Wapack Trail - Binney Pond, Pratt Mountain

 I'm going to be off trail for several weeks, so I wanted one last hike with some bang for my buck. The foliage is at peak and I decided to head south and tackle some more of the Wapack Trail. My original plan was to start at the southern terminus and actually finish the section that I needed to Pratt Mountain plus a couple side trails. I had concerns the parking area would be full, as I've heard it's not overly large and had in the back of my head a Plan B should that be the case. I pulled into the parking area for Mt Watatic on Rt 119 in Ashburnham, MA and literally the last spot was being taken. Several cars were pulling in after me as I left, so it's definitely a popular area. After grumbling under my breath that I should have gotten up earlier (I arrived around 9am) I plugged into my GPS Binney Hill Road, New Ipswich which I knew was an option as the first time I hiked any of the Wapack Trail I encountered some nice gentlemen, also section hiking, who had car spotted on Binney Hill Road. Not really knowing how much this would add to my planned hike, I quickly looked for any trip reports and found one that said it was about 1.2 miles extra.. not willing to drive the 2 hours back home, or come up with an alternative, I headed the 15 mins over to Binney Hill Road. There is a small parking area at the very end of the road that can accommodate 4 or 5 cars if everyone parks appropriately. When I arrived, 3 cars were already there, so I grabbed a spot and geared up. The walk up from this parking area to the Wapack Trail ended up being about 0.5 miles, a moderate incline on a rocky Class VI road, not bad and the foliage was already spectacular. I wasn't upset with Plan B. At the intersection with the Wapack Trail was a kiosk and gate. I looked at my map, as my planned hike was now a sort of out back on 2 sides and decided to do the shorter side first. This was a right off Binney Hill Road along an old road which was wet in places but mostly flat. At the intersection with the Frank Robbins Trail, I stayed to the right on the Wapack Trail which then became more of an actual trail. The section alongside Binney Pond was just gorgeous. Mostly flat with peakaboo views over the pond, except for one small section on bridges with a clear view across the pond. It was beautiful. Once you reach the far end of the pond, there was a spur signed Water, which I explored on my return. A few hundred yards to a stoned spring that was looking very leafy, but did have water. From here to the Pratt Mountain summit, it's a good moderate to steep climb up. Good footing, but a steady up. I was surprised to hear voices at one point as I was taking a breather break and looked back to see 4 guys pushing mountain bikes up the trail. They cruised past me and I felt all my years at that point! Just under half a mile up there is an unmarked (and honestly I wouldn't have noticed it except I saw it marked on a map) overlook of Binney Pond that is not to be missed. Once you come out of the woods on rock slab, look right and you can see the overlook a few hundred yards out. Absolutely gorgeous view over the pond and over to Mt Watatic. It's a couple more easy tenths to the Pratt Mountain summit. I looked for a sign as I've seen a picture of one nailed to a tree, but I didn't see anything. Having been up here before a couple years ago on a frigid day, thankfully much different than today, I knew there was an overlook just beyond the summit over towards Mt Monadnock. I headed over there and took some pictures before heading back down to retrace my steps. On the steep descent as I was carefully placing each step so as not to slip on all the leaves, a young guy came flying down past me running. I don't think his feet were even touching the ground.. and again I felt all my years! Back to the Frank Robbins Trail intersection and I took this trail knowing I would get the section of the Wapack Trail I needed on my return. This started out on a wide road and descended. After a couple tenths it turned off into the woods and started a gentle climb. This whole trail from here back to the Wapack Trail was rather overgrown, though easy to follow and quite uneventful. Once I reached the Wapack Trail again, I was starting to feel tired. Looking at the map, I knew there was some good elevation gain up Mt Watatic and again on the State Line Trail on my return. I contemplated my options and realized I was going to have to create a Plan C. It was here I was grateful I was parked where I was, as I was afforded this bail out option. Plan A had no bail out options and I imagine I would have been really gassed had I taken that route. Everything happens for a reason. I decided to at least take the Wapack Trail down to the MA state line and use that as my turnaround point, knowing then I could create a shorter loop to complete the sections I needed at a later time. This section of Wapack Trail was wide road, eroded in places and rocky in places, but easy enough. I reached the MA State line, turned around and retraced my steps, this time staying on the Wapack Trail when I reached the Frank Robbins Trail junction. Just beyond this was a cool area that was marked on the map as a field in the process of regenerating after some logging done in previous years. It was literally just an open area with tall grasses, but the foliage was colorful and created a lovely break from the previous terrain. The gate for Binney Hill Road was on the other side of the field and then I just had to go back the half mile to the car. 

