Odiorne Point State Park in Rye, New Hampshire never gets old for me, in any season.
I had planned a one-day “grand tour,” with a stop at Pawtuckaway for the fire tower then Odiorne Point for the beach and then Stratham Park for the observation tower. (Whew.) Eight hours, with three of them in the car. I’m glad I reconsidered. Odiorne Point was all I needed.
I headed south of the border into Massachusetts on the Nashua River Rail Trail for a walk through the Groton stretch. Of the four towns along the trail, Groton is where the history of the rail line is most evident. The town is also home to the most park-like section of the trail, situated within the J. Harry Rich State Forest.
The harsh shadows in the photos are from the full midday sun, cheerfully blazing away on a summer day.
There are three trailheads in Groton, with the most parking available off of Broadmeadow Street. Smaller unpaved lots are at Sand Hill Road and Common Street.
There are no portajohns along the way. Near the trailhead at Broadmeadow Road are a couple of benches and an informational kiosk. The posted information and illustrations are worth a look.
Groton must have strict zoning laws that keep commercial signs tiny. How am I supposed to find the nearest place to buy a large iced beverage? That kiosk near Broadmeadow has a bonus: a map of Main Street and the roads connecting it to the trail, with nearby businesses listed. That large iced beverage is only a short walk away.
Some of the old rail line’s granite mile markers are still in place, and they’re kept painted by area volunteers. “P” is for Portland, Maine, and “W” is for Worcester, Massachusetts – once upon a time, the two ends of a line of the Boston and Maine Railroad. Of the 120 or so miles of that old line, twelve miles now make up the Nashua River Rail Trail.
Crowning the day was an abundance of Queen Anne’s Lace all along the trail.
This is what a perfect summer day in New Hampshire looks like. I joined two friends for a drive north to Franconia Notch and a hike up forested Mt. Pemigewasset to its summit ledges, where there was nothing to do but enjoy the view. The Franconia Ridge and stern Mt. Lafayette are more than I can handle. Mt. Pemigewasset, while still a challenge for me, was manageable. A wonderful daytrip!
To get to the trailhead, take I-93/US 3 to Franconia Notch and watch for signs for The Flume visitor center. Park there; trails begin on the north side of the lot.
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.
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.
I seldom get to the Dartmouth/Lake Sunapee region of New Hampshire, despite its many attractions. When my husband The Runner had a race around Mascoma Lake in Enfield, I went along for the ride on a warm early-summer day.
On a quiet Sunday morning, I spent time on the quiet paths of the Shrine of Our Lady of LaSalette. Enfield Shaker Village is just across the street, and it surely rates a visit on another trip. I turned onto Main Street and the only bridge over Mascoma Lake to get to the Northern Rail Trail on the lake’s north side. I could have gone west on the NRT to Lebanon or southeast toward Grafton, but this was a lazy day, and I simply meandered on the trail and on town roads as I waited for the runners to come through.
Never turn down a Sunday drive with someone special. You might discover a lovely spot.
When was the last time I got to one of New Hampshire’s fire towers? It’s been awhile. The other day, everything came together for a tower expedition: perfect weather, access to a car, and an afternoon to myself. I took a beautiful drive to Stoddard for a visit to Pitcher Mountain. The walk from parking area to fire tower only takes me ten or fifteen minutes. The 360º views from the tower are splendid, and the drive is a treat. Dozens of miles on roads with no traffic signals and not a single Dunkin’ Donuts in sight: how’s that for a Sunday drive?
I couldn’t miss the small parking lot on Route 123 on Stoddard. There’s a sign, and a view of the tower from the road.
The walk uphill from the parking lot through woods opens up to a field with a fine view of Monadnock to the south.
From the tower, there was a full panorama. Monadnock was the most prominent feature, but plenty of other peaks were visible as well. I had the second edition of Hiking the Monadnock Region (a fine guidebook by Joe Adamowicz) to help me identify some of them.
For more about New Hampshire fire towers:
One of the most interesting local publications in my collection is a little orange booklet called A Field Guide to New Hampshire Firetowers by Iris W. Baird and Chris Haartz (2002). Look for used copies online. The booklet includes a short history of all the currently operating towers in the state, along with notes on other towers that are still standing but have been decommissioned.
The New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands has a web page that includes information on the Tower Quest program, with a patch available to anyone visiting at least five fire towers. I admit I have one of those patches myself.
Updated 2006 with new web links.
Granite State Walker 