A hike through Beaver Brook in Hollis, NH

Today was a bit hot, muggy, and then rainy.  Mosquito season is in high.  Lets go for a hike in Beaver Brook!  With 35 miles of trails on managed conservation land Beaver Brook is a great place to spend an hour, an afternoon, or a whole day hiking and exploring.  It has wildlife ponds, stone walls,  hills, streams, boulders, meadows, and plenty of wildlife. 

 The blur in the middle of the photo is the mosquito that tried to bite me while stopped :\

 I've been going there for years. This Spring I finally explored some of the less popular trails. Wow, there are some unexpectedly neat trails there.  My current favorite is the Rocky Ridge trail. This short trail connects the Tupelo trail and the Old City trail near the wildlife pond at the North part of the trail map found on Beaver Brook's site.

The trail quickly goes to the top of a ridge above dramatic bouldery cliffs. 

 There were plenty of lady slippers along the way

 

 The boulders along this trail are ridiculous.  

There's even one point where I had to scoot down on my butt since the rock was so steep and wet that I didn't trust my shoes to stick.  It really is a fun trail, like being in the White Mountains.  It's less than a mile long.  So good though.

I'd rather go up this than slide down.

Another new favorite spot is the Shoen Farm Meadow.  I don't think its on the map other than as the meadow trail but it is so peaceful.  There are some remnants of an old barn (really just the stone foundation) and a few stone walls.

The Barn Foundation

Stone Walls

As for wildlife I saw 53 baby red spotted newts (they're orange) plenty of frogs, a couple turkeys, and the aforementioned mosquito brigades.  I spent maybe 3 hours and did 8.8 miles with lots of lingering and moseying about.  I didn't see another person until I was almost back to my car.  It is certainly worth a visit if you are in the area!

My track.