I took my husband up on his invitation to join him and his running buddies in Mason, New Hampshire this morning. Beautiful day, lots of sun, 40 degrees or so at 8 a.m. We agreed to meet back in the Parker’s Maple Barn parking lot at 9:30, and I left the runners to follow their own paths. I walked toward the rail trail that runs through Mason from the Massachusetts border north to Wilton and then west to Greenville.

Mason has hills. Not steep hills, but hills nonetheless. Brookline Road heading northwest from Parker’s makes a steady climb up to County Road and continues fairly level to a sharp left turn. At that point, I went straight onto unpaved Scripps Road, a dead end with no-parking signs all along one side. Soon, I emerged onto the rail trail.

(Update, 2020: that access point is no longer a formal trailhead. Please respect private property. A trailhead with parking is at the trail crossing on Depot Road, less than a mile south of Scripps via Brookline Road. Parking for the trail is also available where it crosses Pratt Pond Road.)

This is a decently-maintained trail, wide as a boulevard, with unremarkable but pleasant woodland scenery. It must make a great snowmobile trail in winter.

I know from long-ago hikes on more northerly segments of the trail that I could have walked in peace all day if I’d had the time. I’m sorry I couldn’t stop today at Pratt Pond, probably the prettiest spot on the Mason trail.

Although close to town roads, the trail’s peace and quiet are remarkable. Aside from a plane passing far overhead, the only sounds were birdsong and wind in the trees.

I walked back to Parker’s Maple Barn and met up with my husband and friends for an excellent breakfast. As is usually the case with Parker’s on a Saturday morning, there was a short wait for a table. Believe me, it’s worth it. (Try stuffed French toast and a mug of maple coffee. Trust me.)