St Johnsbury Part 6

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After the previous day’s 22 mile bike ride, we head out for a hike in Franconia Notch State Park. Our goal is the summit of Mt Pemigewasset - also known as Indian Head. It wouldn’t be until nearly 4 miles into the hike that we would really understand the more common name. Here is a picture of the summit from the parking lot of Indian Head Resort.

Indian Head Profile

There are two approaches to the summit with both of these hikes being out and back hikes. One starts from the Flume Gorge parking lot and is a 3.3 mile round trip with 1260 feet of elevation gain. The second is from a trailhead a bit further to the south being 3.6 miles with 1528 feet. We much prefer doing a loop hike in order to see different trails going up and down. It looked like we could pick one trailhead and hike up one trail and down the other if we were willing to walk along some section of road and lesser trails for around 1.25 miles. This combination of trails would come in at 4.8 miles and 1556 feet of elevation. We opted to start at the Flume Gorge parking area since it is a much larger lot. Being on the eastern side of side of the expressway, this trail has a set of tunnels to get under I-93.

Trail Under Expressway

It is a pretty good climb up Mount Pemigewasset Trail and there were a few rocky spots but the trail was mostly in good shape and we made it to the summit without too much trouble.

Large Crop of Mushrooms on Tree

Rocks and Roots

The views to the southwest from the summit were quite spectacular. There is a huge exposed granite surface that worked out well as a resting spot to enjoy lunch. There were a few other people here, but it wasn’t crowded.

Near the Summit

Quite the View

Others Enjoying the Scenery

There were two geocaches at the top. One was a virtual cache which only required a very specific picture to be taken. The other was a physical container hidden a hundred feet or so into the wooded area next to the rock outcropping. I told Chris I would go find it and she could wait to not arouse suspicion. It turned out that the trail actually continued along more exposed rock around to the northeast. I found it interesting that the person that painted the blue trail markers felt it was necessary to put un the U-turn symbol to keep people from going over the edge of the cliff!

Trail U-Turn

Even though this container was supposed to be size I should easily find, I was having great difficulty. I may have been distracted by the four snakes that were all coiled together and writhing about not far from ground zero. I ended up texting Chris to come and help look but as she made her way in, I found it without her help. I guess I just needed a little extra motivation.

Large Mushroom

Look Closely for the 4 Snake Heads!

Expressway Winds Through Franconia Notch

We came down from the summit and started down the Indian Head Trail to the south. This trail seems to be less traveled and in somewhat rougher condition than the one we came up.

Last Look From Mt Pemigewasset

Rocky Trail

As we get further down the mountain, the road noise from the expressway starts to increase again. I’d say that biggest issue with many of the trails in this park are how close they are to the busy road - at least at the start or end of the hikes. There is a stone retaining wall that tries to keep Hanson Brook from washing away the trail during heavy storms.

Nicer Section of Trail

Small Falls

Rock Wall along Hanson Brook

We made it to the Indian Head Trailhead parking area and out to US Route 3. We did need to walk on the shoulder for a quarter mile before making it to the Indian Head Resort. It looks like a fairly nice place and lots of people were in the pool. We debated about trying to sneak in and take a dip but we would likely get discovered. It is from this location that the profile of Indian Head becomes apparent.

Indian Head Resort

We Were Up There

We were able to walk thru the resort and past the teepee, totem pole and cabins that apparently can be rented as well. Once past the resort, we found some snowmobile trails that lead back to the parking lot at Flume Gorge where we are parked. All in all, it was a very nice hike and the extra distance between trailheads wasn’t too bad.

Totem and Teepee

At Flume Gorge is a visitor center. This state park has its own admission fee of $20 per person to hike the trail within the gorge. Based on the crowds here, it is a very popular destination but given how many other great hikes there are in the region, paying this much for a hike seems excessive. We do wander the visitor center to check it out before heading home.

Beautiful Old Carriage

Moose Hiker

About 2 weeks ago, we had gone for a bike ride on the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail. We had discovered that it was an excellent trail for a bike ride and had gotten in around 22 miles between West Danville Vermont and just before Greensboro Bend where the trail had been washed out from recent rains. This time we drive a bit further west to start in the town of Hardwick. Parking here will permit us to travel to the east or west and see new portions of the trail. We should be able to go around 5 or 6 miles east before reaching the same closure but from the other side. To the west, the Lamoille Valley Trail extends many dozens of miles. We should be able to start here, go one direction, come back and grab lunch from our car before heading the opposite direction. We park in the lot right behind the old train depot for Hardwick. The only aspect of this plan we hadn’t accounted for was how many other cyclists would be out on a beautiful Saturday.

