Ledges Trail ends at the bald top of French’s Ledges, where views of Croydon and Grantham mountains, Mount Ascutney and Meriden can be seen. Yellow- and blue-blazed trails provide alternate, shorter routes up to the Ledges, while these and a number of unmarked trails allow for endless combinations of routes for exploring and exercise.
How to get there: From Main Street in Norwich, continue west out of the village and past Beaver Meadow Road for 0.5 miles. Turn left onto Turnpike Road and continue for 5.3 miles to the trailhead parking area on the left. While traveling on Turnpike Road, stay left at New Boston Road and Upper Turnpike Road intersections, which are located 1 and 2.7 miles from Main Street.
Good to know: The moderate hike is open to dogs, cyclists and children.
What makes it great: Gile Mountain offers one of the area’s most extensive views, with a 360-degree panorama from the fire tower atop. On a clear day, a half-hour walk reveals views of the White Mountains and much of the Connecticut River valley in between. Joint trail work between the Norwich Trails Committee and the Upper Valley Trails Alliance has made this hike very accessible.
Trail: The blue-blazed multiuse trail climbs gently from the parking lot and makes a soft left onto an old flat woods road. At 0.16 miles, the trail turns right, leaving the woods road and ascending slightly. At 0.27 miles, the bike/ski trail leaves the hiking trail and veers left. The hiking trail continues straight ahead under the powerline carrying electricity from the Wilder Dam, crosses the cleared right-of-way and passes an intersection with the bike/ski trail just before entering the woods again, where it veers right to start the climb to the tower. After two switchbacks, the trail turns right at 0.6 miles to ascend the summit ridge to the fire tower, where, on a clear day, great 360-degree views of the Upper Valley can be taken in.
How to get there: From Woodstock town center go west on Route 4 0.2 miles (around the traffic circle) and head south on Route 106. Go south on 106 0.1 miles and turn left on Cross Street. Go 0.1 miles on Cross Street and turn right on Golf Avenue. Go 0.1 miles on Golf Avenue and the parking lot is on the left, immediately after a dead-end residential street.
Good to know: The mile-long hike leads to the 1,080-foot summit. Mount Tom is nearby and also has hiking opportunities.
What makes it great: Mount Peg is an easy hike that leads to an overlook with a view of the Ottauquechee River Valley, Billings Farm and Museum and Mount Tom.
Trail: The Mount Peg Summit Trail provides a moderate climb to the 1,080-foot summit of Mount Peg with benches at the top for rest and appreciating the view.
How to get there: From the Woodstock Green follow Route 4 west for 1 mile beyond the west end of the Green. Woodstock Farmers Market will be on your left. Take the next right on Prosper Road and an immediate hard right onto Rose Hill Road. King Farm Road is the first left. Park next to the white farmhouse in front of the barns. The trail starts behind the barns. Go under the wooden arch at the beginning of the trail and follow the signs for Poet’s Trail.
Good to know: Poet’s trail was inaugurated in 2012 and was part of a project of Woodstock Union High School’s AP English class. Along the short trail you will encounter not only poetry, but also eclectic sculptures installed on the King Farm’s hills and pastures.
What makes it great: Through fields and woods follow the Poet’s Trail to an overlook of the Ottauquechee River Valley below. At the farm you can see flocks of guinea hens, an alpaca, pigs and goats.
Trail: A 2-mile round trip trek, King Farm can also be accessed by the trails that connect it to Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park.
How to get there: From the intersection of Routes 5 and 25, go north on Route 5 through Bradford village and past Oxbow High School. Continue 3.7 miles from this point to a large barn on the west side of the road (0.4 miles beyond Snake Road). A sign for Sleepers Meadow is leaning against the barn. Park next to the trailhead parking sign, just off the side of the driveway between the barn and the flower beds.
Good to know: The trails at Sleepers Meadow pass through a large saddleback field — a flat valley between two hills and above the main river valley. The topography of the field is the result of ancient down-cutting of the Connecticut River. It provides far-off views of the White Mountains, along with a sense of seclusion from the surrounding roads.
What makes it great: Meandering farm roads with interconnecting trails. A combination of trail loops through pasture and upper forest, with both flat and steep terrain.
Trail: With approximately 1.5 miles of moderate terrain, Sleepers Meadow can provide a short getaway or hours of exploration.The trails at Sleepers Meadow take visitors on a journey that begins at a historic farmstead, travels through vast meadows with views of the White Mountains and the Fairlee Palisades, and continues into peaceful and secluded forests.
How to get there: From Route 10 in Hanover, turn onto Brook Road. Parking is available by the trailhead on Brook Road.
Good to know: Mink Brook is an important watercourse and wetland corridor for mink, otter, muskrat, beaver, black bear and many other critters. More than 70 species of birds have also been recorded in the area.
What makes it great: This 112-acre preserve protects habitat for wild brook trout, bears and many other creatures, while offering trails and quiet enjoyment of a peaceful place.
