Hiking into History: The Crown Point Trail

The Crown Point Trail in Charleston provides an opportunity to combine Colonial history with a hike. On a late November day, with temperatures in the 30s and afternoon snow showers, I drove to that Upper Connecticut River Valley town to hike a short segment of the historic route which I began from the small parking area off Lovers Lane Road. Hemlock trees stretched overhead as the white-blazed trail narrowed along the ridge of an esker. To the left, the steep embankment dropped precipitously to the Connecticut River below, an intimidating sight. The trail moved downhill and leveled. I paused for a moment to take in the pleasant contrast of the green hemlocks against the lightly dusted snow blanketing the sides of the trail. Approximately 10 minutes from the start, I passed a water pump station surrounded by a chain-link fence to the right. A set of stairs assisted me in descending the steep grade. The trail twisted through hemlock woods, providing more views of the Connecticut River, which flows the whole length of Charlestown. After descending another set of stairs, in a short time I reached a bench that marked the end of the trail. A tribute plaque on the bench read: "In loving memory of Janice Lambert. Nature lover, protector, educator and writer." Next to the bench was a granite marker that read: "CP RD 1760 DAR." This marked the original bridge where the British soldiers crossed the river during the French and Indian War. The Crown Point Trail traces the historic Crown Point Road, a route completed in 1760, that ran 85 miles from Fort No. 4 in Charlestown to Fort Crown Point near the southern end of Lake Champlain. The road played an important part during the French and Indian War (1754 to 1763) as a military supply line, moving troops and supplies from New England to British forces at Fort Crown Point. The wilderness path generally followed an old Native American trail but was widened to allow passage for cannon carriages. At that time, the colonists supported Britain in its conflict with France over control of North America. Ironically, during the American Revolution, Colonial militia turned the tables on the British and used the road to their own advantage, contributing to the British defeat. After the war, the road facilitated a land rush of new settlement in northern New England. Today some sections of the road are marked and can be followed as trails, as is the case here in Charlestown. Other sections are preserved mostly in their original condition or are used as town roads. However, other sections have been reclaimed by the forest, paved over or are barely discernible paths through the woods. Initially part of Massachusetts, Charlestown was founded as "Plantation No. 4" in 1735. Nine years later, a fort was built there, which became a military outpost known as the Fort at Number 4. At that time, a royal decree had shifted the border, placing Fort at Number 4 in New Hampshire. The charter for the new town of Charlestown was granted on July 2, 1753, and the title of "No. 4" ceased to exist. A plaque on a boulder monument on the west side of Main Street, opposite Elm Street, marks the original location of the fort, which had fallen into disrepair and was demolished. In the 1960s, a reconstruction of the frontier structure was completed north of town on the banks of the Connecticut River as an open-air history museum. The Crown Point Trail is 0.6 mile one way, making for a 1.2-mile out-and-back hike. The Charlestown Conservation Commission maintains the trail. Dogs on leashes are welcome. To get to the Crown Point Trail, from the junction of Routes 9, 10 and 12 in Keene, take Route 12 north. After 1.3 miles, bear left to stay on Route 12 and continue for 28.9 miles to Lovers Lane Road in Charlestown. Turn left and continue 0.5 mile to the trailhead on the right.