In
early April 2016, it was a brand new
experience for me to hike along the John Wolter Trail in East Haverhill,
NH. This trail is part of the Upper
Valley Stewardship Center's system of trails which are open to hikers, skiers,
snowshoers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders. Use of the trails is free, but donations are
appreciated. (Click HERE for more information.)
Parking
for the John Wolter Trail is available on the south side of Route 25, less than a
tenth mile east of Lime Kiln Road. The
image shown below was obtained using Google Earth's "Street View"
feature. It shows the turnoff to the
trailhead from Route 25.
Shown below is a trail map. As
of the time this report was written, a PDF version of the trail map could be obtained by clicking HERE.
The
next image shows a Google Earth image and a topo map, both of which have an
overlay of the GPS track for my trek along the John Wolter Trail.
The
one-way distance for my hike along the John Wolter trail was 2.3 miles with an
elevation gain of about 1,250 ft. The first
1.3 miles consisted of a wide, crushed stone corridor with grades ranging from
mild to moderate. The last 1.0 mile was
a wide grassy corridor with grades that are moderately steep.
As
shown in the next photo, the John Wolter Trail, and its side trails, were well
marked.
The
next photo was taken from one of the several eastward-facing viewpoints as you
progress upward on the John Wolter Trail. The vista includes (left to right) Black
Mountain (Benton); Sugarloaf; Hogsback; Blueberry Mountain; Mt. Moosilauke.
Although
there are plans to eventually extend the John Wolter Trail to allow for a loop
hike, the trail currently ends just below the summit of a 2,053 ft peak that is
officially unnamed. However, it is known
to peakbaggers as Lake Constance Mountain or Lake Constance Peak.
You
can get many fine views by hiking just the first 1.3 miles of the John Wolter
Trail. However, the most expansive view
is obtained by hiking the additional 1.0 mile of trail to the point where it
currently ends. The next photo shows the
vista from that point. It includes (left to right) Black Mountain (partially obscured by trees);
Sugarloaf; Hogsback; Blueberry Mountain; Mt. Clough; Mt. Moosilauke; Owls Head
cliff; Oliverian Pond.
Shown
below is a zoomed view of snow-capped Mt. Moosilauke, Owls Head cliff, and Oliverian Pond
(as viewed from end of John Wolter Trail).
At
various points along the John Wolter Trail, there are rustic cabins that can be
reserved through the Upper Valley Stewardship Center (click HERE).
2 comments:
Another great trail in your area, John. And there's Lake Constance again!
Those cabins look pretty rustic, but what great views. I wonder if you can rent them year-round?
Rita, although I don’t know this for a fact, I highly suspect that these cabins can be rented year-round.
Anyone wishing to make inquires about these cabins can telephone the Upper Valley Stewardship Center at: (603) 989-5375.
John
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