Distant Hill Nature Trail

Distance: About a mile

Difficulty: Easy

Stroller Friendly

I get asked frequently if I know of any stroller friendly walking paths. I usually am repeating myself with either the local paved rail trails or the handicap accessible trails at Crotched Mountain.  I am happy to announce that I have another local stroller/handicap accessible walking path.  

Located on March Hill Road in Alstead is well maintained set of trails that people of all ages and abilities can enjoy.  I first discovered this place as it was named in the top 10 boardwalks to check out in New Hampshire and since we were already in the area heading to Hungry Diner, a must stop for lunch, we decided to check out these trails.

There is two sections to this area, the  Distant Hill Nature Trail, which are open daily. There are about a mile of trails with plans to expand. The Distant Hill Gardens which is actually located in Walpole, right next to the trails. They are only open on certain days and for special events so check out there Facebook Page for more information.   

The boardwalk itself is not very big or long, but it is built in a way that you feel like you are walking on top of the blog, which is really cool.

 The trails are the most impressive part, my husband kept saying, "wow, a lot of work went into make these, they are really nice." My husband is not easily impressed. At this time there is about a mile of trails, with plans to expand.   

There is also a children's nature playground, if you have followed me long enough to know that I love a good natures playground.  There is just enough structures here to keep kids entertained, but to also allow their imagination to wonder within the woods.  

There are also vernal pools with signage.

We only walked about a mile of the trail, but felt we could have spent a good few hours exploring the grounds, especially when the gardens are opened.  We did run into the owner, who was very friendly and explained he was trying to model his trails after the Crotched Mountain Accessible Trails, after he had taken a workshop with them.  I feel he is off to a great start.  If you are looking for a great way to spend an afternoon outside, Distant Hill Gardens in Walpole is a great place to explore.   

Mt Caesar

Distance: 1 Mile

Difficulty: Easy side of moderate

As I have said in many previous posts, I love learning of new trails to explore.  A friend of mine recently told me about Mt. Caesar located in Swanzey and I was excited to check it out.  The trailhead is a little difficult to find.  It is located off of Old Homestead Highway/Route 32 across from Monadnock High School on a small road, Simeneau Lane.  On this road is a small Assisted Living Facility and the road loops around to a cemetery.  Between the cemetery and the Assisted Living facility is a small parking lot and the trailhead.  

The trail follows a stone walls and the edge of the cemetary before heading off into the woods continuing to follow the stone wall and into a small field where you will see a small kiosk. From here you follow an old logging road about a half mile.  Then there is a fork in the trail, where the trail veers left, there is a sign nailed to a tree directing you to the top of the mountain.  The first part of the trail was fairly wet after a recent rain fall, so make sure you have appropriate footwear. Another half mile and you are at the top.  Once at the top there is a decent view of the area.  Off to the left is a lookout path to a ledge with better views of the area and Mt. Monadnock.  

Roundtrip the trail is about two miles.  It is a gradual incline to the top, making it the perfect hike for young families or those beginner hikers who want to get a beautiful view.  

Mines Falls Park

Distance: Varies

Difficulty: Easy

Spring time always brings an array of activities and goals for my family and I.  It never fails that spring sports and home ownership duties usually take over leaving little opportunity for exploring and outdoor activities which remains true for this spring.  Today, while running errands in Nashua I got the urge to get a little walk in, so we stopped and walked a few miles around Mines Falls Park.  

A good portion of my husbands childhood was spent growing up in Nashua near these trails, so he did a lot of reminiscing while we got a couple miles in between errands.  I also spent a few years while in collage in Nashua, but did not frequent the trails as it was always rumored to not be the safest place, I believe over the years that has changed.

There are about 10 miles of trails around the park, with various access points.  Today, we parked at Lincoln Park at the end of Coliseum Ave, past Hannaford in Nashua.  We did about a two and a half mile loop up to Mines Falls and along the Mills Ponds and Nashua Power Canal back to Lincoln Park.  The trail is very well maintained with people of all ages using the trails for various activities such as walking, running and bike riding.  We also saw some people fishing in various spots.  There was also some animal spotting of muskrats and birds.  My husband remembered it was always a great place to spot various sized turtles.   

