Gumpus Pond Conservation Area
| Date: | 11-10-2024 |
| Location: | Pelham, NH |
| Distance: | 3.52 mi |
| Elevation Gain: | 191′ |
| Total Time: | 2 hr 12 min |
| Parking: | 8-10 cars |
Previous plans for a different hike didn’t work out so my buddy Eric suggested checking out some local trails in Pelham, NH. The Gumpus Pond Conservation area seemed like a pretty good area to explore.
When we got to the lot the temps were in the high 20’s and the sun was out. There is room for about 10 cars in the Hinds Ln. parking lot. Liberty was excited for an adventure as well.
We started out on the Whitetail Trail and decided to do a clockwise loop of the property. The trails on the property are in very good shape. Most are double track wide and are most likely used for snowmobiles in the winter.
There were also a lot of leaves down on the trail that were hiding some rocks, twigs and stumps for tripping on. At our first turn on the trial there was a nice cairn. A little further up there was another interesting cairn and a rock with an engraving on it.
As we continued on, we found ourselves on the Spalding Hill Road Trail. There were lots of stone walls and possibly some old foundations throughout the property.
We came upon a wet land with a little outcropping that offered some nice views. Back on the main trails there were also some interesting overhangs that looked like tunnels as we approached. We looped back up on the Skyline trail back to the Gumpus Hill Road trial.
After a bit we reached the Gumpus Pond Trail Parking lot, one of the other parking lots on the property. From here we continued up the Cottontail Trail. This trail had a nice open field we crossed.
We kept moving to the Beaver Pond Loop Trail. This trail skirts the edge of the pond with some beaver huts in the water and lots of downed trees by the beavers. Eventually this trail leads us back to the car.
This was a great local hike without a lot of elevation. Most the trails are wide and well maintained. A few were a bit root-y but generally good footing. There were a few hunters out there so we all had our orange on. Especially Liberty.