Strava Activity

looking up Binney Hill Road

Kiosk at junction with Wapack Trail

Frank Robbins and Wapack Trail junction

Binney Pond

Binney Pond overlook

Monadnock from Pratt Mountain summit

So.Many.Leaves

Frank Robbins Trail once it turns off the road

lovely bench along the Wapack Trail

my turnaround point

the regenerating field

Crotched Mountain Town Forest

 I know I've said it a million times, but exploring all these town forests and state parks that I would not ordinarily even know about has been so amazing. Today was no exception. I headed over to Francestown to explore Crotched Mountain Town Forest. There is a parking area off Farrington Rd just as it turns off Rt 136. There were already a couple cars there. This is a longer alternate way to hike Crotched Mountain, which was not my intent today. Instead I planned on staying low and hiking through the forest, as a couple of the trails are in the AMC South Guide in this area. I started on Blueberry Trail, which was a very short loop from the parking lot that doesn't seem to have much traffic as it was a bit overgrown in places, but easy enough to follow. I joined Link Trail at a picnic table and followed that just over half a mile to Bullard Hill Rd and Summit Trail. From here I jumped on Joslins Loop for a short distance before picking up Scots Trail. None of these trails had anything super scenic, but they were in great shape, all well marked and very flowy. I really enjoyed my time on these trails. Scots Trail merges with Summit Trail West for a brief period. I saw a sign marking Black Gum Trail and decided to take this, but very soon after encountered a trail closed sign, so I backtracked to Summit West and continued. At a left turn there is a clearing and gorgeous view up to Crotched Mountain and the knob next to it. Today in particular with the colors it was amazing. At the next intersection, Summit Trail continues up starting the steep climb to Crotched Mountain and Scots Trail continues around the marsh. I needed to fill in a short section of Summit Trail here to the Lower Link intersection, where I had previously descended to on my last adventure here a couple of years ago. A quick up and back to grab that section and I continued on Scots Trail. There were several old roads/trails branching off here and there, but I stayed on Scots Trail which was blazed in white. Just before a cleared section, a yellow blazed trail crossed over Scots Trail and I got a bit confused as there were no signs indicating what the trail was. Turns out it was Summit East Trail, which is what I needed to head back to the car. Once back at the East/West intersection of Summit Trail, I was enjoying my hike so much I decided to lengthen it a little. I grabbed the section of Summit Trail I needed back down to Bullard Hill Road, then went back up Summit West Trail to Scots Trail and retraced my steps here to complete Joslins Loop, from where I had previously picked up Scots Trail. This was essentially an old road/maybe a snowmobile trail which loops around and joins the end of Farrington Road. I was taken by surprise when a truck was coming up Joslins Loop, just at a steeper section. They had 2 canoes in the bed of the truck, so I wasn't sure where they were headed as I wasn't aware of any bodies of water in the area for that sort of activity. I was a tiny bit unnerved by this and picked up my pace a little. I soon met up with Farrington Road and did the quick road walk back to the parking area. There were a couple of beautiful houses on this road and I thought about how peaceful it must be to live out here. Oddly enough the truck came back past me again, so I wondered if they had been following some misguided GPS instructions or were locals and just checking on something in the area. Definitely another hidden gem trail network even with nothing of particular note to see. 