I felt very comfortable and safe walking along the trail and would absolutely walk these trails during the day alone, (always use your own judgement when walking a trail). I was also very impressed by the scenery for being in the middle of Nashua.   

Next time I am in Nashua and need to get in a few miles outside, I will absolutely be stopping here again.   

Sheldrick Forest

Distance: About 3 miles with option for more or less.

Difficulty: Easy with some hills

No dogs

Located in Wilton, NH is a wonderful trail system that goes over bridges, follows streams and up and down rolling forest hills.  The trail is location on Town Farm Road.  From Rt 101 turn onto Temple Road, after you go about .3 miles and cross a small bridge turn left onto Town Farm Road. The trail is about .7 miles on the left.  The road is dirt so travel with caution. The parking lot is located on the left marked with a sign.

Sheldrick Forest is a great set of trails if you are looking to get out for a couple hours of easy hiking.  With the rolling hills and steep embankments, this may not be the best place for young children, but it is great for older children. 

There are about three miles of trails through Sheldrick Forest with the option of connecting to more trails at the Heald Track. I highly recommend bringing a map if you have not been before.

I love how there is different loops to explore and during the wet season you can enjoy the sound of a bubbling brook.  

 The trails are well marked with signs and trail markers.

There is no lookout on this trail, but the woods are beautiful. This is a great trail to spend an hour or two in the woods.

Evans Flat Trail

Distance: 1.6 mile loop

Difficulty: Easy

If you have looked at my website or read my blog you know I am always looking for new trails in the Monadnock Region.  When I was looking for an easy, short after work hike for my hiking group. I was again surprised to learn of a new trail close to the downtown area of Peterborough. The Evan's Flat trail is located at the end of Evans Road in Peterborough, NH.  When first looking at this trail I questioned it because I knew there were houses and stores near by and wondered what kind of a trail and how woodsy it would be.  

I was pleasantly surprised at the beauty in this trail. You park on the side of the cul-de-sac, and there is a trail kiosk with information and a map.  Dogs are not allowed on the trail.  The trail has several boards that go over various streams and wet areas. The boards are loose so be careful when crossing them.  The trail is fairly flat and meanders through the woods and around the edge of a couple marsh areas, it does cross a power line and have a small incline.  The trail is about a 1.6 miles loop with the option of a cut off trail if you do not want to do the full loop.

This is a great trail if you are looking to get in a quick hike without a long drive or for children as they always find running across boards fun.  

Lake Potanipo Walking Path

Distance: 1.5 Miles

Difficulty: Easy

Located of Routine 13 in Brookline, New Hampshire is a charming little lake allowing an array of activities.  Lake Potanipo is popular year round spot.  In the winter it is frequented with snowmobiles and ice fisherman. In the summer swimmers and boaters.  There is also a a summer camp, Camp Tevya.  In the summer the beach is for residents only.  

I was recently looking for an easy walk through the woods that I had not done and never realized there was a path that went along the edge of the lake.  There is a small parking lot on the corner of Rt 13 and Mason Road.  Also located here is a rail trail that is dirt.  We did see a couple people mountain biking while we were walking.  

The trail starts across the road from the parking lot.  You do have to walk through Camp Tevya, if you have a dog make sure you clean up after them.  After walking through the camp you walk along the rail trail that eventually leads to the center of Milford.  There is a couple signs pointing out some information.  There is evidence of an old ice house, which was kind of cool to see.  

The trail does veer off to the left while the rail trail goes towards the right.  The trail takes you to a little point with a nice view of the lake.  It was about a three mile round trip. The trail is flat perfect for young children or someone who wants an easy walk.  

Diana's Bath

Distance: Easy

Distance: 1 mile to falls with option for further.

Located on West Side Road in Bartlett, NH, is a little gem of a hiking trail in the White Mountains. Diana's Bath is a really special place to my husband and I.  When we were dating we spent many weekends in the North Conway area and would frequent Diana's Bath, especially on warm days.  Fifteen years ago this October, my now husband took me to Diana's Bath to propose to me.  Whenever we are in the area, we like to stop to reminisce about that moment.  

