Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway Coalition
| Trail Guide 4 |
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Deer Hill Road to Springfield/New London Road
Total Distance: 4.2 miles Estimated time: 2.5 hours
Total Ascents: 500 feet Total Descents: 630 feet
Overview: The Springfield section of the SRKG is named the Protectworth Trail in honor of the original name given to the land by the Portsmouth proprietors. The name was changed to Springfield at the town’s incorporation in 1778. This segment of the SRKG is a combination of gravel and woods roads. There are a few short, steep hills on the Class VI roads.
Finding the Trailheads: The western trailhead is at the intersection of Stoney Brook Road (also Baptist Pond Road) and Deer Hill Road. From I-89 exit 12-A going south on Georges Mills Road, Stoney Brook Road is the first right. At 1.5 mi., after passing Baptist Pond, this road intersects Deer Hill Road, where there is a small parking area. Also, parking can be found on the shoulders of Stoney Brook Road beyond the I-89 underpass near the road intersection. There is ample parking at the eastern trailhead where the Protectworth Trail joins NH 114. From I-89 exit 12A, Georges Mills Road goes north to NH 114. From this intersection, it is 1.5 mi. north on NH 114 to the parking area on the right side.
Trail: At the intersection of Stoney Brook Road and Deer Hill Road the SRKG follows Deer Hill Road north. Soon the road crosses a small stream, which flows into Baptist Pond. The latter can be seen on the right. The Sunapee Arts Camp is on the right (0.7 mi.) and the road continues uphill to where a house with a stone chimney is seen uphill on the left. Here the road (SRKG) bears right, descends slightly and climbs to Little Snowbound. The driveway to Little Snowbound is on the left (1.6 mi.) and just beyond is Snowbound.
At the Snowbound gate, the SRKG leaves the graveled road and turns right onto a Class VI road. Soon tennis courts can be seen over the wall on the left, and on the right there are old stone foundations. On the right (1.9 mi.) is an old road leading to the Star Lake Herefords’ pasture. Tracks on this section of trail are probably moose, not necessarily to be taken for runaway bovine.
At the intersection with Nichols Hill Road (2.5 mi.), the trail turns to the right. The highest elevation of this section is reached where the trail crosses flat bedrock. As the old road loses elevation, it intersects another Class VI road, and the trail turns sharply back to the left.
At 3.6 mi. there is a cleared area on the left that was used as a timber landing. At the back of this clearing are old stone foundations. After a short distance, a small bridge is crossed and is then followed by another one (4.0 mi.). The wetland on the left is a nesting area for ducks and has a good population of amphibians. In the spring high water can make the trail a little difficult for a short distance. The trail intersects with the Springfield/New London Road (NH 114) to end this segment of the Protectworth Trail.
