In under half an hour, hikers can reach the Hedgehog Ridge and great views in Deering.
The fall hiking season is here at last– crisp air, colorful leaves and, best of all – no bugs! It's a great time to hike, but sometimes we don’t have the luxury of spending an entire Saturday on the trail. That’s when it’s handy to have a go-to list of half-day or shorter hikes that give you maximum views for minimal effort and time.
In that easy-peasy spirit, here are seven destinations, all on conserved Forest Society land, to enjoy this fall when you have a morning or afternoon to get outside1.Hedgehog Ridge
1. Hedgehog Mountain Forest, 1,091 acres, Deering
I added this one to my list just last week after my first foray on a new trail up Hedgehog Mountain. This trail is just 22 miles west of Manchester at the Hedgehog Mountain Forest Reservation. My husband and I took our time, and after a leisurely 25 minutes of hiking we reached the top and both reacted with some form of “Oh, wow!” Expansive views of the Contoocook River Valley and mountains beyond opened up before us, with Mount Monadnock standing serenely off to the southwest.
Now 1,091 acres strong, this reservation has been conserved piece by piece in a partnership between the Deering Conservation Commission and the Forest Society. With funding assistance from an anonymous donor, eight properties have been bought and added one by one to the reservation, starting back in 2007.
Yellow blazes mark the trail through a lovely oak forest along both footpaths and old logging roads. Near the top you’ll see a sign for the Hedgehog Ridge Trail, of which the short hike I’m describing here is just one part. The long version follows the ridgeline for five miles, all the way to Wilson Hill and another Forest Society conserved property called High Five Reservation. This trail was built at the instigation of the volunteer land steward for both reservations, Ben Haubrich. Ben is the former manager of Monadnock State Park (which the Forest Society has conserved over the last century and leases to the State). He led a staff and volunteer effort to build this new trail, and it’s now open for all to enjoy.
A guided hike to celebrate this new trail is scheduled for Oct. 14. See forest society.org/events if you’d like to go!
The parking area for the Hedgehog Mountain Forest is located about ½ mile down Hedgehog Mountain Road from the junction with Old County Road in Deering. To reach the trailhead from the parking area, you’ll need to walk up the road a short ways (about 600 feet), and you will see the trailhead sign on your left.
2. Eagle Cliff
Merriman Forest, Sandwich
One of the finest views in the Squam Lakes Region is yours for the investment of about 25 minutes of climbing in the 102-acre Merriman Forest in Sandwich. The main trail climaxes with a strenuous scramble up granite ledges to get to Eagle Cliff – a 1.2-mile roundtrip hike. However, you can detour around the steepest part if you’d rather; the views are the same! From Eagle Cliff, you’ll see most of Big Squam Lake and its many islands, along with the Squam Range looming above and behind. On the opposite shore, the twin hills of the Rattlesnakes are visible, as well as the summits of mounts Morgan and Percival. Looking further to the east, the high peaks of the Sandwich Range appear rugged and majestic over the town of Sandwich. The huge south-facing ledge on Mt. Whiteface is visible just to the left of Mt. Passaconaway, and further east the rocky spire of Mt. Chocorua rises abruptly over the lowlands of Tamworth.
For trail maps and directions, search for “Merriman Forest” on the Reservation Guide at forestsociety.org.
3. Sunset Hill
Hay Reservation, Newbury, 719 acres
The rocky summit of Sunset Hill offers sweeping views of Lake Sunapee, Mount Sunapee, Kearsarge, and distant peaks of the White Mountains. On the way up, enjoy the forests and old farm roads of this former hill farm once owned by Secretary of State John Milton Hay. Take your choice of either the 2.4-mile roundtrip from Route 103A trailhead or an equally moderate 1.8-mile roundtrip from the Chalk Pond Road trailhead. The hike takes about two hours roundtrip if you’re not stopping -- plan on three hours with kids who like to take snack breaks and find geocaches (there are at least five on the Hay reservation). It’s pretty gentle incline for the first ¾ mile, but then climbs more steeply as you reach the top.
For trail maps and directions, go to the Reservation Guide at forestsociety.org and search for “Hay Reservation.”
4. Silver Mountain
Ashuelot River Headwaters Forest, Lempster, 1,826 acres
A half-mile walk up a pretty forest path, softened by pine needles, is all it takes to feel on top of the world at Silver Mountain, a highlight of the 1,826-acre Ashuelot River Headwaters Forest in Lempster. The most dramatic views are to the west, overlooking the village of Lempster and the hills and hollows, farms, forests, and white meetinghouse steeple of Acworth. Across the Connecticut River Valley, the distant peaks of Mount Ascutney and Vermont’s Green Mountains rise in the distance. With barely a structure in sight, the rolling green landscape undulates southwestward past mounts Moosilaukee and Cardigan to the Wapack Range and Mount Monadnock in the south. Make sure you keep walking past the first vantage point until you get to a cairn that marks the summit and views in three directions.
For trail maps and directions, go to the Reservation Guide at forestsociety.org and search for “Ashuelot River Headwaters Forest.”
5. Mount Wallingford
Buxton Forest and Simons Preserve, 227 acres, Weare
A 2.5-mile roundtrip, moderately strenuous route takes you along old woods roads (now a snowmobile trail) and along a narrow hiking path with some steep sections to the summit of Mount Wallingford. From there, you can enjoy a peaceful view to the north before heading back down through hemlock woods and past a beaver marsh.
For trail maps and directions, go to the Reservation Guide at forestsociety.org and search for “Buxton Forest.”
6. Gap Mountain
Gap Mountain Reservation, Jaffrey and Troy, 1120 acres
Both the middle and north summits of Gap Mountain offer excellent views of Mount Monadnock and the surrounding countryside for less than an hour’s worth of effort. Choose the 2.4-mile route or the 2.6-mile route (roundtrip) for a moderately strenuous hike to superb views of one of the most famous mountains on the East Coast, the town of Troy and, off to the west, Little Monadnock and surrounding tree-covered hills.
For trail maps and directions, go to the Reservation Guide at forestsociety.org and search for “Gap Mountain.”
7. Wilson Hill
High Five Reservation, Deering, 54 acres
Wilson Hill, on the High Five Reservation in Deering, may be the shortest hike to the best view around. It’s about a third of a mile up a moderately sloped woods road to get to the top. Once there, you may have to do a few jumping jacks to feel like you’ve earned the fantastic panoramic view to the north and west. Or, have a seat and enjoy a sunset picnic. It’s worth noting that periodic timber harvests and mowing have enhanced the views over the years.
For trail maps and directions, go to the Reservation Guide at forestsociety.org and search for “High Five Reservation.”