The trail is a little under a mile up to the waterfall, from there, there are other trails that continue past the falls.  The trail to the waterfall is fairly flat, making this a really easy trail to walk and great for beginner hikers or families wanting to get out for hike with a fun reward in the end. One of the best part of the falls is there are plenty of opportunities on a warm day to get wet and play around in the falls. If you plan to visit on a warm day just keep in mind it can get very crowded.  The falls are also fun to visit in the off season as waterfalls a very beautiful with fresh snow or when they have started to freeze.  Remember always use caution when playing in and around waterfalls as the rock can be slippery resulting in injury.  

Crotched Mountain Dutton Brook Trail

Distance: 2 miles loop

Difficulty: Easy

Located on Crotched Mountain Road across from the entrance to Crotched Mountain Rehab Center in Greenfield is a parking area and access to some great hiking trails for families with young children.  There are two hiking trails at Crotched Mountain Trails, as well as other trails that lead up to the top of Crotched Mountain, which you can read about in my Crotched Mountain post. I love these trails because they are stroller and wheelchair accessible and great for little legs that may still be a little wobbly because the trails are flat and free of roots.  

The Dutton Brook Trail is a two mile loop and has a observation deck overlooking a marshy area.  It has been over a year since I have been there, but the last time I was there, there was a storybook along the trail.  A storybook trail is where you walk along and read a page of a story posted on the trail.  My daughter has loved storybook trails since she started to read.  It is also great motivation to keep kids moving on the trail.  

The Trailhead to the Gregg Trail Observation Look Out is also located from this parking lot.    

I love these trails because they are one of the most family friendly trails in the area and great for beginner hikers.   

Cathedral of the Pines Hiking Trails

Milage: Varies depending on trail.

Difficulty: Easy

Cathedral of the Pines located at 10 Hale Hill Road in Rindge is known for it’s open air cathedral and beautiful views of Mt. Monadnock. What many do not realize is there are several trails around the grounds. I have had the opportunity to explore a few of them and they are worth checking out if you are in the area. If you are planning on hiking I highly recommended looking at the trail map. From the parking lot there are two options to start on the trails. You can walk to the right of the cathedral and start on the trail to Grassy Pond. Or you can go to the left and go towards Produnk Trail or connect to another part of the Grassy Pond Trail.

The Podunk Trail starts to the left of the parking lot and continues going left until you cross the road and go into the woods following the blue trail blazers. This trail goes through the woods and along Emerson Pond. In the winter/spring months this trail can be muddy and wet.

Grassy Pond 

The trail is pretty easy to follow and there are options to connect with other trails for a longer hike. When I did this hike it was about two miles.

Emerson Pond 

When I walked the Grassy Pond Trail, I got a little off the trail. I started out to the right of the cathedral and followed the blue diamond trail markers through the woods. There was a couple slips in the trail and I thought I was following the map. The trail we were out came out to an old tote road. We took a left and followed it for about a quarter of a mile. We could see blue trail makers in the woods to our left so we climbed over the rock wall to walk the trail. From here the trail was easy to follow.

From here the trail is easy to follow. You walk along Grassy Pond. There is a spot with a two picnic tables is you wanted to pack a lunch to enjoy on the trail.

After the picnic tables to you continue to walk along the shore and then up into the woods. If you have children that like dinosaurs make sure you check out out the dinosaur egg rock. There are signs directing you towards it.

From here we walked back up to the cathedral. There is a little incline when heading back to the trailhead. This trail was a little over a mile and half.

While your here make sure you check out the specular view of Mt. Monadnock.

These are great trails for all ages and abilities. There are some fun things for the kids to explore and pretty pond views and nature trails for those who love being outside.

Furnace Brook Trail

Distance: 1 miles to field

Difficulty: Easy

Note: The trail has become overgrown in the summer months.

