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Isle of Shoals Star Island

Boating/Cruising, Graves, Graveyards and Memorials, Lighthouses, Walking

View of the Route 1 and I95 Bridges in Portsmouth, NH from the ship deck

Date:	5-16-2026
Location:	Star Island, Isle of Shoals
Distance:	1.32 mi
Elevation Gain:	15′
Total Time:	55 min
Parking:	Parking at mainland

Steph and I decided the night before that we would check out the Isle of Sholes. This is something that has been on our bucket list for quite a while.

We looked up what the mid-May prices were and they were only $40 per person for a 4-hour tour. So we bought our tickets.

Not only was I excited to visit Star Island but I was also excited to visit the three burial areas on the small island.

Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse at Fort Constitution

We boarded the Thomas Lighton ship in Portsmouth Harbor. The ride out was great. The weather was beautiful and we had a person on board that was talking about all the landmarks we are passing and giving a little history of them as well.

Some of the highlights are the old Navy Prison called the “Castle”, Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse, Whaleback Lighthouse and the Wood Island Life Saving Station.

Once we left the harbor the Isles of Sholes were not too far away. We were lucky that the waters were also calm and the sun was really starting to get warm. I was surprised that the boat was only half full.

We docked on Star Island. And had a little over an hour to explore it before having to get back to the boat. The island has a lot of structures and a hotel on it. So, there is lots to see. There were also a lot of birders on the island.

We did a counterclockwise loop around the Permitter Road on the island. Our first stop was the Caswell Cemetery near the Oceanic Hotel and Gazebo. Then we continued by the old stone church toward a tall obelisk.

This obelisk is actually the tallest gravestone in New Hampshire. It is over 45 feet tall! There is also a crypt near the monument.

From here we went over the Beebe Cemetery. This is a small cemetery on the island. It was undergoing maintenance and having a bunch of overgrowth cut back. Next, we tried to make it over the Captain John Smith memorial. This is the same captain that discovered Jamestown VA and traveled with Pocahontas.

The Beebe Cemetery has a very sad story behind it

We were temporally blocked by a couple of nesting seagulls, so we headed back to the main trail where I found another trail to the memorial.

Steph circled back toward the boat and I continued along the permitter road to complete the loop. I soon came up to the Art Barn and soon found my way back to the front of the island where I could now see the boat.

Seagulls nesting and blocking the path. Had to find another way around.

I could see Steph waiting and we made it back on the boat just in time. Once on board we grabbed our seats and we set off. As we left the boat did a tour of some of the smaller islands and got a little history about them.

Walking some of the beautiful side trails

It was kind of cool to lean that the state line between Maine and New Hampshire goes right through the group of 9 islands that make up the Isle of Sholes.

We also got some good views of the White Island Lighthouse. There is a ghost tale associated with this small uninhabited island.

The ride back to the harbor seemed quicker than the way out. The weather as outstanding. We really lucked out. I’ll have to go back when the island is open. I would love to stay at the Oceanic Hotel sometime when it is open.

Misty Hike in Fox Forest

Fire Tower, Graves, Graveyards and Memorials, Hiking

Date:	5-13-2026
Location:	Hillsborough, NH
Distance:	2.83 mi
Elevation Gain:	327′
Total Time:	1 hr 45 min
Parking:	20+ cars

I’ve seen some of the southern NH AMC Wednesday Hikes for a while and thought I would give one a try.

Some large rocks at the start of the hike

There was an evening hike in Fox Forest that was not full, so I signed up. After a brief phone call with the group leader, I was added to the hike.

The Fox Forest firetower is spooky in the cloudy mist.

This was my first AMC hike, so I was not sure what to expect but I had been to Fox Forest a few times and there was nothing to hard.

We met at the parking lot and it was cloudy, foggy and misty. I started out wearing my raincoat but that came off shortly into the hike.

I always think corners of stone walls are interesting

We meandered down a dirt road and started to climb to the Fire Tower. The lookout is more a of a step ladder than a Fire Tower, but who am I to judge.