Strava Activity

Intersection of Link Trail and Blueberry Trail

Saved Quarry Loop for another day

Link Trail

Scots Trail off Joslins Loop

heading back down Summit at the Lower Link junction

back on Scots Trail from Summit Trail

along Summit East Trail

Bear Brook State Park - Black Hall Road & Out and Back Trail

 I have had 3 small trails left at Bear Brook State Park for a while.. having only a half day available to hike today, I decided now was the time. I pre-booked my parking reservation and headed for the toll booth on Deerfield Road. Thinking I was going to park at the beach/pond parking area, the girl at the toll booth actually said it would be fine to park at the gate at the end of Black Hall Road, where I intended to hike, as long as I didn't block the gate. This saved me a few tenths! Black Hall Road is essentially a snowmobile corridor, and a straight shot out at that. There is nothing to see, but with the Fall foliage peaking this weekend and some exquisite sunlight today, it was a perfect day to just stroll. I went as far as the Bear Brook boundary and turned around to head back. I was surprised to pass 2 hunters right on the trail, I know it's a thing (and had been hearing the gunshots my entire walk) but to see them up so close is always unnerving to me! Right at the gate where I had started, another trail headed to my right (facing the road) which is named Deer Trail on some maps. There were several trails off Black Hall Road the entire distance, but this was the only other named trail on the Bear Brook map, so this was the only other one I walked. It cut through a really pretty patch of forest, parallel to the road and popped out just a bit further down Deerfield Road from where I had parked. I retraced my steps and was back in the car. 

Strava Activity

gate on Black Hall Road

lovely water crossing along Black Hall Road

Black Hall Road

Deer Trail

gate for Deer Trail on Deerfield Road

Out & Back Trail

My very last hike was Out and Back Trail which shows up on the newest Bear Brook trail map. It starts at the campground and goes out to South Road and a neighborhood. There isn't any parking at the road, and it's not marked or visible, so a digital map was required to locate the trail for this one. I parked along a stone wall at the property line marked as far off the road as I could. Skirting the edge of a cleared field, there is evidence of a footbed through the grass and soon you are in the woods. The road stays left, and an actual trail heads right. This surprised me as I thought the trail was going to be old road/snowmobile corridor the entire way. Turns out it is a really nice wander through the woods reaching the outer campsites in just under a mile. The trail isn't blazed, but was easy to follow. I wandered through the campground over to the pond to see if there was any nice foliage shots. The campground was packed (even though it was a very cold overnight), so I just turned around and retraced my steps. There are no signs at this end either, so look for the road directing to campsites 12-19 with a toilet block and follow that to the end. The road ends in a circle and the trail starts right in the middle at the back, to the right of campsite 12. 

