Southwest NH: Cheshire County drive

December 11, 2015February 24, 2026 / Ellen Kolb / 4 Comments

I spent a foggy and snowless December day driving from the Merrimack River to the Connecticut River and back through New Hampshire’s southern tier, stopping for walks now and then. Visibility was too limited to make a mountain hike worthwhile, but rail trails and roadside parks were ready for me.

I chose a short segment between the nicely-restored depot in Troy and Rockwood Pond in Fitzwilliam. It was a round trip of just over four miles on a wide, straight trail. The only sounds were from birds and my own steps. No ice or snow, just a bit of mud on the southern half of the walk. On a clear day there’s a splendid view of Mount Monadnock from the shore of Rockwood Pond, though the fog obscured all the surrounding hills today.

DSCF0315 — _{Cheshire Rail Trail, Troy NH. All photos by Ellen Kolb}

Swanzey was next, and I managed to work a pair of the town’s famed covered bridges into my route. The most exciting sight of the day was a bald eagle I spotted near the Ashuelot River, and it was too swift for me to snag a photo.

DSCF0337 — _{Thompson Bridge in Swanzey, complete with sidewalk.}

The village of Ashuelot is in Winchester, with a covered bridge of its own.

DSCF0344 — _{Bridge in the village of Ashuelot, Winchester NH}

After some business in Brattleboro, Vermont, I took the more-or-less direct route back east, along New Hampshire routes 9 and 101. I stopped for a half hour at Chesterfield Gorge, a small roadside state park on NH route 9.

DSCF0363 — _{Enjoy Chesterfield Gorge with a three-quarter-mile loop walk from the parking area.}

DSCF0360 — _{Wilde Brook, which cuts Chesterfield Gorge.}

As the photos show, this is a very mild late autumn. In a fit of irrational exuberance, I almost tossed sandals in the car before I left home. Good thing I refrained; there was just enough mud and chill to make me glad I wore sensible shoes.

Clock shift: Horse Hill Nature Preserve

November 17, 2015February 24, 2026 / Ellen Kolb / 2 Comments

Daylight Savings Time is over, cutting into my late-day trail time. All I ask is just enough daylight to enjoy a leaf-covered trail without twisting my ankle.

So far, so good. I’m sharing Horse Hill with lots of neighbors who are trying to fit some outdoor time between work and dinner, including a fair number of mountain bikers. The preserve is large enough that I don’t feel at all crowded, even when the parking lot’s full.

leaf-covered trail, trees after leaf fall — Parking lot: full. Trail: all clear. Horse Hill Nature Preserve, New Hampshire. Ellen Kolb photos.

large tree with hollowed-out trunk — My favorite tree along the way. It’s survived some rough weather in recent years.

stream flowing through boggy area — It’s been a dry autumn. I barely needed the bridge to cross this little stream.

Easy uphill: Andres Institute of Art, Brookline NH

September 21, 2015February 24, 2026 / Ellen Kolb / 1 Comment

The Andres Institute of Art – “a sculpture park to delight the whole family,” as its website proclaims – occupies much of a hill alongside Route 13 in Brookline, New Hampshire. Over 70 sculptures are scattered around the property, which is laced with walking trails. The property is open dawn to dusk daily, and there’s no fee although donations are welcomed.

I spent an hour here on summer’s final weekend, and took these photos that show a sample of the artwork to be found along the Andres trails.

Drawing Sculpture/The Myth, by Satoru Takata.

Weare, NH: Everett Dam

April 28, 2015February 24, 2026 / Ellen Kolb

Clough State Park with its little beach on Everett Lake in Weare is still awaiting its opening day, but walkers are welcome on the nearby Everett Dam (operated by the Army Corps of Engineers). This would have been a mountaintop day if I’d had the time. The air was amazingly clear. I settled for a half-hour walk along the dam and the quiet roads nearby.

Both park and dam are on Clough Park Road in Weare. The park has a modest entrance fee. The dam has its own parking area a short distance south of the park, and it’s free.

IMG_20150428_101308 — View across the dam from the parking area on Clough Park Road. Photos by Ellen Kolb.

IMG_20150428_112626 — Everett Lake, with Mount Kearsarge in the distance.

View from Stratham Hill Tower, Stratham NH

October 12, 2014February 24, 2026 / Ellen Kolb

A decommissioned fire tower is a five-minute walk uphill from the parking lot at Stratham Hill Park on Route 33 in Stratham, New Hampshire. I paid it a quick visit on a sunny and clear fall afternoon.

Stratham Hill tower can’r be seen from Route 33, but it’s only a short walk uphill from Stratham Hill Park’s parking lot.

Little Monadnock, Fitzwilliam NH

July 5, 2014February 24, 2026 / Ellen Kolb

So few free weekends this summer! This was a mountaintop day, though, with clear dry air that guaranteed good views. I dropped everything and drove to Fitzwilliam to visit New Hampshire’s Rhododendron State Park and its trail to Little Monadnock.

In early July, Rhododendron State Park's famous blooms are still a couple of weeks away. — In early July, Rhododendron State Park’s famous blooms are still a couple of weeks away.

Alas, the rhododendron grove is still a week or two from being in full bloom. The park’s loop trail makes for a pleasant shady walk nonetheless. The well-prepared visitor will bring bug repellent (and for once, I remembered to pack it). Then I headed uphill wearing sturdy shoes, following yellow blazes over rocks and roots to the summit ridge of Little Monadnock. Once I reached the ridge, I turned east-northeast and followed the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail a short distance to get a fine view of Grand Monadnock.