Hardwick Train Station - Historical Society 

We start our ride heading west. Mainly because this direction is relatively flat allowing us the more uphill route to the east for our afternoon half of the trip. Once we got away from the congestion of people at the parking lot, the trail wasn’t too busy. We cross over the Lamoille River once but follow along it nearly the full 4.5 miles we rode.

Lamoille River

Bridge Over River

We stop at the Fisher Railroad Covered Bridge just outside the town of Walcott. Built in 1908, it was the last covered bridge in Vermont to carry rail traffic. It is an impressive structure not just because of its length(103 feet) but the height required to permit trains through it. We had a geocache to find here and there were many people that would stop to get pictures of the bridge as they rode by. We searched for 15 minutes or more without any success.

Fisher Railroad Bridge

Side View of Bridge

Large Wooden Structure in Bridge

After turning around, we take the leisurely ride back to the car. There is a new looking Cabot Creamery store right next to the trail as we get back into Hardwick. We don’t stop to check it out during our ride, but will stop after our ride is done.

Cabot Creamery in Hardwick

Back at the car, we had gotten in nearly a 10 mile ride. We grab our lunch and sit at the old railway depot building eating and people watching. Before heading out again, we wander around the inside of the depot and marvel at how nicely restored it is. There are lots of displays and pictures from back in the day. It is worth a stop even if you don’t plan on going for a bike ride.

Displays in Train Station

We get back on the bikes and head east. Going this direction is definitely more of an uphill ride - gaining about 300 feet in the 6 to 7 miles we will ride before turning back. This direction also includes more bridge crossings of the river which is always neat to check out.

Another Lamoille River View

Bend in River

About 5.5 miles into the ride east, we come upon a large farm. Some of the large cattle were just 20 feet from the trail, checking us out as we did the same.

Mooo!

Wearing Bell

When we got to the town of Greensboro Bend, we stopped at a small park right next to the old train station. This one is a private residence so there is no ability to wander around inside. We were at the 7 mile mark of our afternoon ride. I’d estimate that it was about 2 more miles on the trail before we would reach the washed out section, but we were getting rather tired by now. The good news was the ride back to the car in Hardwick would be mostly downhill so it should be an enjoyable ride.

Old Greensboro Bend Depot

Caboose

This section of the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail was equally nice. I suspect that the same could be said of the sections further west, but we will need to save that for some future visit to the area. We made it back to the car with a grand total of 23.5 miles! On the way home we check out Cabot Creamery and sample some cheeses. Surprisingly they don’t have ice cream for sale. It seems like that is a big oversight for a business like this only 50 feet from a very popular rail trail.

Mountains Beyond Vermont Farm

Trail Next to River

Beautiful Countryside Scene

The following day we switch back to a hike. This time we head east along US Route 2 near the town of Randolph New Hampshire. The Lookout Ledge Trail is only about a 2.5 mile out and back hike with just under 1000 feet of elevation gain. It’s a section of the White Mountains we haven’t visited before to the north of the Presidential Mountains (Madison, Jefferson and Washington). It also gives us a chance to check out this route since it is likely our way from St Johnsbury to our next stop in Maine. On the drive to the trailhead, we can see several sections of the road where there likely was damage from the storm a few weeks ago, but the road was in fine shape and should work out for the motorhome in a little over a week. There was some parking along a side road near the start of the trail and up we head.

Start of Ledge Trail

There are lots of other trails to some of the lesser known White Mountains but our goal is to get to some sort of lookout point. Supposedly there is a nice view from there and we do have a geocache to look for as well. The trail was in decent shape and didn’t have many wet or muddy sections to contend with.

Heading Up the Trail

Bright Mushrooms

Turn for Lookout Ledge

We made it to the overlook and found the view fairly good although some clouds had rolled in and were hanging over the taller mountains to the south.

Unusual Mushroom Pattern

Last Section of Trail to Lookout

At Lookout Ledge

We had eaten lunch in the car at the trailhead so we didn’t spend very long up top since some of the clouds looked ominous and we have been having decent luck not being on a mountain when a storm develops.

Nice View of White Mountains

Ominous Clouds

We start down and just as we were heading to the parking lot across the street, we heard a slap of thunder.

Mutant Mushrooms?

Fortunately we didn’t have any rain on the drive back. In the town of Lancaster, we stopped to check out yet another covered bridge. The Mechanic Street Bridge was built in 1862 and crosses over the Israel River. At 106 feet in length, it is still in use by traffic today and is in very good shape shape.

Mechanic Street Covered Bridge

Israel River Below