Strava Activity

entrance from South Road

where the trail went right, road went left

Beaver Pond from the campground

Bald Knob Trail - Cockermouth Forest

 Our original plans changed today due to rain forecast down in the Boston area. It looked like it would stay fine in NH, so I decided I wanted views and foliage. My choice of completing the Bald Knob Trail paid off. A real hidden gem. Having been to Bald Knob in the Cockermouth Forest from the Old North Groton Road trail before, I wanted to finish Bald Knob Trail from the Hebron Town Forest entrance. It was a perfect Fall day. Crisp temperatures, but not too cold with clear skies. From the parking area, head across the bridge and past the kiosk for the Cockermouth Ledge Trail. This section is a snowmobile trail, so wide and easy footing. I was surprised that not long after this the trail opened up into a wide open field. It was very pretty with the foliage starting to pop through. It looked like there might be tall grasses or corn or something at some points of the year, but that was all gone today. The trail skirts the edge of the field before re-entering the woods. The snowmobile trail turned off shortly after this, and while the hiking trail narrowed a little, the footing remained easy. About 1 miles from the parking lot, the Spectacle Pond spur headed straight, while Bald Knob Trail veered off to the right. The trail is blazed orange and there was a sign and map. The trail really had great footing the entire way, which was amazing. Well maintained and well marked, it was easy to follow. The climbing started here, but was gentle at first, gradually becoming more moderate with some steeper pitches and switchbacks at times. With the leaves falling, there were peakaboo views down to Spectacle Pond and over to the surrounding peaks for much of the way, which was so pretty. A short ways after the Spectacle Pond spur, a yellow blazed trail headed off to the left, but there was no indication of where that went, and it's not on any maps yet, so I did not explore. Just under another mile from the Spectacle Pond spur was another yellow blazed trail. This one had a sign reading "To Hardy Rd".. which had me looking at the map and changing my plans for my return, erasing a double up of a previously hiked section. Although this connector is not on any maps that I saw, Hardy Rd was, so I could see where the trail would originate. I continued on Bald Knob Trail which continued to climb. At one point, you came out on some open ledges with beautiful views across to Cardigan Mountain, clearly seeing the firetower on top! The trail became a little more technical as it ascended with some steeper pitches. About 3 miles from the parking area as the trail veered left, I noticed to the right through a thin line of trees what looked like a really gorgeous open view, then I noticed a herd path through the short grass, so I went over and it was spectacular. A couple tenths after this, the trail met up the branch of Bald Knob Trail that starts at Old North Groton Road. From here it is roughly 0.4 miles to the summit of Bald Knob. This is a mean little steep pitch! Nothing crazy as far as technical stuff, just steep! The summit has expansive views over to Tenney Mountain and the windmills on its peak as well as restricted views towards Newfound Lake. If you go past the summit just a few feet, look for a herd path to the left. This leads to wide open ledges with gorgeous views across to Cardigan Mountain and surrounds. I hadn't seen this path the last time I was up so was really pleasantly surprised at how open and spectacular the views really were. From here the trail drops in a short, steep descent alongside some "hairy" (ferns) huge boulders to the intersection with a yellow blazed connector trail to High Pasture Loop, an old (I'm not sure if it's actually maintained) trail that the map says heads to Tenney Lane, and the trail heading up to the Mt Crosby summit. Having been to Mt Crosby on my last visit, I took the yellow blazed trail to High Pasture Loop. In areas this was a great, easy path.. in others it was rather rustic and harder to follow (well blazed though, so no issues). It felt much longer than the 0.3 miles it is. The next intersection is with High Pasture Loop and Beeline Trail coming down from Mt Crosby. I took a left onto High Pasture Loop, which was an easy gradual descent on an old road back to Bald Knob Trail. Again like the yellow blazed trail, at times it was great and clear and other times it was overgrown, although never difficult to follow. Once back on Bald Knob Trail (the branch from Old North Groton Road), I took a right and headed down to the intersection of Old North Groton Road and what the map called Rogers Road. I took the left onto Rogers Road, this section is an old wide road, rough in places and not blazed, but very easy to follow. This was about 0.5 miles long and came to an old green gate with a Cockermouth Forest sign and a sign pointing left saying "To Hardy Rd" Yellow blazes started here and this climbed gently up to Hardy Road. This was the other end of the connector I had passed on my way up. This section was the only section I was flying by the seat of my pants, since it wasn't marked on any maps I had. Turns out it was roughly a mile long, it followed the Cockermouth Forest boundary for most of it, with a gentle to moderate ascent some of the way, before crossing the boundary stone wall and making its way back to Bald Knob Trail about 2 miles from the parking area. I retraced my steps here and finally saw my first person of the day! Back at the Spectacle Pond spur, I went the 0.1 miles. At the fork with snowmobile signage, stay right away from the private residence and descend down the pond and a bench. There was a sign stating there was a trail around pond with white blazes, but it now showing any maps, I didn't explore since I wasn't sure how long it was or where it went. After some quick photos I backtracked back to the car. 8.4 miles and 1 person! Perfect day!

Strava Activity

variety of terrain

first real views

zoomed in on Cardigan

viewpoint just off trail

views from Bald Knob summit

views from summit off herd path behind summit

High Pasture Loop off Bald Knob Trail