Winter Walk in Gonic Trails

Isinglass River Waterfall

What a long winter it's been!  It's almost too much to take!  In order to escape the winter blues, I've been taking advantage of the deep power and sunny, cold days to get out and enjoy it.  My favorite little walk is located only a few miles from my house on the Isinglass River in Rochester, New Hampshire.  Trails are maintained and owned by Waste Management (sounds weird - but they're great), and are a perfect after work walk.  See below to recreate this easy trail walk.





Adventure: Gonic Trails, Rochester, NH

Getting There:  From Route 125, take Rochester Neck Road in Gonic/Rochester. The trail head is located in a large parking lot on the right about 1 mile down the road after a private home.

Trail sign in parking lot includes map.

Yellow trail headed down to river.

Trail: There are three separate trails that leave from this trail head.  All are well marked by color -
Red, Yellow, and Blue.  My favorite loop is to take the Yellow at first.  This trail leaves on the right side of the parking lot.  It soon veers left, and travels at a slight grade down hill through hemlock forest.  Continue straight until you reach the river.  An overlook allows you to see the Isinglass river. From here, the trail veers left to travel along the river.  You head downhill and can see the waterfall on the right.  Take a moment to enjoy the view.  Sometimes, otters are seen playing in the water.  Continue along the Yellow trail as it parallels the river.  After a bend, you will reach the junction to the Red trail.  The Red trail is a loop trail and this is where it turns around.  Take either path and you will go up a semi-steep incline for about 5 minutes before the trail flattens out again.  The Red trail is flat and unwinding, passing through pine and hardwood forest, until reaching the parking lot where you started.

Medallion identifying Barrington Woods

Difficulty: Easy - perfect for a casual walk or a family hike.

Distance: ~ 2-3 miles

Recommendations:

- A large map/trail sign is located in the parking lot.  Take a photo with your phone before leaving to have access to a trail map.

- Dogs are common on the trail.  Be aware that some are off leash.  If hiking with your dog, be sure to remove waste.  There is a trash bin at the parking lot.

- There are no bathroom facilities along the walk.

- Parking is free.

Isinglass River.  Gonic, NH

I've enjoyed this trail all winter - it is the perfect way to escape my cabin fever and get a little exercise.  I can't wait to explore it in Spring!

Please leave comments and questions below...

Summit and Sadie love hiking the Gonic Trails!

Kancamagus Cool Down

Swift River and Albany Covered Bridge

Usually, my activity of choice for the White Mountains is hiking, but on this hot and humid visit, we decided to keep cool.    Joe and Jeanne- friends from Long Island - were renting a house on Conway Lake, in Conway, NH and we had an enjoyable two days of fighting the heat and enjoying the wilderness.  Our adventures included relaxing in the cool waters of the Swift River, hanging with the crowds at Lower Falls, and sitting in the mist of Sabbaday Falls.  If you are looking for a relaxed adventure for a hot day, this is a great way to beat the heat. 

Chillin in the Swift River

Our first stop of the day was to cool down in the Swift River.  We drove to the Albany covered bridge about 6.5 miles down the Kancamagus Highway on the right.  Once you cross the bridge, there's parking for the Boulder Loop Trail.  On this day, we didn't take the trail.  Instead, we parked and walked just upstream of the bridge.  We sat in the cool water, drank a beverage, and enjoyed the scenic New England view of river, bridge, and mountains.  There were a few other people picnicking in the area but plenty of space to find a quiet and secluded spot to ourselves.  There are also a couple picnic tables and pit toilets available.  You need a National Park parking pass to park there ($3 for a day at the lot).

Lower Falls

Crowds beat the heat at Lower Falls

About a mile further down the Kanc, we stopped at Lower Falls parking and picnic area on the right.  This is an ideal stop for those people looking for a place to sun and play in the water.  It's a popular spot so you should be prepared for crowds on a hot summer day.  The area is a beautiful set of cascades, which in the summer months, provides a set of shutes and slides for the adventurous at heart.  There are picnic tables and pit toilets available.  There are also signs posted banning alcohol or glass bottles.  You need a National Park parking pass to park there.

Sabbaday Falls

Sabbaday Falls

We continued down the Kanc about 10 more miles until we came to the Sabbaday Falls parking area on the left.  This spot has a shaded picnic area near the parking lot and a short trail to some beautiful falls.  It's a great spot for a quick view of falls and is handicapped accessible so it's also perfect for small children or the elderly.   We sat near the falls for a while and enjoyed the shade and spray.  Matt and Joe packed in a fly rod and caught a little brook trout in the large pool beneath the falls.  The spot restricts swimming, but it's a beautiful set of waterfalls and a cool spot on a hot day.  You need a National Park parking pass to park there.

Our Kancamagus cool down was a fantastic way to beat the heat and enjoy the White Mountain wilderness.  There's nothing like sitting next to a river on a hot and humid day to let you know that summer has truly begun.  

Fly Fishing at Sabbaday Falls