I know there are views to be seen but there were none today. Just a big gray cloud. After a snack we made our way down to the old Gearry Cemetery. I love visiting old cemeteries!

We spent a few minutes looking at some of the old stones and then started back toward the parking lot. This was not a long hike, but it was nice to stretch my legs during the week.

It was also nice to talk with people during the hike compared to my usual solo hikes. In total it was just about 3 miles.

Beech Hill – Dublin, NH

Fire Tower, Hiking

Date:	5-10-2026
Location:	Dublin, NH
Distance:	3.65 mi
Elevation Gain:	422′
Total Time:	2 hr 55 min
Parking:	20+ cars

This was the second hike of the day. It was also the second mountain of the day named Beech Hill. This time it was in Dublin, NH.

The sun was still shining, and the temps were warming up. There was plenty of parking in the lot and I was the only one there.

I started up the Zig Zag trail. This trail was most of the uphill and when I got to the top and turned right on to a section of the Ridge Trail.

This trail was nicely maintained. After a brief walk, I came to the East lookout. From here I could see Joe English and the Uncanoonucs.

Not far after this there was another junction and I went down a little to the Carriage Road. This continued toward the south overlook.

Views of the Uncanoonucs from East Lookout

The trail goes by a set of communication towers but not the same location as the old fire tower.

I took a small detour off the South Outlook trail that must have been the site of the old mansion that once stood. There were still some early rhododendrons that were in blooming.

Flowing plants on the grounds of the old mansion

There was a large looking driveway and a lower walled-in grassy area that was overtaken by bushes and thorns. I thought for a moment that this was an old graveyard.

South Lookout had great views of Mondadnock

When I got back to the South Overlook trail I continued for a bit till I came to the lookout. There is a great view of Mt. Monadnock and a lake below.

I keep moving back toward the Tower Trail. I followed this to the Carriage Road and back up to the Ridge Trail toward Beech Hill.

On the way to Beech Hill, there was a look out called Eagle Lookout. It is a large rock with views on both sides.

I continued on and finely made it to Beech Hill. There are no signs of the old Fire Tower but I could see why they choose this location.

Summit of Beech Hill in Dublin and the site of the old fire tower

From here I came down through the Dubilin Nordic trails that were under construction. There was a nice trail the after most of the construction that would take me back to the parking lot. This trail was marked by a giant cairn.

Giant Cairn marking the trail back to the parking lot.

From here is was a straight shot back to the parking lot. This was a fun place to explore. I would come back again and would love to try the Nordic trails during the winter.

View of my route around the network of trails

Beech Hill – Keene

Fire Tower, Hiking

Keene State College and downtown Keene NH from sunset rock.

Date:	6-19-2024
Location:	Waterville Valley, NH
Distance:	1.43 mi
Elevation Gain:	126′
Total Time:	1 hr 5 min
Parking:	2-4 cars

It was a beautiful morning, and I decided to do a couple of easy hikes off the NH Fire Towers list. For the first one, I ventured west toward Keene to hike Beech Hill.

I arrived at the trail head which is just a pull off across the street on Champman Road. When I got there the temps were in the 50’s and sunny. It was supposed to get much warmer as the day went on.

I started in and noticed that there was a whole network of trails. I stayed on the Taboot trail for most of the uphill (which was not much).

The area where the fire tower once stood is not fenced off and now has a communication tower.

After a view zig zags I reached the Sunset Rock trail that took me up to the summit where the Fire tower once stood.

Now there are communication towers, and everything is fenced in. I continued toward the sunset rock lookout on the Flicker Trail.

When I reached the look out there was a great view of the town of Keene. I took a few photos here and had a quick snack.

I left Sunset Rock via the Red Heart Trail. This continued for a while and was blazed with red hearts.

View of downtown Keene, NH From Summit Rock

The Red Heart trail split off to the left and started to descend so I turned on to the Moose Trail and headed back toward the car.

The Red Heart Trail is blazed with red hearts.

