Northernmost Hiking Trail in NH

[J&J]

We were up in Pittsburg, New Hampshire this weekend doing some canoeing and decided to take a hike out to the headwaters of the Connecticut River, the Fourth Connecticut Lake.

The trail starts right at the border patrol station located between the USA and Canada. It heads right up the boundary swath and is about 1/2 mile to where the trail leaves the boundary. It's about 300 yards from there down to the Fourth CT Lake.

The Fourth Lake is very small in size, only about 2 1/2 acres with a 70+ acre boggy watershed area supporting the lake. It's quite beautiful located at an altitude of 2,700' or so. There is now a loop trail going around the pond which wasn't there last time we visited 5+ years ago. This trail is also part of the Cohos Trail. Total trail mileage with the loop is 1.7 miles.

Another great hike in the area is the Magalloway fire tower. About an eight mile drive on logging roads from Route 3 and then a .6 mile hike to the tower. Outstanding views of the North Country.

If you ever have a canoe hankering, get up to Pittsburg. We paddled the East Inlet, Scott's Bog and the Third Connecticut Lake. We had the East Inlet and Scott's Bog to ourselves. Not another paddler out there. Just moose!

To see some photographs:

http://community.webshots.com/user/jjhike

 

[MichaelJ]

Wow - the pictures of the fox are *incredible*! What kind of camera hardware are you using?

You've only further affirmed that I need to get up there.

 

[arghman]

A very good choice. I'm not sure when the Fourth Lake loop trail was put in, but it was there when I hiked it in June one year sometime between 1998 and 2000. I did trailwork there with a small TNC group in Sep '01 -- bog bridges take *forever* to put in.

I got a kick out of the French "No Trespassing" signs, the spruce trees are so thick that it would be next to impossible to do so.

Am rather envious re: your canoeing forays. (And the fox pictures!!!!!) I used to head up to the border every year in June as a sort of pilgrimage, to gaze out over Third Lake and look for moose along Rt 3. Unfortunately Pittsburg has undergone a building boom (at least by North Country standards) and that !#@$@# 911 law means they had to put up all these garish road signs like "Jodie's Way (PVT)" and "Nice 'N Easy Lane (PVT)" (can't remember exact names) heading up through the south section of the Connecticut Lakes State Forest. I've since looked for other places that are less developed, sad to say.

 

[arghman]

Today's Onion Loader, I mean Union Leader, had this article:
Housing boom reaches NH's upper tip

 

[shamples]

The hike to the 4th Connecticut isn't anything special but cool just to say you did it I guess. It was basically a swamp, but it is significant. One time to check it out is all I needed.

Mt Magalloway on the other hand was much more worth the effort. Great views from the fire tower all around. It is quite a drive to get in there on those logging roads - 8 miles, but the hike is pretty easy. Just about a mile, not even up there.

Then if you want to catch a great waterfall right in that same area, if you follow that same main logging road you took to get to Magalloway, another 4 miles up is Garfield Falls. The hike in from where you park is very easy and quick, only like .2 miles down to it. Well worth the drive in. It's really one of the better falls in the state.

And def check out East Inlet. That is the place to yak to see wildlife. Moose right in the water just like the postcards. Amazing!

 

[J&J]

MichaelJ-
I use a Canon point and shoot. It has a long lens though. And to really give up my true secret here. . . the fox was only about 10-15 feet away. Apparently there have been about five foxes the last couple of years up in Pittsburg that have become habituated to man. They come up to the cars looking for handouts. A sad story. They'll stop right in the middle of the road and a couple of them have gotten whacked.

Argh-
I read that same article this morning. It's hard to believe the huge runup in real estate price appreciation is even hitting Pittsburg!