Distance: 4.6 mile loop
Difficulty: Easy
Located in Peterborough, New Hampshire is MacDowell Dam Reservoir which is part of the Army Corps of Engineers. The area provides an array of outdoor activities from a beach for swimming, trails for bike riding, picnic areas, opportunities for canoeing or kayaking and hiking trails. There are several trails around the reservoir. The write up is about the trail that goes around the lake.
I parked in the small parking lot across the dam. From here you can easily access the trail. The trail meanders through the woods with views of the lake.
One of the things I loved about this trail was there were a lot of foot bridges to cross.
As you got closer to Route 137 in Peterborough you walked along Branch Brook, which provided some small, but beautiful cascades.
Right before you get to Route 137 is a new bridge that crosses the brook and goes up to the road.
It is about two and a quarter miles from the parking lot at McDowell Dam to Rt 137. From here you can either turn around and head back the way you came or you can take a right and walk the road for little less than a mile. You walk along Rt 137 to Spring Road. There is a small parking lot on your right as you walk onto Spring Road, but this is not the trail, it is a dead end. Keep going past this small parking lot to Richardson Road. There is a trail sign leading you to take a right onto this road.
As you loop back around you do walk through a residential area before getting back to the trail. By trail I mean it is more an old road.
This side of the lake provides a lot better views, but it can be windy and at certain times of the year this area can flood. This is also a popular area for people to run and swimming their dogs.
When you are back on the dam make sure you check of the view.
The loop was 4.6 miles. It was pretty level the whole way with a couple small hills on the wood side. I really enjoy walking along the lake and the brook. The only downside was having to walk along Rt 137, but we did not see a lot of traffic. This is such a great hike if you want to giet some miles in without a lot of elevation and beautiful views.
