Like the Belknaps a couple weeks ago, it's been about 10 years since I've hiked in the Ossipee Mountain Range.. once I had completed my patches for that area, I moved on and started working on other lists. I had forgotten how beautiful it is over there. With the AMC South 6th edition, there are a couple of spurs and trails now added that I needed to go and get. I wanted something relatively quick and easy since it's Sunday and I didn't want to be out all day, so I planned a 4 mile hike that would pick up 3 of those spurs. I opted to add on Brook Walk for a little scenic bonus. They've done a lot of updating and refurbing of the trails in that area since I was last there, so it was fun to see the improvements. I parked in the hiker lot at Shannon Pond and started with Brook Walk. Considering we've not had rain for quite a while, the waterfalls were still flowing. They were so pretty.. and until Falls of Song, which was the very last one, I saw no one.. perfect! I continued on Brook Walk which ascended moderately up to Shannon Brook Trail. I turned left and went the short distance to Connector Trail, which was one of the new pieces I needed, as on my previous visit I had taken the now closed section of Shannon Brook Trail back to Shannon Pond. Connector Trail went up to Turtleback Mountain Trail, I turned right here and went the short distance down to Oak Ridge Trail. There are 2 branches coming off Oak Ridge Trail, and I needed to complete that little triangle. I couldn't remember which side I'd done before, so I just did a small loop-de-loop and did both to cover myself regardless. I then went up Oak Ridge Trail, which coincided with an Interpretative Trail. Despite there being a lot of cars in the parking area, outside the small group I saw at Falls of Song, the only other people I encountered was a guy hiking along Turtleback Mountain Trail, and a couple on Lower Bridle Path. Always amazes me when that happens! I've always described the Ossipee's like a mountain super highway.. the signs remind me of street signs, and a lot of the trails are old carriage roads, so wide. It was really, really, really leafy today.. made it pretty, but slowed me a down a little as the leaves were hiding lots of tripping hazards and were a bit slippery in places.. that's OK, I took my time and kept myself upright. There was a lookout along Oak Ridge Cutoff which was gorgeous. I continued up to the intersection with Lower Bridle Path. The last new spur I needed was at a right hand turn along that trail which lead up to another viewpoint towards the lake. So pretty and peaceful! I headed back down Lower Bridle Path to Pond Trail and back to the car. Super big bang for the buck!

view from the parking area near Pond Trail

Brook Walk

along Brook Walk where the trail leaves the road

Oak Ridge Trail viewpoint

spur off Lower Bridle Path viewpoint

Saturday, October 24, 2026

Saddleback Mountain

Laura and I headed back over to Northwood Meadows to finish the 2 trails I needed on Saddleback Mountain that we had explored back in Winter. It was a gorgeous day, perfect temps and no wind. A couple other cars arrived not long after us at the Old Mountain Rd trailhead, but we never saw them again once they headed out.. we only saw one group with a couple dogs, and a lovely lady we ended up chatting to for quite a while. Last time we headed up Parsonage Trail, so today we opted for Saddleback Mountain Trail. This one is more of an old woods road before becoming a true footpath nearer the viewpoint. We had a lot of catching up to do, and reached the viewpoint before I even realized it. From here we took Link Trail the short distance up to Ravine Loop. Ravine Loop descends down into what they call a gorge... a super baby gorge really, with a mostly dry cascade today. Then it climbs back up to meet up with Link Trail again at a four way intersection with Lalish Trail. Ravine Loop was so pretty, and so so quiet. Even knowing we weren't that far from roads and houses, there was not a sound. Between the gorgeous light of the day and the leaves softly falling from the trees, we just kept stopping and looking around. The other piece I needed was the section of Link Trail up to the Saddleback summit. The trail itself seemed to stop at a viewpoint just below the true summit, but there was an obvious herd path that continued on, so we followed reaching a stone structure. So different than my last time on this summit, 10 + years ago when I did my first and only true bushwhack. It was gorgeous. I loved it, and honestly could have just sat up there for ages. Alas, we needed to continue on. Back at the four way intersection, we took Lalish Trail back to Old Mountain Road and the car. Superb day in the woods.

Strava Activity

trailhead on Old Mountain Road

heading up Saddleback Mountain Trail

viewpoint at the intersection with Link Trail

Ravine Loop

in the ravine

viewpoint on Link Trail just below the summit

Saddleback summit

cool tree along Lalish Trail

not even a dribble today

Sunday, October 18, 2026

Gunstock Mountain

Today was picture perfect. I'm finally somewhat recovering from the wretched cold I had, but said to heck with it. The day is too perfect. I headed over to Gunstock Mountain to explore the 2 new trails added since I completed redlining over there a decade ago! Ledges Iron Mine Trail and Marge's Trail are on the backside of Gunstock. I smirked as I passed by the already overflowing trailhead to Mt Major. Love that mountain, but not today thanks. There is a small parking lot off Belknap Mountain Road for Ledges Iron Mine Trail, and I was the only car there. I ended up only seeing people on the Gunstock summit (obviously since the chairlift is in operation), a few people on Gunstock Mountain Trail and 4 people on Ridge Trail. A car arrived as I was leaving.. so basically, perfect. Ledges Iron Mine Trail starts up from the get go and continues the entire way. I've had a couple of 1000ft or near gains in elevation over the past year, but it's been a solid year since I went well over 1000ft.. so that, combined with coming off a cold, and it was slow going. But honestly, I didn't mind at all, because it was just so beautiful out, when I needed to stop and rest I just looked around and enjoyed the beautiful colors around me. The first half mile is up, but not too bad.. and right at half a mile or so is one of the most beautiful ledges I can remember visiting. I've seen it referred to as Sunset Ledge. I could have sat there forever. From here Marge's Trail and Iron Ledges Mine Trail combine for a short distance before breaking off. I took Ledges Iron Mine Trail up, which is a bit shorter and steeper. Definitely a descent little climb up, passing 2 former sites of iron mining from way back in the day. Once up at Ridge Trail, I decided to continue the quarter mile or so to the Gunstock summit. It was busy, so I didn't linger. Back on Ridge, I continued back and passed Ledges Iron Mine Trail, descending down to Marge's Trail. Opposite Marge's Trail is a short spur up to a ski trail with gorgeous views over the lake. What goes up, must come down, and by then my legs were toast. It was slow going as well as it was really leafy, and I'm always afraid of slipping. Overall a 12/10 day.

Strava Activity