You Are Here: Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway Oak Hill

My adoration of the Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway continues. Today I had both my besties, Laura and Vanessa with me. We spotted a car at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Washington, NH on Kings Highway (a gravel road only maintained in Summer months). We then drove back and started on Halfmoon Pond Road at the Martin Road intersection. There is a pull off right opposite Martin Road that would fit a few cars. Halfmoon Pond Road is a hard packed gravel road, generally quiet.. though be careful as sometimes dirt bikes or as we experienced, a dozen or so jeeps/SUVs came tearing along from Pillsbury State Park. The Greenway itself goes over Lovewell Mountain, and we picked it up at the Lovell Mountain Road intersection, which is also the trailhead to get up to Lovewell Mountain about 1.4 miles from the car. Easy going on this section, we made quick time. Halfmoon Pond Road bears right about 1.3 miles from Lovell Mountain Road and gently climbs up towards the center of the town of Washington in about 0.7 miles. Here there is a general store that I have read has wonderful meals and snacks for thru-hikers (or anyone, but a popular stop for thru-hikers). We didn't have a need for a meal at this time, so continued. Carefully crossing Route 31, continue down Faxon Hill Road for just about a tenth of a mile and turn onto the first left (there is a Greenway arrow on the signpost) onto Symonds Lane. A short distance down this lane the trail turns off the road and heads into the woods. There were arrows and and a cairn marking the trail entrance. The trail follows a farm fence line for a bit and in about another tenth of a mile reaches the General Washington shelter. We stopped for a morning tea snack. It's a really clean shelter with a privy. The trail continues through the woods, over some mossy rocks and a couple of small brook crossings. A couple tenths from the shelter the trail starts gentle to moderate climb up towards the Oak Hill summit. With the leaves off the trees and some logging done in recent years, we had some lovely views to the surrounding peaks. The trail climbs moderately then levels off before making another moderate climb up to the summit. I was surprised to see it was very open, I had read that the views were being restricted to tree growth.. that has all been cleared and there are 180 degree views over to Lovewell Mountain and towards Vermont. It was lovely! We stopped for another quick snack, but could see weather coming in, so didn't linger. The descent down was a bit steep, which I had read about, but short, and honestly nothing like I was anticipating. The worst part was the slippery leaves hiding rocks and holes. The descent is about half a mile before it levels off and continues through the woods. The trail joins an old road/snowmobile trail which is actually a private driveway (we met the homeowner, a really nice gent who told us about his retirement plans from CT to the property). The trail rejoins Faxon Hill Road, which is paved and descends a few tenths before veering left onto gravel Kings Highway and back to the Seventh Day Adventist Church and our car spot. There is some good parking at this spot that the church allows hikers to use, plus some "antique" toilets and picnic tables. I have about 8 miles left on the Greenway, and I've loved just about every inch!

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