5 Easy NH Hikes in 5 Weeks

CONCORD, NH - The Society for the Protection of NH Forests (Forest Society), in partnership with WMUR’s “Escape Outside,” is offering a summer series of guided hikes in June and July geared toward families and individuals who want to get out for some not-too-strenuous outdoors fun and learn something new about nature in New Hampshire, according to a press statement.

Five Easy Hikes in Five Weeks will introduce participants to wild destinations to explore that are close to population centers of Concord, Manchester, Nashua and the Seacoast. Each hike, guided by Forest Society staff and volunteers, will take place on one of the Forest Society’s quiet, never crowded, beautiful reservations. Participants can come to one, several or all five hikes.

Here’s a lineup of dates and destinations:

• Friday, June 24, 2016: 2 to 4 p.m., “The River,” Merrimack River Floodplain in Concord.  Explore the 1.75-mile loop trail along the Merrimack River and see the amazing and vibrant wildlife habitat found in this fertile floodplain and associated wetlands of Mill Brook. Find out why this area is a haven for songbirds, waterfowl, wading birds and wetland mammals including mink, otter and beaver, as well as for deer, fox and even an occasional visiting bobcat.
• Wednesday, June 29: 2 to 4:30 p.m., “Exploring the Past of an Historic, Hidden Gem,” Monson Village in Milford and Hollis. Visit scenic Monson Village to find historic cellars of farms established as part of the earliest inland colonial New Hampshire settlement in the 1740s. Along the way, see a great blue heron nesting colony and woodland wildflowers.
• Saturday, July 9: 9 a.m. to noon, “Orchards, Ponds and Wetland Wildlife Habitats,” the Heald Tract Forest Reservation in Wilton. Walk through former commercial apple orchards to scenic Heald Pond and the beaver colony at Castor Pond. Great birding and wildlife watching opportunities as well as historic cellar holes.
• Wednesday, July 13: 9 a.m. to noon, “Stunning views of Mt. Monadnock,” Gap Mountain in Jaffrey and Troy.  Hike to the open summit ledges of Gap Mountain in Jaffrey and Troy and, if they’re ready, pick some early blueberries. Learn about forest ecology and caring for trails on this popular, unsung Forest Society reservation adjacent to Monadnock.
• Wednesday, July 20: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., “New Trail to Sweeping Valley View,” Hedgehog Mountain Ridge in Deering. A new hiking trail leads through oak forest along historic stone walls and old logging roads to reach the open ledges at the crest of Hedgehog Mountain. Come and see the unparalleled vista of the Upper Contoocook River Valley stretching from Antrim to Hillsboro. Learn about plans to link several protected tracts of land to create a regional ridge trail.  

The series is free, but preregistration is required. Hikes will go on rain or shine unless thunderstorms are expected. To see detailed descriptions of each hike and to register, visit forestsociety.org/events or call 603-224-9945.

Caption: The July 13 hike will explore Gap Mountain, which provides views of nearby Mt. Monadnock. Credit: Jerry Monkman.