ALSTEAD'S COLD RIVER AND NEWELL POND TRAILS

On a mild spring day in early April, with temperatures in the 60s, my longtime hiking friend Curtis Carroll and I drove to Alstead — a town of 2,000 people, featuring rough, rocky terrain and numerous hills to check out the Cold River Trail (located about 18 miles north of Keene). The flat, out-and-back trail is a 1.5-mile round trip that takes about an hour to complete. Half of the path crosses an open field, while the other half winds through the hemlock forest along the riverbank. While the majority of the trail is on public property, the final steep section is private property. Please look for the yellow signs and turn around at that point. Dogs are allowed. The trail started from the parking lot and moved through an open field. After a short distance, we reached a cluster of staghorn sumac trees on the right. Approximately 100 yards beyond these trees, we turned right and followed a blue-blazed trail into the woods. The narrow path wound along a ridge, offering good views of the river below. Shortly after, we exited the woods and walked along the edge of the field briefly before turning right onto the blue trail again. We stopped at a sign reading "Corona Beach," which was located above a steep embankment. Staying put, we enjoyed the excellent views of the waterfalls and deep pools below. Continuing on the trail, we soon emerged into an open area, walked approximately 100 yards, then turned right onto the blue trail once more. A white-blazed side trail pointed downhill to a "beach" area. As we made our way down, a duck exploded from beneath a shoreline rock, wings flapping wildly as it skimmed across the water's surface in its retreat. A smooth ledge provided a perfect spot to sit and observe the water. Climbing back up the embankment, we continued on the blue trail through hemlock woods. After approximately 200 yards, we reached the white-blazed "River Rock" trail on the right. A brief walk through the woods brought us to the banks of the Cold River, where we saw Warren Brook merge at a confluence. Returning to the blue trail, we continued a short distance to the end of the trail, which is marked by a yellow "Private Property" sign. We returned to the parking lot via the open trail through the field — approximately a 15-minute walk. After our hike, we returned to the parking lot and walked a short distance over the Alstead Veterans Memorial Bridge to Millot Green. Here, a sign identifies the site where Ephraim and Elisha Kingsbury built the state's first paper mill on the Cold River in 1793. The mill became so central to the community that the village center was formerly known as "Paper Mill Village." For more than a century, the mill dominated the local economy, surviving several fires until 1880, when it finally burned to the ground. There is also a plaque that pays tribute to four people who lost their lives October 9, 2005, when torrential rains turned the Cold River into a raging force that swept away roads and buildings. Returning to the car, we headed to Alstead Center, which served as the original town center. From the trailhead parking lot, we turned left onto Route 12-A South /123 and drove for 1.4 miles. We then turned right onto Alstead Center Road (Route 12-A South) and continued uphill for 2.3 miles to Pratt Road. Another right turn brought us to the First Congregational Church. The Alstead Center Cemetery — also known as Turnpike Yard — is located adjacent to Pratt Road, across from the church. Walking through the old burial ground, which was laid out on a sloping hill in 1768 and is enclosed by a stone wall, we saw many dark gray slates and weathered white marble stones. Some were in disrepair, while mounds, divots and fieldstones denoted unmarked graves. Curtis and I discovered several legible dates from the late 1700s. Alstead was hit hard by "spotted fever," which struck the town in 1812 and persisted for two years, killing 90 people. Among the victims were seven children of the Clisbee family, ranging in age from twelve years old down to an infant. Our final stop took us to the Newell Pond trails. From the cemetery, we turned left onto Alstead Center Road and drove 2.3 miles downhill. Turning right, we continued on Route 123 South for 3.4 miles to Old Settlers Road. Turning left again, we continued for 2 miles to Newell Pond Road. A final left turn and 0.2-mile drive brought us to a parking area opposite the Newell Pond boat ramp. From the boat ramp parking area, we walked a short distance up Newell Pond Road to start on the trail to the right, which is marked by blue blazes. We began on the leaf-matted path through a hardwood forest and immediately encountered a stone wall. We saw many of these historic barriers along the way, as well as double-blazed trail markers indicating a turn on the trail. Within five minutes, we reached a Farm & Forest Loop sign; we turned left and headed uphill, soon catching a view of Newell Pond to our left. As we continued, we enjoyed the stillness of the forest, expansive beds of club moss and long views of the distant hills. We eventually encountered a series of double-blazed trail markers that were a bit confusing, but we figured them out. The final portion of the trail traveled on an old wood's road, passing an old cellar hole and a former sugar house site. Less than 10 minutes after passing those ruins, we completed the loop. The Newell Pond Trail is approximately a 1.5-mile loop and dog friendly. To get to the Cold River Trail from the junction of Routes 9, 10, and 12 in Keene, drive east on Route 9. After 1.3 miles, bear left onto Route 12 North. Continue on Route 12 for 18.3 miles, then turn right onto Route 123 South. Drive for 4.8 miles until you reach the stop sign at the junction of Routes 12-A and 123 South. From there, proceed straight across the intersection into the Bragg Lane parking lot.