When I got to the Beech Hill Trail, which is basically an access road I followed that back down toward the car.

This was not a long hike but had a lot of fun features. Someday I would like to come back and see the sunset.

Evening Hike Up Mt. Kearsarge – Warren, NH

52 With A View, Fire Tower, Hiking

Date:	5-8-2026
Location:	Wilmont, NH
Distance:	2.81 mi
Elevation Gain:	1080′
Total Time:	3 hr 48 min
Parking:	20+ cars

Met up with some friends, Laura, Corey, Summit and Onyx for hike up Mt. Kearsarge to chase a sunset. We met up at the Winslow Trailhead.

The weather was a bit chilly. Skys were partly cloudy and we had a 50/50 chance of seeing a sunset.

From trailhead we did the loop counterclockwise. I’ve done this loop many times but never done it clockwise. Maybe next time.

This trail is short and starts out moderate but then it really starts to climb. It made me realize I need to work more on my cardio.

Near the summit the sun showed itself through the clouds

After several stops we finally hit the halfway marking and had to take a few pics. After this section the trail mellows out a bit but still climbs.

We got to the first viewpoint, and the clouds had cleared a little by the horizon giving us a sliver of sunlight shining through.

We continued up to the summit and just before it, the sun dropped down into view. I love that red glow it gives off when its this low.

At the top we could see it drop behind the horizon and were treated to a nice afterglow. It was windy and cold up there, so we went down to the picnic table to have our dinner and get out of the wind.

The way down we took the Barlow Trail. This trail is a little longer down. The rocks were mostly dry which was nice.

This trail also has many view points and is beautiful at night. Very peaceful and quiet.

We continued down at a steady pace and eventually came to the bridge and took a break. We knew we were not far from the lot and it did not take long to get there.

Going down the Barlow trail by headlamp. Photo Credit:Laura

I’ve seen a lot of great sunsets on this mountain. One of my favorite night hikes.

An Urban Pond Clean-up and Fletcher Cascade Kind of Saturday

Hiking, Waterfalls

Date:	4-18-2026
Location:	Waterville Valley, NH
Distance:	3.47 mi
Elevation Gain:	634′
Total Time:	2 hr 34 min
Parking:	10+ cars

Every year there is an urban pond clean-up in my ward. So I headed out to meet up with about 20 other volunteers to pick up trash and clean up the areas around Nutts Pond in Manchester.

Group of good deed doers cleaning up Nutts Pond with the Manchester Urban Ponds Restoration Program

There was a special pile for people to leave a cool or interesting piece of trash with lots of strange and bazar stuff. Also, a cool trash trophy to celebrate the person with the most interesting piece of trash.

The pile of interesting things is starting to grow,

This was my second year doing the clean-up. Weather was in the 40s and overcast.

Heading up to Fletcher Cascade. Little bits of snow on the trail xc ski trail

We filled up several trash bags, pulled out shopping carts and old camp sites in about an hour’s time.

Off the ski trail and on to Fletcher Cascade Trail

After the clean-up I decided to take ride up to Waterville Valley and see if the Fletcher Cascades were flowing. I had gone up there many years ago, but the water was just a trickle.

The parking is the same lot as Jennings Peak and Sandwich Mt. lots. It starts off following some xc trails then the Drakes Brook trail splits and flows the brook.

I continued up to the Fletcher Cascade trail. From this junction the trail starts to climb. The junction to the cascade is about .4 miles.

There was one water crossing that was passible with some careful rock hopping. Trail climbs steady and then once you reach the first cascade, it starts to get steeper.

You can see the steepness of the cascade from this angle

The first cascade is a wide staircase waterfall. Very pretty and the flow was moving good.

After a few pictures and videos, I continued to climb toward the tall narrow cascade. The terrain is pretty steep in this section.

From here the trail continued but I did not. It was loose footing and I was by myself so I started to head back down.

I continued taking photos as I descended. As always, the trip back down was much quicker. This was another fun waterfall hike. It was great to finally see it with running water.

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