Willard Pond & Bald Mountain: Southern NH's Little Gems

When people think of hiking in New Hampshire, the first mountains that come to mind are typically the following: Mt. Washington, Mount Moosilauke, Chocorua, and many other of the White Mountains that dominate central part of the state. Mount Monadnock might even make the cut.

The majority of hikers seek a challenge and an even bigger reward. Most are peak-baggers; many are working on tagging all 48 of the 4,000+ footers; some are working on the 52 with a view list.

The southern portion of the state doesn't have the same reputation as it's northern counterpart. Rather than being home to remote, wild, and rugged mountains, the southern portion is full of smaller hills, monadnocks and drumlins. That is not to say the hiking is inferior. In fact, I am surprised by the numerous hiking and walking trails in the surrounding area. State parks/forests, conservation areas, wildlife sanctuaries/refuges dot the landscape.

Southern New Hampshire is also home to several long distance hiking trails, including: the Wapack trail, the Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway, the Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway, and the northern terminus of the Metacomet-Monadnock trail.

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Willard Pond from the Tudor trail: Sunshine and 52 degrees. 

Yesterday, Zinn and I explored an area known as dePierrefeu-Willard Pond Wildlife Sanctuary. Owned by the NH Audubon, this sanctuary straddles the towns of Hancock and Antrim, NH. The 1,500+ acres are home to Willard Pond, Goodhue Hill and Bald Mountain. 

The trails were well labeled and easy to follow.

Zinn and I took the Tudor trail, which runs along the western shore of Willard Pond. The hillside of Bald Mountain to our left was strewn with massive boulders or glacial erratics, evidence of the last ice age over 20,000 years ago. At the trail intersection, we headed left and began the ascent of Bald Mountain. After 3/4 of a mile, we emerged onto an open ledge just short of the actual summit. 

Following the Bodhi wherever he may go.

Great views overlooking Willard Pond.

After taking in the view and basking in the sunshine, we headed back down to the trailhead via the yellow-blazed Tamposi trail. We steeply descended along the side of the mountain for a short while before the trail became more gradual. The trail wandered through the woods and a boulder field before reaching the small parking lot at the trailhead.