Trails: Wheelock Trail: A 1.25-mile moderate terrain trail along the banks of Mink Brook. Begins as a wide-open trail under a power line at Route 10. Becomes a narrow path that clings to the wooded bank above rushing Mink Brook in the Mink Brook Nature Preserve and beyond to Buck Road. Quinn Trail: A 0.75-mile easy trail from Brook Road that follows a sewer line. Steep and rough up to Route 120. Tanzi Tract Loop: A 0.3-mile easy trail visits rich native vegetation and tumbling Mink Brook. An almost level, but narrow, trail. Good for wildflowers and a view over a scenic rocky section of Mink Brook.
How to get there: From downtown Hanover, follow E. Wheelock Street up and over Balch Hill and down to the village of Etna in 4.3 miles. At the T-junction in Etna, turn left onto Two Mile Road. After 0.8 miles, turn right onto Rudsboro Road, follow it along the brook for 1.5 miles and turn left onto the dirt Three Mile Road. Follow this road as it ascends uphill, crests and descends again. At the top of the next hill, 1.3 miles from Rudsboro Road, the Appalachian Trail crosses the road. Park in the small dirt parking area on the left.
Good to know: The entire trail is prime moose habitat, with numerous swampy areas to the sides of the trail, although the trail itself is generally dry, soft dirt.
What makes it great: The north peak of Moose Mountain, at 2,300 feet, is the highest point within Hanover’s town boundaries. This hike is an opportunity to see another side of town and to experience the rural landscape of the Upper Valley.
Trail: The trail up Moose Mountain, part of the Appalachian Trail, leaves from the right (east) side of the road by an orange trail sign. At 0.4 miles, after cresting a small rise and fording a tributary of Mink Brook, the trail crosses a two-rut woods road known as the Harris Trail. Continue straight across the Harris Trail and into a swampy section. At 0.9 miles, following a steep ascent, the trail enters a grove of hemlocks as it gains the ridge. From here, the trail crosses a ski and snowmobile trail as it winds its way to the summit, which has views of Mount Cardigan, Mount Kearsarge, Canaan, Goose Pond and Clark Pond. Hike down the same way.
How to get there: Take Route 10 north from Hanover into Lyme. Coming around the green in Lyme, bear right at the white church and follow signs for the Dartmouth Skiway. Pass through Lyme Center 1.8 miles from the green in Lyme, and continue winding around for 1.3 more miles to where the wide gravel Lyme-Dorchester Road forks to the left. Take this fork for 1.8 miles until, just before the iron bridge over Grant Brook, a small parking lot is reached on the left. Orange signs mark the trailheads.
Good to know: The 7.1-mile roundtrip hike is described as very difficult.
What makes it great: Smarts Mountain, at 3,240 feet, offers the closest taste of boreal forest in the Upper Valley. Standing alone and often buffeted by high winds, Smarts has a feel about it similar to the higher White Mountain peaks further north.
Trails: Two trails leave the parking area — the white-blazed Lambert Ridge Trail (Appalachian Trail) on the left, and the Ranger Trail straight ahead. For the ascent, follow the white-blazed Lambert Ridge Trail. The trail ascends quite steeply right from the beginning, with several switchbacks helping to reduce the grade. At 0.3 miles, the first major view is reached. The trail continues along the spine of Lambert Ridge for the next 1.3 miles, with frequent views. At 1.6 miles, the trail descends to the left off the last ledge of Lambert Ridge. At 2.9 miles, Smarts proper is reached. The trail begins to rise straight and steeply. At 3.5 miles, the Lambert Ridge Trail intersects with the Ranger Trail. Follow the upper Ranger Trail (also blazed in white) to the left. At 3.6 miles, a sharp switchback to the right begins the ascent of the summit ridge. At 4 miles, after several switchbacks, occasionally crossing wet ledges, the trail crests the long east-west summit ridge. At the trail junction here, a side trail leads right 0.1 miles to a tent platform and privy. At 4.1 miles, here on the summit, a fire tower affords panoramic views of the Upper Valley and the White Mountains beyond. Just past the fire tower, the old ranger cabin is maintained as a shelter for camping. To go back down from the summit, follow the Upper Ranger Trail, past the tent platform side trail, and descend to the junction with the Lambert Ridge Trail. At 0.6 miles, continue straight down the Ranger Trail (formerly the AT, and now blazed blue, when blazed at all). The trail switchbacks across rock slabs as it descends to the valley floor. At 2.0 miles, after crossing a small brook, the ruins of an old garage are on the right. The trail from here follows the old jeep road above the western bank of Grant Brook. At 3.5 miles, reach the parking lot and lower junction with the Lambert Ridge Trail.
How to get there: Three parking areas provide access to the trail off Beaver Meadow Road in Norwich (the first left turn immediately after Dan and Whits and the Norwich Inn): the Norwich Pool (on the left just over 1 mile from the Inn, immediately before Brigham Hill Road); Parcel 5 (1.4 miles from the pool, and directly across Beaver Meadow Road from Brown Schoolhouse Road), and roadside parking (2.7 miles from the pool, just before Tucker Hill Road).
Good to know: The hike is described as advanced and is limited to foot travel.