Located near the Souhegan Ambulance and Old Tenney Road on Turnpike Road in New Ipswich is a nice little path that follows Furnace Brook.  The trail was donated by a family that lives in New Ipswich.  Parking is along the side of the road.

The path goes down into the woods along the stream to the base of a small waterfall and part of an old rock wall.  

This is a perfect spot to let your dog get a swim in if there is enough water.  

The trail continues down along the stream for about a mile.  

After about a mile there is a snowmobile bridge that goes off to your left and a field on your right, both which are private property.  There is a sign that directs the trail through the field, but I have never followed it. This is a great trail year round. I like it best during the winter months.

In the summer there can be a lot of brush with thorns, therefore I recommend long pants.  This trail is great for hiking and snowshoeing.

Federal Hill Fire Tower

Distance: .4 miles

Difficulty: Easy

Every since I was a young child I have always loved fire towers. The thrill of climbing up to the a tower and the beautiful panoramic views. Growing up in Northern Maine I had access to some pretty good ones.  There are also some great ones in Southern New Hampshire.  

Federall Hill Fire Tower in Milford, NH is a fun one.  The trail head is located on Ponemah Hill Road in Milford.  The access road is gated so you need to park nearby and walk up.  It less than a half mile walk up to the fire tower. The walk is a steady incline up.  

There is not view from the base of the fire tower.

If you climb up it there are beautiful views of Southern NH and the Monadnock Region.  

Always use caution when climbing a fire tower to ensure your safety.  Every time we have visited we observed a lot of broken glass around the base. If you are bringing your dog please use caution.  

This is a good fire tower to do if you are working on your Fire Tower Quest Patch.  

HighBridge Hill Storybook Trail

Distance .6 miles

Difficulty: Easy

I am always trying to find ways to engage my daughter to get outside.  One of her favorite type of trails are storybook trails.  I mean, what’s better than encouraging your child to read all while getting fresh air and exercise. 

At HighBridge Hill Elementary School in New Ipswich is a great little storybook Trail.  The trail is open spring, summer and fall, but closed during the winter months. The trail is about .6 miles long. When you turn into Highbridge Hill Elementary School, take a right to drive up towards the fields.  There is a parking lot on top of the hill.  There is a small clump of trees and that is where the trail starts.  From here it is a little confusing, but it goes across the road you drove in on down into the woods.  The trail is easy to follow from there.  You do walk by the schools playground, in case you have a child that is easily distracted by playgrounds. A great way to get your little ones out on the trail. The trail is not stroller friendly.   

Andres Institute of Art

Distance: Varies, several loops

Difficulty: Easy side of moderate, trails on the on the side of an old ski mountain.

Andres Institue of Art is a beautiful sculpture park located on Rt 13 in Brookline, NH. Located on the side of an old ski mountain, Big Bear Mountain, Paul Andres purchased the land in 1996. Per their website, their mission is, “Andres Institute of Art shall serve and advance the intellectual and social well being of the public by educating and training artists, by promoting the integration of art and technology, and by supporting fine arts.” 

The parking lot has recently been relocated to behind Kun Garden Restaurant. There is a sign marking the parking area.

I am not sure of how many miles of trails are located at the institute, but at least a few miles. I recommend printing off or picking up a map of the trails. The trails wind around the side of the mountain. The sculptures are amazing and you can tell a lot of time and dedication go into making and setting them up at the institute.  

Once at the top of the mountain there is a beautiful view looking toward the Wapack Range and Mt Monadnock.  

We have taken our daughter to the sculpture park several times since she was little and she has always been engaged and generally interested the hike. This is huge when hiking with a young child.  Andres Institute of Art is a great hike for groups and families. I have also snowshoed here a few times and it is a great workout and the sculptures are beautiful after a recent snowfall. Do keep in mind that sections of the trails are steep. You can walk trails or up the road.  

Loverens Mill Trail

Distance: 3.5 Mile Loop

Difficulty: Easy

The Loverens Mill Hiking Trail is located on Loveren Mill Road off of Route 9 in Antrim. After you turn onto Loverens Mill Road you cross the bridge and the parking lot is located on the right. The trail starts across the street which is marked with a sign from the Nature Conservancy and a trail map.

