Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway Coalition
| Trail Guide 10 |
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Proctor Academy to Winslow State Park
Total Distance: 6.0 miles Estimated time: 3.5 hours
Ascents: total 1300 feet Descents: total 140 feet
Overview: This section of the SRKG leaves Proctor Academy in Andover (incorporated 1779) and climbs gradually from the Blackwater River Valley to Winslow State Park on the shoulder of Mount Kearsarge. It passes through abandoned settlement areas and along an old road. The section from Morey Pond to Bridge Road is a popular snowmobile and cross-country ski trail.
Finding the Trailheads: The northern 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, just west of the center of town. There is parking both in front of and behind the field house. The southern trailhead is in Winslow State Park at the upper end of the Park road. The Park can be reached via Kearsarge Valley Road, which leaves NH 11 in Wilmot Flat, 4.5 mi. west of the Farrell Field House and 3.8 mi. east of the intersection of NH 11 and NH 114 in New London, or is accessible from I-89 exit 10, where signs point towards the Park. Signs on the Kearsarge Valley Road direct you to Kearsarge Mountain Road and from that to the Park access road. There is parking at Winslow, although there may be a fee during peak seasons.
Trail: The SRKG starts at the front of Farrell Field House at Proctor Academy. It follows the driveway south, crosses NH 11/US 4 and continues on a service road along the west side of Carr and Emmons playing fields. After the SRKG crosses an abandoned railroad bed at 0.3 mi., one sees a sign indicating "Kearsarge"; one should proceed to the left. The SRKG then continues through the flood plain to a snowmobile bridge over the Blackwater River.
The SRKG reaches a dirt road paralleling the Blackwater (0.5 mi.), turns right between a post and a rock and following the general course of the river, continues on the dirt road soon reaching a large field on the left. Those walking the reverse direction need to be alert for a sign indicating a left turn near the end of the large field, and watch for the bridge on the left.
At 1.1 mi. the SRKG meets Bridge Road just south of a fine covered bridge. The SRKG turns left (south) and proceeds on Bridge Road for 0.4 mi. until the road turns sharply left and the SRKG continues straight into the woods on the right side of the road (1.5mi.). This woods road is shown as Bridge Road on some maps. After a short ascent, the SRKG passes under a power line, swings to the right, and continues to ascend through a mixed hardwood forest. A snowmobile trail joins the SRKG from the right. The two remain together until the paved Twist Hill Road is reached near Winslow Park Road (see below). The cut stone posts and cellar holes seen at this intersection are the remains of an old homestead.
Mountain Road (College Road on some maps) joins the trail from the right (2.7 mi.) at a clearing with a house. Just beyond the house a much used gravel road bears left to the New Hampshire Fish and Game land. However, the SRKG continues straight (with the house on your right) on a woods road, descending to cross Mountain Brook on a wooden bridge. The SRKG turns left at an intersection with another woods road (3.7 mi.), turns left again at the next intersection (3.9 mi.), and begins a moderate ascent to Morey Hill.
Soon you will see two tall chimneys on the right side of the SRKG, which are approximately 25 yd. from the trail and help to show the location of cellar holes and other remains of an old settlement. On the left immediately beyond the chimneys is a collapsed building. Watch for porcupines in the area. There may be signs where they have fed, gnawing on tree bark and small limbs on the ground, discarded when they forage high in the trees. In winter there may be trails in the snow, deep furrows with tracks in the center.
From here the SRKG ascends to a height of land (4.3 mi.) and blue markers indicate the border of the Kearsarge State Forest on the left. The SRKG levels off before passing the Kearsarge State Forest road (to Morey Pond) on the left (4.7 mi.) and then continues to where it enters a clearing with houses on both sides of the paved Twist Hill Road (5.1 mi.). As the SRKG continues on Twist Hill Road, it affords a good view of the summit of Mount Kearsarge. At the next intersection the SRKG turns left and ascends on a paved road to Winslow State Park. Before you make that left turn, note an old cemetery beyond the stone wall at this intersection. After passing the Park's toll gate, the SRKG continues to climb to the parking lot. From the Park's picnic area (6.0 mi.) there are splendid views of Ragged Mountain and Bog Mountain. In season, water and toilets are available at the Park building at the upper end of the parking lot.
