Monadnock Highlands Drive

On most weekends during the summer, I like to go hiking; but when the weather isn't cooperating, I sometimes take a country drive to check out potential trails to hike. Earlier this summer, on a cloudy day with a threat of thunderstorms in the afternoon, I completed a driving loop through the Monadnock Highlands. Along the way, I revisited familiar trails, found some new ones and discovered a few amazing recreational spots I never knew existed. From Keene I headed north on Route 9 and about 13 miles into my trip, I turned right into a parking lot opposite the Munsonville/Granite Lake Rd. exit. Here I found information on the Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway Trail. The Greenway is a nearly 50-mile-long hiking trail that runs from Mount Monadnock to Mount Sunapee. This section of the long-distance footpath in Nelson crosses under Route 9 via a culvert. On the other side is the Nye Meadow Easement, a marsh and important blue heron rookery managed by New Hampshire Audubon. Walking down to the culvert I noticed a sign that read: "Attention hikers. Storms have eroded the approach trail to the underpass/hiker culvert going under Route 9. You'll need to cross Route 9. Be very careful of the very fast-moving traffic." Driving four miles more on Route 9, I turned left onto Route 123. Just up the road I turned right onto Shedd Hill Road, which is adjacent to the Stoddard Fire and Rescue building. In less than a mile I came to a gate for the Peirce Reservation, a Society for the Preservation of New Hampshire Forests property. Note: This preserve is open to the public for hiking but there is a lack of recreational trails. Returning to Route 123, I turned right and drove a short distance to the boat landing for Highland Lake. At this point, the lake, which has been a popular site for recreational boating since before the 1960s, appears to be a small body of water, but Highland Lake is nearly 700 acres in size. Not quite a mile beyond the boat landing, I entered the town of Stoddard with its string of white buildings: the Davis Library, town hall and Congregational Church. A mile farther up the road is Pitcher Mountain Farm, a grass-fed Scottish Highland Beef Farm, which also offers free range chickens and fresh farm eggs. The parking lot for Pitcher Mountain is 0.6 mile beyond the farm. Pitcher Mountain makes an excellent starter hike for kids. A 0.2-mile trail leads to the fire tower where you get dynamic 360-degree view. From the Pitcher Mountain parking lot, Route 123 descends steeply. The road runs in conjunction with Route 10 for about a mile then turns left into Marlow, another attractive town with an array of classic white buildings: the Marlow Community Church, Jones Hall and Odd Fellows Hall. A mile beyond the village I came to the Elizabeth Burns McIntyre Forest (Bald Mountain) on the right. An almost four-mile network of trails travels through a mixed forest, around cliffs and to the summit where there are good views of neighboring hills. Leashed dogs are welcome. Approximately five miles beyond the Burns McIntyre Forest brought me to Chase's Mill, one of New Hampshire's last operating water-powered mills. Summer events at Chase's Mill include woodworking classes, classes in arts and handcrafts, family and social events, lectures, local walking tours and more. Find more at chasesmill.org. Four miles beyond Chase's Mill, I turned right onto Acworth Road (Route 123-A). A short drive brought me to my final stop: Vilas Pool-Park. Vilas Pool-Park is a recreational area along the Cold River, a gift to the town of Alstead by Charles Vilas, a native son. When a dam was erected across the Cold River the meadows above it were flooded and the "pool" formed. The rocky hillsides contain recreational facilities: a dance pavilion, picnic areas, playground, gazebo and horseshoe pits. There is also a pedestrian bridge, paddle boats, canoes and kayaks, a swimming area and fishing. When Vilas Pool opened in 1926, there were swan boats much like those in Boston. The river-fed pool-park drew crowds as large as 3,000 and a refreshment stand was built selling hot dogs, sandwiches and ice cream. Charles Vilas built the recreational area for his wife, Jessie Ford of Pasadena, California, but an information pamphlet explains that Vilas' wife didn't go to the pool often because "she did not like the bugs and black flies." A most unusual feature of the park is a stone tower in which there is a carillon. On this day, Louie LeMay, park host, escorted me to the tower that housed the 12 bells, which were made for Vilas by the Meneely Bell Co. in Troy, NY in 1930. "You press the keys on (the) miniature keyboard to sound the notes. A ten-year old boy from New Hampshire came in here and played all kinds of songs on the bells," said LeMay. Vilas Pool-Park is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day; closed Monday, Tuesday. Free of charge.