I first visited The Pinnacle during Covid. There were trails back then, but it has since been developed into a more formal network with signs and blazes. It's a neat little area. From the parking area, I started on Carriage Road Trail and headed down to the Village Overlook Loop, which has a bench that overlooks the village of Hooksett... imagine that! I then continued on Carriage Road Trail doing an out and back on the Carriage Road Bypass. Spent a little time at the summit, where there is also a bench now. I saw a herd path that took in some alternate views, so explored a little, then headed back to the car on Icehouse Trail. There were a couple trails that looked like they went down to the pond, and I explored 3 before I got an unobstructed view across the pond, with the scenic backdrop of I-93! All in all, it ended up being just over 2 miles. Perfect little Sunday morning adventure.

Village Overlook Trail

along Carriage Road Trail

where the old informal trail has been closed on the Bypass

looking up towards the summit

summit bench

view from a herd path off the sumit

Icehouse Trail

Icehouse Trail from the parking lot

Saturday, May 23, 2026

Mt Bet

It's been a rough week, so some time in nature was just what the Doctor ordered. Vanessa accompanied me today. We headed back up to the Gilmanton/New Durham area to explore Mt Bet. A newer network in the SELT system, I had read it was a little steep, though nothing technical, and not all that long. We decided on a car spot up and over Mt Bet, with a road walk back to the Gilman Pond Conservation Area where I needed to grab a couple tenths of a mile on a snowmobile trail I had missed last time. I was also excited to share the finds I made over there with a friend. All the cool rock formations from the old quarry. We spotted a car at Gilman Pond and headed over to the Mt Bet trailhead on Drew Hill Road. That took some back and forth as roads I tried to go down ended up being Class VI roads, but we got there. The very start of the trail is a snowmobile trail but quickly branches off. We were told this trail was just cut last Summer, so super fresh, but really well maintained and marked with blazes and flagging tape. It was just under a mile to the highpoint and a spur loop over to a viewpoint. We actually got up there relatively easily, I had expected a much more strenuous hike, so it was a pleasant surprise to realize we were up already. The viewpoint offered some lovely views over Merrymeeting Lake. We didn't bushwhack to the true summit, thought about it, but ultimately didn't. We continued over Mt Bet and down the other side, which switched back and forth rejoining the snowmobile trail and ending up at Chesley Road. We road walked Chesley Road, which is Class VI at first, then hard dirt, up to Drew Hill Road and back down to the Gilman Pond trailhead. For a short section, it was very, very buggy, but that was really the only time they were a nuisance. We followed the Dave Lawrence Trail to the white blazed Scenic Trail up to Seavey Trail. We stopped for a lunchbreak at the small viewpoint on Scenic Trail. I showed Vanessa the old quarry and family memorial site. We then backtracked down the snowmobile trail. I had thought it would take us all the way to the road, but it ended up in a big open field. We weren't sure exactly where to go, so just sort of crossed over it and eventually did a very short road walk back up to our spotted car. Really, really enjoyable day in the woods!

Strava Activity

Mt Bet trailhead on Drew Hill Rd

turning off the snowmobile trail

viewpoint spur

rejoining the snowmobile trail

end of Mt Bet trail at Chesley Road

Saturday, April 18, 2026

Knowlton Woods

Just wanted something quick. Having done all the trails previously at Oak Hill in Concord, I needed to go back and grab the 2 new trails developed. The kiosk for these new trails is on Hot Hole Pond Road and I made a loop going up Knowlton Trail. Across Dancing Bear Trail stopping to enjoy the Swope Slope viewpoint. Briefly joining Tower Trail before heading down on Bowl Trail. I also did a bonus loop on the mountain bike section off Bowl Trail as it is included on the Southern NH Redlining spreadsheet. It was a gorgeous day. I only saw a couple of people. Bugs were only a nuisance at the parking area. Couldn't have asked for more! Nothing of note except the view at the Swope Slope viewpoint. Really well maintained trails though.

Strava Activity

Sunday, April 12, 2026

Great Brook Trail

It's been a while and we all just needed to get out into the woods, so Vanessa, Laura and I decided to a car spot on Great Brook Trail in Deerfield. We spotted a car on Coffeetown Rd and headed over to Harvey Rd to begin. There really is nothing special or scenic about this trail, but it was really nice and pleasant. Passes by a brook off and on. Well maintained and easy to follow. We took the Granite Dome and Vernal Spring side path. The Granite Dome spur just climbs up to some boulders on top of a hill.. maybe the hill is the Granite Dome, we weren't entirely sure.. we actually missed the Vernal Spring on that small loop as it was relatively dry and had quite a bit of debris on it. When we got back to the Granite Dome intersection we all looked at each other and decided to backtrack to at least what we think was the Vernal Spring. Overall, just another pleasant walk in the woods that wasn't too far from home!

Strava Activity