Distant Hill Trail Network

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Distant Hill Nature Trail is a network of trails that includes two miles of wheelchair and stroller-accessible gravel trails and three-miles of hiking trails.
Trail Activity
Accessible Experience Walking Hiking Snowshoeing Ungroomed cross-country skiing
Length
5.00 miles, Network
Difficulty
Easy, Moderate
Towns
Alstead (NH), Walpole (NH)
Surface
Gravel/Crushed Stone/Cinder, Packed Earth/Dirt, Boardwalk/Bog Bridging
Pets
Permitted on leash
Fees
No

Description

The Distant Hill Network of Trails is made up the following trails, all readily accessed from the trailhead at 66 March Hill Road in Alstead, NH :

1. Distant Hill Nature Trail - A two mile-long, six-foot wide, compacted gravel wheelchair and stroller accessible trail network. 

2. Distant Hill Geology Trail - A mile-long trail, the first half of which is wheelchair accessible, containing ten stops with interpretive signs about the rock outcrop present at each location.

3. Distant Hill Story Book Trail - A quarter-mile section of accessible trail, where laminated pages of a children's book are posted, page-by-page, along the trail on the first of every month.

4. Lost Acre Loop Trail - A three-quarter mile hiking trail through the woods that comes out onto a beautiful field midway on the loop.

5. Chickering Mine Trail - aka Blue Diamond Trail, a three-quarter mile hiking trail that connects Distant Hill Geology Trail with an abandoned feldspar mine at Hoge Base Scout  Camp.

NOTE: There is a laminated Trail Map at all major trail intersections so you can get your bearings.

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The trails all wind through mixed hemlock/hardwood forests rich with many species of native wildflowers, shrubs, and trees. There is easy access to a number of unique wetland habitats including:

All of the Distant Hill network of trails are open daily, dawn to dusk, year round.

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To the west of Distant Hill Nature Trail is Distant Hill Gardens, an acre of ornamental shrub gardens to explore. The gardens are open to the public on the third weekend in May, and the first and third weekends of June through October. 

Other Information

For dozens of photos of the trail and links to related photo albums and information go to the Distant Hill Nature Trail Flickr album.

Trail Manager

For more information visit the Distant Hill Gardens & Nature Trail website, or contact info@distanthill.org

Distant Hill Gardens & Nature Trail
66 March Hill Road
Alstead, NH 03602
Phone: (603) 756-4179
mnerrie@gmail.com
View website

Trail Tips

Plan Ahead and Prepare
Avoid hypothermia, even in warm weather, by limiting your sweat and exposure to cold water. Bring warm and dry clothes in case the shivers set in.

Trailhead Information

Distant Hill Nature Trail is located at 66 March Hill Road in Alstead, NH, just east of the Alstead/Walpole town line. There is an information kiosk just off the pavement, a large gravel parking area for 20 vehicles, one dedicated handicap parking space, and a timber frame pavilion with four wheelchair-accessible picnic tables. The nature trail is wheelchair and stroller accessible, as is the first half-mile of the mile long geology trail.

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