INTRODUCTION:
The trek to Devil’s Slide in Stark, NH is one of
those “less-traveled” destinations. The
round-trip distance is only 1.6 miles.
So, it’s not a BIG hike, but it is enjoyable.😃
The Devil’s Slide Trail is described on page 582 of the 30th edition of AMC’s White Mountain Guide, and also at the Kauffmann Forest webpage (click HERE)
The Devil’s Slide Trail is described on page 582 of the 30th edition of AMC’s White Mountain Guide, and also at the Kauffmann Forest webpage (click HERE)
The trail is shown on the map below.
The trail begins on a logging road. Since the last time I hiked the Devil’s Slide
Trail, there has been some recent logging activity that has impacted the
trail. Some things to be aware of are as
follows. About 0.2 mile into the hike,
there is an abrupt LEFT turn off the logging road onto the yellow-blazed
trail. In another few tenths of a mile,
the blazed trail is interrupted by a wide swath of logged area. Once again you’ll be making an abrupt LEFT
turn, but this time it might take some “trial and error” to find the blazed
trail. However, once the trail is
located, there are no further “gotchas” for the remainder of the trek.
Other
than the disruptions caused by the logging operation, the trail was generally
in good shape. There were a few downed
trees here and there, but they were easy to step over, or duck under, or walk
around.
Please
bear in mind that the trail conditions described above were as they existed in
August 2019. There
will likely be further changes to the trail as the logging operations progress, and
then again once the logging has been completed.
PHOTOS:
4 comments:
I'm curious as to how Devil's Slide got its name.
The views from this short trek are awesome and I can see why you describe it as an enjoyable hike.
The small town of Stark looks very inviting!
Another nice post, John.
Rita, regarding how Devil’s Slide got its name, it is my understanding that it has something to do with an American Indian legend. Apparently, the Indians believed that the winds and storms on the mountains were controlled by invisible spirits. And, a time of warfare among these spirits, one-half of the mountain slid into the bowels of the earth, leaving the precipitous slides of the remaining half that we see today.
John
John, I may be moving to Lancaster (I am now in Conway) and am curious if you know of any immediate (close) access to the Nat'l Forest- and non-muddy, non ATV trails? I know about the trails in the Stark area, and then off Rt 2, Jefferson Notch, etc, but am curious about access right there in Lancaster? I explored there recently and it seems mostly blocked by private land and/or muddy/ATV trail (Gore Rd). Awesome blog- you've given me some bushwack ideas!
Hi Kiersten,
Unfortunately, I’m unable to come up with any suggestions that fit your criteria.
The only public-access properties that I can think of that are relatively close to Lancaster are ones that you are likely familiar with already, i.e. Weeks State Park, and Pondicherry.
John
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