We will be offering a varied selection of three-season hikes and walks this year, mainly on weekends. Some will be in Eastman, others in the Upper Valley area, and a few farther afield. We need more leaders! If you can help out in this fun and rewarding role, please contact me, Peter Hope, at 603-863- 6456 or phope@oxfordnetworks.net.
Remember to stay safe while hiking by bringing adequate gear, especially the 10 essentials (nps.gov/ articles/10essentials.htm), including food, water and warm layers. A Hike Safe Card is a good investment that will protect you from the high cost of search and rescue in New Hampshire. And now to Peter’s Picks:
Kendall Riverfront Loop
Total distance ~3 miles, with a few hundred feet elevation gain. Easy/ Moderate
This hike features great views along the Connecticut River, an interesting esker left behind by the glacier, a lovely open meadow, and Storrs Pond and the attractive woods above and along its outlet brook.
To get to the parking area, follow NH-10 north from Hanover past Kendall Retirement Community. Shortly after, turn left at the sign for Kendall Riverfront Park.
Follow the gravel road, passing a gate and descending to the bank of the Connecticut River. This is a put-in for rowing shells. It’s a good place from which to admire the river. Retrace your steps a few feet, then follow a grassy road to your right (south). This turns into a blazed trail paralleling the river.
Bear right at a junction (most are marked with signs bearing trail maps). Soon, you’ll reach a small stream crossing. Watch for a trail on the opposite bank that angles right on switchbacks climbing an interesting esker. The trail follows the ridge and then descends again to the river. Bear left, closely following the shore and passing many boats (they belong to Kendall residents). Views of the river in this area are excellent.
Eventually the trail bears left, swithbacking uphill to end at a T junction with a wider path. Bear left a few feet to reach the paved roads behind Kendall. Follow the Kendall access road to NH-10. Cross this and descend the obvious trail through an attractive open meadow. Soon after you enter the woods, you’ll reach the woods road that circles lovely Storrs Pond. Bear left twice and climb a short rise, then descend to cross the outlet dam. Cross this and climb a short distance, passing part of an obstacle course on the right.
Turn sharp left onto a foot trail (sign Rinker-Steele Natural Area). Continue level a short distance, then descend to a trail junction. Bear left through attractive woods above and along the outlet brook until you finally climb to NH-10. Follow the shoulder a short distance left uphill to regain the parking area.
VINS Canopy Walk
This is a very easy but rewarding expedition, less than a mile walk and fairly level.
Take I-89 north into Vermont, then passing under I-91. At Exit 1 turn left onto US-4. Cross Quechee Gorge (worth a stop) to reach the VINS entrance road on your right. (There is also a short trail from the parking just west of the bridge over the gorge). Enter through the gift shop, where you pay the admission fee. To reach the attractive trails, go down a short hill – they start on your right opposite the raptor enclosures.
The attractive trail system affords good views of the Ottaquechee River and Dewey Mill Pond. But the gem is the new Forest Canopy Walk, an extensive, impressive wooden construction that allows one to view the forest from many levels, as high as 65 inches above the forest floor. The walk itself is fairly level, but there are opportunities to climb higher. Points of interest along the way include the Spider Web, the Tree House, the Eagle’s Nest, and more. I’ll say no more, so as not to spoil the surprise!
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