Hikes: New Hampshire

Hike Name Mount Hayes
Closest Town Gorham, NH
Difficulty Level** Strenuous (1500 feet in 3 miles)
Distance 6.6 miles round trip
Features Views of the Androscoggin River Valley and surrounding mountains
Description Follow the Appalachian/Centennial Trail north from the parking area, watching for white blazes to guide you through several different turns within the first few hundred feet of hiking.  Pass a couple of viewpoints and drop to a small stream at 0.7 mile. The Trail soon breaks out of the trees, and stone cairns point the way as you ascend open slopes along the eastern side of Mount Hayes. The best views of the journey occur at 2.8 miles on the eastern summit of Mount Hayes.  You could turn back here, but just so that you can have the satisfaction of reaching the mountain's highest point, continue across open slopes for another 0.3 mile to where the Centennial Trail comes to an end, at the junction with the Mahoosuc Trail.  A left onto the Mahoosuc Trail will bring you to the top of the mountain in an additional 0.2 mile, then retrace your steps to the trailhead.
Directions Drive US 2 about 3.5 miles east of Gorham turn left onto North Road, go another 0.3 mile, turn left onto Hogan Road, and come to the parking area in anadditional 0.2 mile.

 

Hike Name Ethan Pond*
Closest Town Bartlett or Twin Mountain, NH
Difficulty Level** Strenuous (1500 feet in 3.5 miles)
Distance 5.8 miles round trip
Features Ethan Pond - wildlife habitat, watch for moose and bear
Description From US 302 in Crawford Notch, follow the A.T. south up Willey House Station Road.  Ascend the path to the right of the parking area, cross over railroad tracks, and take the combined A.T./Ethan Pond Trail into the woods. At mile 0.3, reach the intersection of the Arethusa - Ripley Falls, 2.5 miles to Arethusa Falls, and 3.8 miles back to US 302.  Continue along the A.T. and ascend rather steeply, then more gradually, for 0.5 mile. At mile 1.4, reach the junction with the Kedron Flume Trail on the right, which descends steeply to the Willey House on US 302.  In another 0.25 mile, the A.T./Ethan Pond Trail turns left and the Willey Range Trail goes straight. Continue on the A.T. and reach the height of the land in 0.25 mile. Begin a slight descent along a former logging road and, just over 1 mile late, reach the side trail to Ethan Pond.  Retrace your steps to complete the hike.
Directions To reach the A.T. at Crawford Notch, take US 302, 8 miles north of Bartlett, or 10 miles south of Twin Mountain.

 

Hike Name Wachipauka Pond*
Closest Town Glencliff, NH
Difficulty Level** Moderate
Distance 4.2 miles round trip
Features Views, pond
Description From the parking area, take the combined A.T./Wachipauka Pond Trail to the south, soon following a woods road as it climbs over the northern slope of Wyatt Hill Begin to descend about 1 mile later. You will reach Wachipauka Pond, which is at first visible through the trees, at 2 miles. Continue about 0.1 mile to a short side route, which will bring you to the shore of the pond. If you want more hiking after your dip, continue south on the A.T., passing by Hairy Root Spring, and turning right onto the ascending Webster Slide Trail.  The top of the mountain, with views of the pond and Mount Moosiluake, is reached in about 1 mile from the pond (adding 2 miles to the overall length of the hike).  Retrace your steps to return.
Directions Trailhead parking is available on New Hampshire 25 approximately 0.5 mile west of Glencliff.