You Are Here: Nottingcook Forest

I've had in the back of my mind to add the remainder of the trails at Nottingcook Forest to my redlining spreadsheet for a while now. Although not described in detail, the forest is mentioned in reference to Great Hill, which I hiked with Cameron a couple of years ago. I've seen a few other of my redlining compadres doing the other trails, and having really had enough of the snow for now, I decided to go for it. I mapped out a route that would encompass all the trails I had left (besides the 3 on Great Hill already done) which would bring me to roughly 7 miles. It was a simply gorgeous day, but I was starting to feel under the weather, so my goal was to take it easy and see what I could do. I had options to bail if needed. I parked on Woodhill Hooksett Road at the kiosk and parking area, which is large enough for several cars. I was first car in, but the lot was full upon my return. I knew there was snow in the area, but I could see lots of bare trail, so I took a punt and left all my Winter traction in the car. I started on Sheridan's Way, which shortly crossed back over the Class VI section of Woodhill Hooksett Road. The trails were really well marked and nicely maintained. With the leaves off the trees still, it was very bright and airy feeling. I'm actually grateful for the good blazings as the forest was so open it often looked like trail when it wasn't.. after veering off a couple times, I always made sure I could see the next blaze from then on and continued with no issues. At the first intersection, I took Steer Brook Trail. This trail crossed over several snowmobile trails before reaching another intersection with a 65ft trail called Gorge Link Trail. I continued on Steer Brook Trail to the end and sort of did a figure 8, picking up Glacial Erratic Trail following that up to the top intersection with Nancy's Trail and did a short out and back on Nancy's Trail up to the Great Loop Trail intersection, where I had been a couple years ago. I took Nancy's Trail back to the Gorge Link Trail. Just before this intersection was a signed area that said Steer Brook Gorge. It was a mini gorge, but I'm sure is super pretty with a bit more water flow. I completed my figure 8 by finishing off Glacial Erratic Trail, then repeated a short section on Steer Brook Trail before jumping back on Nancy's Trail. I did an out and back on Crescent View Trail which went up to a cul-de-sac neighborhood in Bow. Back on Nancy's Trail, I followed to the second intersection with Upper Black Gum Trail to loop back around. Hidden Cave Trail was off this with a short hike up to a huge rock area with cave. I didn't get too close as I was getting tired, didn't want to fall and get hurt, plus I'm not really a cave fan, too scary! LOL I repeated the short section of Nancy's Trail and continued on to the second intersection with Woodbury Outlook Loop. This was the only real wet section with the blazes a little bit harder to see. I took Woodbury Outlook Loop and was surprised to find it was a real little climb up to this outlook. Steeper than I had been anticipating and at the end of my day, my legs were feeling it! At the top was a lovely outlook as the name suggests. Passing Duck Bill Ledge I made it back to Nancy's Trail and continued onto Wolfe Cascade Brook Trail, which was lovely following a meandering brook with lots of little cascades. I passed Buffalo Rock, which is on the NH 25 Rocks that Rock list! Instead of taking Sheridan's Way back, I continued straight on a little connector, which was the snowiest portion of the entire day and a little hard to follow but thankfully short and met up with Woodhill Hooksett Road which I took back to the car. There were some flooded sections along the road, but I was mostly able to skooch around the sides. So while nothing overly scenic, a really, really beautiful area with well marked trails and the best part for me at this time of year.. no bugs and no snow/ice!

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