   From the parking lot you walked up an old road along an old mill and dam site  

After walking a few hundred feet the trail turns to the right.  The trail was fairly easy to follow due to trail markers.  Not far down the trail is the side trail through Loverens Mills Cedar Swamp.  Fun fact: "Atlantic white cedar swamps are rare in New Hampshire, comprising only about one percent of the state’s wetlands. Loverens Mills Cedar Swamp is the second largest and considered the highest quality boreal cedar swamp in New Hampshire." Courtesy of the Nature Conservancy Website.  

After meandering through the woods you come to a fork in the trail where you can go right or left. I have gone both ways and do not have a preference. If you go right you follow the trail through the woods to the Contoocook River.

There is another side trail to a lookout point that overlooks the rivers and some local ridges.  

After the lookout point the trail follows the river for a little bit before turning back into the woods and connecting to the start of the loop.

The total hike was about 3.5 miles it is mostly flat, but there are few gradual inclines and declines throughout the trail. Due to the length and various up and downs of the trail I would recommend this for older kids and people who have some hiking experience. There are a lot of rocks on the trail so you want to make sure have had about a foot of snow if you plan on snowshoeing here.

White Ledges

Distance: 1.25 miles roundtrip

Difficulty: Easy

In Temple is a gem of a hike known of the White Ledges. From Route 45 in Temple you turn onto Howard Hill Road and drive a tenth of a mile to the trailhead. Which is an old dirt road. You park on the left side of Howard Hill Road. You walk up the old dirt road. There will be a house on your right as you walk. About a quarter mile down you will come to a gate, which you continue through and up the trail for another quarter mile.

Right before you get to the ledges look off to your left for a view of Pack Monadnock.

Once at the top there there is a good size out cropping of white rock. This is such a fun place for kids to climb and explore.

There is a decent view looking towards Wilton, Milford, Manchester and Nashua.  More recently it has become my favorite place to watch the sunrise.

I have also gone up here to view the moon and star gaze. The trail is only a little over a half mile to the top so it is perfect for children or those looking for a short hike with a great view.

Pitcher Mountain

Distance: .4 miles

Difficult: Easy side of moderate

Sometimes you just need a short hike to get your heart pumping and enjoy some beautiful views no matter the season. Pitcher Mountain is a great short hike for that.

The trailhead is located on Route 123 in Stoddard, NH.  There is a small parking lot and the options of two trails up to the fire tower.  We usually take the old tote road to the top, but there is also another trail, called Blue Trail that you can take.  The tote road is a little rocky, just be cautious of your footing.  If you are hiking in the winter you may need Micro spikes.  

It was a little under a half mile to the top where the fire tower is. Both trails are about the same distance. I love the views from the top because on a clear day you can see Mount Monadnock and into the ski mountains of Vermont.  I am not exactly sure how far you can see, but it seems pretty far and for little effort the views are breathtaking.

In the spring, fall and winter fire tower is locked as there is no one working there.  The last time I was there in the summer there as a fire tower watch person working.  They were a wealth of knowledge of the various landmarks you can see from the tower.  

With the panoramic views it is also a great spot to watch the sunrise and the sunset.

Sunset

This trail is great for children, families, beginner hikers and those just wanted to get out for a quick hike with a great view.    

Shieling Forest Trail

Distance: About a two mile loop.

Difficulty: Easy

Located on Old Street Road in Peterborough, before the roundabout at Monadnock Community Hospital, is a great trail system for families and people looking to get in a short hike.  Shieling Forest is a State Forest that provides a beautiful walk in the forest. There is large parking lot offering plenty of parking. Sometime the building next to the parking lot holds events.

The trails are easy and you can do all of them in less than two hours. From the parking lot you head across a small field to a set of stairs. From here you walk down to a small bridge.

Once across the bridge have options to take a few different trails.

The trails are relatively flat so easy for little legs or someone who wants to get out for an easy hike.

