Spring-Like Hiking In Pisgah State Park Has Arrived!

What a weird winter we had in New England! I love winter and look forward to the massive dumpings of snow, but things just didn’t come together this season. The snowshoes got some use during January but that was mostly it. Typically, as we get into late March, I’m ready to be done with winter and my thoughts turn to spring. That happened a little earlier this year! With my mind and body seeking bare ground, I headed to the southwestern corner of the state for some spring-like hiking in Pisgah State Park, specifically, the popular loop around Kilburn Pond.

When I set out on trail in the park, I thought I might run into some stray stretches of ice and snow, but there was virtually none to be found.

Any patches of ice and snow were tiny - like this one - and quickly succumbing to temperatures that were in the 50s.

Aside from the pond scenery, the loop around Kilburn Pond also features attractive forests and interesting geology.

Instead of a blanket of white, it was good to see color again, especially at this one spot with a mossy ledge beside the trail.

Kilburn Pond itself still had a thin layer of ice on it, but the warm sun was taking care of that. I picked a spot on a sunny ledge on the eastern shore to take a break.

All in all, this was a satisfying day out. It had been a while since I'd hiked the loop around Kilburn Pond, so in a way it was like visiting it for the first time.

As with much of the hiking in Pisgah State Park, this trip around Kilburn Pond can be done a couple of ways. A longer route best suited for well-prepared hikers uses Kilburn Road and Kilburn Loop, but the shorter route uses Kilburn Road, Kilburn Loop, and John Summers Trail. For driving directions to the trailhead and to download a map, visit the Pisgah State Park website and consult the AMC Southern New Hampshire Trail Guide for details on the various trails that make up these routes.

For more springtime southern New Hampshire pond walking, also make a visit to Foster’s Pond Natural Area in Windham:

This Little-Known Pond Is Perfect For Easy Nature Walking In New Hampshire

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Kilburn Loop Trail, Hinsdale, NH 03451, USA

My Recent Visit To New Hampshire's Kilburn Pond Was Also A Return To Bare Ground Hiking

Ken MacGray

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