About the Property
Hedgehog Mountain lies at the northern end of a prominent granite ridge in the Town of Deering. From open ledges and viewpoints along the ridge, one can see much of the Contoocook Valley spread out below, as well as Mount Monadnock in the distance.
Bookended to the north by Hedgehog Mountain Forest and to the south by High Five Reservation, the nearly 5-mile Hedgehog Ridge Trail is the connecting footpath between these two irresistibly scenic reservations.
A new parking area for the Hedgehog Ridge Trail is located about ½ mile down Hedgehog Mountain Road from the junction with Old County Road. To reach the trailhead from the parking area, continue on foot down Hedgehog Mountain Road for about 600’ and you will see the trailhead sign on your left.
Visitor Use Guidelines
Please see our Visitor Use Guidelines page for a complete list of rules and regulations for Forest Society reservations.
Property Details
The Hedgehog Mountain Forest was protected in 8 separate acquisitions from 2007 to 2011. The property protects not only the steep spine of Hedgehog Ridge and a large area of unfragmented forest, but also several large wetlands in the southern and eastern portions of the property.
Recommended Properties Nearby
A marked trail leads through hemlock woods and past a beaver marsh to the summit of Mount Wallingford. The summit offers a nice view to the north. Look for wild blueberries in season.
Two miles of hiking trails wind through upland pine-oak-hemlock forests, fields, old orchards, and silver maple floodplain forest along the Contoocook River. The terrain is relatively flat. Because of the wide variety of habitats, wildlife observation opportunities are excellent at McCabe Forest.