Turtleback Mountain – Ossipee Range
| Date: | 6-15-2025 |
| Location: | Ossipee, NH |
| Distance: | 7.45 mi |
| Elevation Gain: | 1049′ |
| Total Time: | 4 hr 9 min |
| Parking: | 20+ cars |
A somewhat early morning rise and signs of a beautiful day brought me up to the Ossipee Range near Castle in the Clouds. I was a little short on time and decided to do the shorter trail to this mountain summit.
I arrived at the parking area near Castle in the Clouds. There were about 10 cars there, but it could hold many more. After I grabbed my things, I headed out toward the pond and the Turtleback Trail Head.
I missed the initial turn I was going to take and ended up going up the Turtleback Trail. This trail was once a carriage road for horses and carts. So, the grade for this trail was really easy all the way to the top.
There are a lot of switchbacks to help keep the elevation down. But that does make the trail longer than it needs to be, in my own opinion.
What the trail lacked in difficulty it made up for with interesting nature. Lots of faces in trees and cool little waterfalls and streams. There was only one large water crossing and there was a bridge for that. Other smaller water crossings were easy to step over.
After a couple of miles, I reached a section of switch backs. While this was a bit longer than I had expected it did go by quickly. Towards the top of the mountain. After the switch backs, the trail starts to corkscrew around the summit cone. In the spring and fall there appears to be some nice views from the lake. But not with all the leaves on the trees.
Most of this trip was in the woods but when you reach the summit there is a nice rocky opening with some views of the other Ossipee mountains.
There is a sign at the top. I hung out for a bit. Took some pictures and had a snack. There is some cable and other artifacts from an old fire tower that once stood on this summit. It was a beautiful day and I had the whole summit to myself.
I made my way back down toward the switchbacks and down those too. When I got to the junction just after the bridge, I choose to take the Far Away Trail over the Old Bridal Path. This trail goes near a small hill with another short spur path that to some beautiful lookouts over the big lake.
The Bridal Path continues gently down toward where I started the hike. With about a 150 yards left on the trail, I saw 3 small bear cubs 100 feet from me playing on the trail. I stopped and looked around and saw a big fat mama bear about 10’ in deep in the woods. I made some loud noises and started shouting at the bears to go home.
My presence did not seem to phase them at all. But eventually then started wandering off. Kind of parallel to the trail. As I moved cautiously down the trail away from the bear, keeping an eye on them and the cubs, I finally made it to the end of the trail and could hear people. I must admit the bears were both cool and frightening. You never can predict what a mama was
When I reached the pond, I stopped and told some people about my encounter who were just arriving. They continued but made sure not to take that trail.
I was glad to be back at the car. By this time the whole area was full of people on a beautiful day. This will be a hike to remember or sure!