I like these trails for kids because there is a stream, bridges and large rocks all for exploring. We also saw a couple picnic tables by the stream. A perfect spot for a picnic.  

These are good trails for hiking and snowshoeing. Sometimes the trails are closed so make sure you read the sign out front before exploring the trails.  This trail is located on the Brews and Views Challenge. If you like beer and are able to stop, check out Post and Beam Brewery while you are in the area.

Gilson Pond Trail

Distance: 1.5 miles loop

Difficulty: Easy

Fee for Day use

Gilson Pond is an easy hike around a pretty pond with views of Mt Monadnock. To access the trail, park in the parking lot for Monadnock State Park/Gilson Pond Campground across from Thorndike Pond Beach on Dublin Road in Jaffrey, NH. There are several trails around the campground and park with many that lead up to Mount Monadnock.

The Pond Loop starts a little past the toll booth. You will see the sign above and the pond on the right. The trail is flat and easily to navigate with blue trail markers on the trees.

The Pond Trail Loop around Gilson Pond is a great little hike or snowshoe anytime of year.  The trail takes you around the whole pond providing a variety of great water views.

At parts of the trail you get partial views of Mount Monadnock  

There are several foot bridges to cross, which are always fun. I have observed cross country ski tracks and signs on the trail during the winter months. You would have to be a decent cross country skier to ski here due to the trees and curves in the trail.

The Gilson Pond trail is a great hiking trail for year round hiking, beginner hikers, snowshoers and those who just want to get outside for about an hour  

Giant Ice Marbles

Winter in New England can be difficult.  It is ever changing and it can be balmy with minimal snow or have large quantities of snow and below zero temperatures. With cold temperatures it can make it difficult to get outside especially with little ones.  I am always looking for new activities to keep my daughter entertained during the cold days when it is not safe to be outside for too long.  Thanks to Vermont State Park Blog I found something fun and colorful to do.  

Giant Ice Marbles.  I have seen these around the internet over the last couples years, but have not tried them.  With our family being on vacation this week and below zero temperatures I was looking for something to do so when a blog from Vermont State Park's popped up on Facebook about making these and I thought it was a perfect time to make them.  

All you need is:

• Ballons

• Food coloring

• A faucet with running water

If your child is able have them drop as many drops of food coloring into the ballon while an adult holds it.  Then the adult takes the balloon and puts it over the faucet to fill the balloon up with water.  Try not to fill the balloons too much or they could pop and you could have colored water all over the place. Tie the balloon off trying to release as much air as possible.  One step that I did not do, that I should have, was shake them up to mix the food coloring around the balloon. After you have done your desired amount, we did eight.  Set them outside for 12-24 hours to freeze.  

Once they are frozen peel off the balloons and decorate your yard with beautiful ice marbles. I would recommend wearing disposable gloves when peeling the balloons off as my hands got covered with food coloring. Perfect for all ages with adult supervision and brings a pop of color to your yard.  

Heald Tract

Distance: Varies

Difficulty: Easy

Everyone has that one trail that is their go to trail.  A trail that is accessible all year round, close to where you live and provides you that sense of satisfaction with being outside without having to drive long distances.  The Heald Tract does just that for my family and I. We have been hiking this trail since we moved to the area.

Located on Heald Road in Wilton is a series of trails known as the Heald Tract.  This is conservation land owned by the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests and is it perfect for year round activities like hiking, fishing, snow shoeing, wildlife viewing and cross country skiing.

    There are a few different trails with minimal elevation gain. My favorite trail is King Brook Reservoir.

Camp Trail and Caster Pond Loop have also become a favorite of ours especially in the winter months. The Camp Trail goes by an abandon camp that has since burned down, but there is an old firepit that when there is snow on the ground is perfect for a winter fire.

There are also some beautiful ponds, streams and trails.

There is also several rock walls and cool cellar holes.

Recently they have been doing some clearcutting and it has affected some of the trails. I have seen signs up if the trails are closed. I recommend bringing the trail map if you haven’t been there before. These trails are good for all abilities and age levels. We have not found a bad trail around the Heald Tract.