Mt. Willard – NH hike
Back in August, the family did some tent camping in North Conway, New Hampshire and I’ve been meaning to post a few pics. Usually we go with some other family but this time went by ourselves. We stayed at the Eastern Slope Campground and had a site right on the Saco River. Nice.
One day we drove up Rt. 302 to Crawford Notch to do what I think is a little known hike up Mt. Willard. The entrance to the trail is behind the Crawford Notch Railroad Station across the tracks. It is(I think) 1.5 miles each way. The trail runs up a reasonably steep but not difficult incline to the top of Mt. Crawford – elevation 2804 feet. You are rewarded with stunning, and I mean stunning views of Crawford Notch. I would say that this is one of the most scenic vistas I have ever seen. As far as difficulty goes, my eight and ten year old were able to do without (much) complaint. The whole thing took maybe 2.5 hours including time at the top.
Enjoy the pics.
Mt. Willard is considered a very well known novice, tourist hike of the White Mountains. It is one of the most popular and assesible entry level hikes of the Whites, but great all the same. I would most definitely highly recommend it to young and old alike.
Today I just got back from the White Mountains. Yesterday I climbed Mt. Moriah, my 18th 4,000 footer. There are 48 4,000 footers in New Hampshire. Round trip…8.5 miles.
So goes my "little known" theory …
The White Mountains are my favorite place to relax. Running a Marathon in Alaska tops for the scenery it but I love New Hampshire.
Sometimes I type too fast with my two fingers. Here's what I meant to say.
The White Mountains are my favorite place to relax. Running a Marathon in Alaska tops it for the scenery but I still love New Hampshire.
BB, you ever hike Manomet Hill in Plymouth?
It has a ridgeline that looks out over all of Cape Cod Bay and you can see all of Cape Cod. There are ridges in there with the most official vertical drop in Plymouth County.
No. Where is the entrance? I would guess you enter on top of the big hill on DA just north of the Nuke plant – near the Marine store.
Is that right?
DA – means 3A
Mmm hmmm yep. powerlines off 3A head south. traverse all the way over .66 miles. Powerlines dog right west…entry trail to left is steep and long and to a ridge highpoint…firetower ahead if you head up the powerlines. trails, ridges, views, everywhere. steep. highpoint manomet hill is also on this side. 395 feet. also easy views of middleboro and fire and water towers from ridges.
"BB, you ever hike Manomet Hill in Plymouth?
It has a ridgeline that looks out over all of Cape Cod Bay and you can see all of Cape Cod. There are ridges in there with the most official vertical drop in Plymouth County."
Now there is a run for us, BB, as I use to do this. Several fire roads are cut into the area and if you went west (I hope) on them you come right into Pine Hills which at one time was 3,000 acres of the old Digital property. Might still be access in the development area. You can also go along the power lines but that can be tricky. Not sure how the trail system has stood up to development. Hope I got all this right as it's been awhile.
yep, pretty right. going into pine hills development though is not worth it unfortunately like it used to be bogofree. its done. the old roads, paths, and trails are all broken up.
like bogofree says, the pine hills portion west of sandwich road used to be great and wild, it was the last green corridor from the ocean over the manomet/pine hills to myles standish and beyond. not anymore.
there are multiple entry ways to the north side of sandwich road and the more mountainous sections of the Pine Hills as I described and I still "play". this side is roughly 2400 acreas and provides for a real trail running experience not for the faint of heart or out of shape. however, to each their own as far as speed, that is the beauty of hiking and running. read topos to find the ridges and head that direction for great discovery.
it is one of the best true steep trail running areas around. the trails are in super shape. you could do a different 8-10 mile loops every week for weeks on end, which i have. and yes, the 300 vertical foot ridges are the largest and most continuous vertical drops in Plymouth County.
Go over to the Bogo and Mark running blog, Anon. Add some comments.
http://trails.nemasket.net