Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway Coalition
| Trail Guide 9 |
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New Canada Road to Proctor Academy
Total Distance: 6.4 miles Estimated time: 5 hours
Total Ascents: 1400 feet Total Descents: 1800 feet
Overview: Ragged Mountain is a ridge with a series of peaks just over 2200 ft. in elevation. Between and below these peaks are ledgy outcrops with expansive views, notches, and a variety of forest types and glacial landforms. The bedrock exposed on Ragged Mountain is called the Upper (or Kearsarge) Member of the Littleton Formation. It is a metamorphic rock formed from seafloor sediments 370 to 395 million years ago during the Lower Devonian period. It is probably not a coincidence that Mount Kearsarge, Ragged Mountain, and a series of rocky hills between them, are all exposures of this formation. It is rich in sillimanite, a mineral so resistant to weathering that elongated, light-grey fibrous crystals of it can often be seen standing out in relief on the surface of ledges and boulders. The SRKG is clearly marked by white trapezoids. Since it uses portions of the Ragged Mountain Fish & Game Club and Proctor Academy trails, which have their own blazes, follow the white trapezoid blazes to stay on the SRKG.
Finding the Trailheads: Limited parking is available at the northern trailhead on New Canada Road, which leaves US 4 two miles north of its junction with NH 11. The trailhead is 0.9 mi. from US 4. The southern trailhead is at the Farrell Field House of Proctor Academy in the center of Andover on NH 11/US 4. The Farrell Field House is the large building directly across the road from the white fenced playing fields. There is parking either in front of or behind the field house.
Trail: Sections of this trail are quite challenging. From the trailhead on New Canada Road the SRKG follows a woods road for 0.2 mi. to a logging yard, then left out of the yard along a skid road. Most of the ascent to Buswell Ridge is made on this skid road network. Near the top of the ridge (1.1 mi.), the trail enters woods not affected by logging. The trail soon meets and joins the well-established Ridge Trail (1.2 mi.), maintained by the Ragged Mountain Fish and Game Club, where it turns left. Aluminum rectangles and frequent small cairns mark this segment. It passes through sections where semi-open and ledgy ground requires a moment's study to stay on the trail.
The SRKG follows the Ridge Trail for 1.5 mi. to reach Ragged Mountain Ski Area (2.7 mi.). The Ash Trail, which leaves to the right at about 2.0 mi., is not part of the SRKG. Approaching the ski area, the SRKG passes just to the south of the cell tower and enters the open ski slopes southwest of the uppermost tower of the chairlift. Views from north to northeast include Cardigan Mountain, Bog Pond in Danbury, the White Mountains, and Newfound Lake. The trail turns right (towards the ski patrol building) and enters the woods’ edge under the power lines. The trail is marked with the SRKG white trapezoids and joins other trails for a short distance.
The SRKG descends by winding in and out of small ledgy outcrops until it reaches the brushy area that lies between the ski area and an intermediate peak, which some call West Peak. The trail crosses the remaining part of the narrow valley, dipping and winding through the overgrown woods, then climbs towards West Peak. The climb is made in a series of short steep ascents separated by relatively gentle and open sections of spruce and fir woods. From the open ledges of West Peak, there is a southeast to southwest view that includes Mount Kearsarge. As the SRKG begins the descent of the open ledges, there is a side trail to the right, which is not part of the Greenway. The trail continues to a short side trail to the right where an open ledge offers a 180º view to the south (3.8 mi.).
The Ridge Trail (SRKG) continues east to the junction of the Balanced Rock Trail. From here a dead end side trail leads straight ahead (east and then northeast) about 0.3 mi. to East Peak and open ledges with fine views to the north. The actual peak is wooded, but continue on. This trail is currently unblazed and is a little harder to follow, particularly where it crosses open ledges, than most of the SRKG. Returning to the trail junction, turn left (south or downhill). At 300 yd. down the Balanced Rock Trail there is a sign indicating the side trail to the rock. This short, nearly flat trail to the left is blazed with yellow circles and leads in about 100 yd. to a 6-foot by 19-foot erratic boulder sitting on a narrow ledge in a most unlikely resting place. The best view to the south is 50 yd. further (left) along the small trail leading east along the narrow ridge. Returning past Balanced Rock to the trail junction, the SRKG continues left along the trail marked with the same yellow circles, passing through a wonderful patch of mayflowers (Epigaea repens).
The trail forks (3.9 mi.), the SRKG continuing to the left. It is marked with the SRKG white trapezoids. The trail follows a woods road and eventually meets and crosses a Proctor Academy ski trail. The SRKG continues, staying to the left or straight where other old roads lead to the right. The SRKG rejoins the ski trail and soon crosses a wooden bridge. A small cairn and other markers (5.6 mi.) indicate a right turn (a junction easily missed) to the south for 120 yd., then a left at the next junction. The trail follows an old woods road for 200 yd. and then becomes a path through mixed woods. It descends among small ledges and crosses through a corner of two stone walls. After descending into dense hemlock and fallen ice-damaged trees, the trail joins a larger trail maintained as a running and cross-country ski trail. This trail leads to the tennis courts and then the parking lot at Proctor's Farrell Field House (6.4 mi.), ending at the front of the Field House.