What makes it great: The 4-mile trail parallels Charles Brown Brook and Beaver Meadow Road in Norwich and features the “Grand Canyon of Norwich.”
Trails: The mostly level wooded trail includes many ups and downs to cross numerous seasonal creeks that flow to Charles Brown Brook — the most spectacular creek creating the “Grand Canyon” in the upper half of the trail. From the upper (western-most) end, the trail leaves the road just beyond the roadside parking area. It passes an old stone foundation before crossing a foot bridge to climb gently up into a stand of old pines. The short Converse Loop trail goes off to the right and rejoins after a short distance. The main trail crosses several foot bridges before coming to the Grand Canyon of Norwich. Follow down the rim of the canyon before crossing on stepping stones at the bottom and continuing with a flatter walk along Charles Brown Brook. The trail eventually climbs up higher in the woods again, crossing under a power line and passing an old stone wall before meeting the junction with the closed road, Brown Schoolhouse Road. Three benches here provide a good spot for a snack. The second half of the trail is much like the first, with numerous footbridges and stream crossings. The last segment follows close to the brook after descending stone steps above an old concrete dam. The trail ends at the Norwich Pool, which is currently drained due to the brook’s dam structure being heavily impacted during Tropical Storm Irene in August 2011.
How to get there: From the Lyme Center Post Office head east toward the Dartmouth Skiway and turn left onto Acorn Hill Road. Turn right onto Hardscrabble Lane after 1.7 miles. At a junction with Pony Hill Lane, continue straight ahead for a half-mile to the parking area, marked by a blue sign. The trail bears right just beyond the parking area.
Good to know: The trail, described as easy, is a little over a mile one way.
What makes it great: Trout Pond is just beautiful and a perfect walk for families. The trail goes through a number of habitat types with a lot of wildlife. The section of trail that runs along the rocks at the edge of the pond is a great place to explore and have a snack or picnic.
Trail: The Trout Pond Forest is predominantly a mature northern hardwood forest, with pockets of softwood scattered throughout. Timber stand improvement cutting, based on a forest inventory by Ben Hudson, of Lyme, took place on parts of the tract in 1998-2000. A 200-foot buffer around the pond protects this sensitive area from disturbance. In 2001, the Conservation Commission, with a grant from the New Hampshire Department of Resources and Economic Development, prepared the parking area, re-graded the logging road and marked the trails. As an Eagle Scout project, Ian Smith led a team that rerouted part of an earlier trail to a drier, more scenic path on town land.
How to get there: From downtown Claremont, follow Pleasant Street (Routes 11/12) for 0.9 miles to Maple Avenue. Continue on Maple Avenue for 0.8 miles to reach Moody Park Road on the left. Alternatively, from Route 12 east of the Connecticut River at the 12A intersection, head west for 1 mile to Plains Road. Turn right and continue for 1.7 miles to Maple Avenue. Turn left and continue for 0.8 miles to Moody Park Road, located on the right.
Good to know: Moody Park is open daily from 8 a.m.-8:30 p.m., Memorial Day to Labor Day. The park includes picnic areas with tables and barbecue grills, a park pavilion, a playground and tennis courts.
What makes it great: With recent forest management activity, the park now offers some great views of Mount Ascutney from the picnic pavilion or upper trails. The trails are good for a variety of abilities and include walking, hiking and mountain biking trails.
Trails: Indian Trail: Combination of single track (narrow trail, one person width) and double track (wider trail, two or more person width). Moderately difficult with significant elevation change. Gravity Cavity is difficult to bike or walk. Indian Trail Connector provides an alternate route. Approximately 4.25 miles. Indian Trail Connector: Short and easy Gravity Cavity detour. Approximately 0.5 miles. Tall Pines Trail: Wide open access road through tall pine stand. Easy to negotiate. Predominately double track. Approximately 2.5 miles. Track Trail: Borders the railroad tracks on the backside of the park. Easy to negotiate. Predominately double track. Approximately 1.25 miles. Too Cool Trail: Predominately single track. Little elevation gain but some challenging topographic and man-made features. Moderate to difficult. Approximately 2.25 miles.
How to get there: There are multiple trails and access points along the 36-mile route. In Orford, trails can be found on Norris Road, Baker Road, Rivendell Academy and Dame Hill Road. In Vershire, Parker Road, Chelsea Road, Vershire Center Road. In West Fairlee: Blood Brook Road, Austin Road and Middlebrook Road. In Fairlee, Lake Morey Road.
Good to know: The Cross Rivendell Trail is managed through a partnership between the Rivendell Trails Association and the Rivendell Interstate School District.
What makes it great: The Cross Rivendell Trail is a 36-mile cross-town trail from Orford to Vershire. A good hike would be from the Blood Brook Road trailhead to Bald Top Mountain (1.9 miles one way) to enjoy rolling vistas and a view of Mount Moosilauke.
Trails: There are many different combinations of trails that can be made into varying degrees of difficulty and length.
Information from the Dartmouth Outing Club was used in elements of this guide. For more information, visit outdoors.dartmouth.edu. For additional hiking listings and more information, visit www.uvtrails.org.