Cockermouth Forest – Little Pond, Mount Crosby & Bald Knob

PHOTO: Becca hiking the trail from Mount Crosby towards Bald Knob. The more challenging trails to the open summits of Mount Crosby and Bald Knob are a good spring warm-up before tackling the bigger White Mountains this summer. In 1991 William Wadsworth donated 1000 acres as part of his estate plan and since then Cockermouth Forest is managed by the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, (ForestSociety.org).

by Amy Patenaude
Outdoor/Ski Writer

Amy has finally run out of snow for skiing and is back on the hiking trails.

The town of Groton is just north of Newfound Lake and was once known as Cockermouth. Groton is known for being the home of Sculptured Rocks Natural Area on the Cockermouth River that flows into Newfound Lake. Groton is also home to the perhaps lesser known 1200+ acre Cockermouth Forest and its hiking trails.
The Cockermouth Forest is under the stewardship of the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests (SPNHF) and information about this property and others can be found at ForestSociety.org.
To find the trailhead from Route 3A turn West on North Shore Road and follow it through the village of Hebron and now follow Groton Road. Then instead of going to Sculptured Rocks bear right onto North Groton Road. Travel 2 miles up North Groton Road and on the right there is a Cockermouth Forest sign marking the narrow dirt road that leads to a small parking area at a gate.

Just across the bridge there is a large trailhead sign with an empty trail map canister so be sure to download the map and bring it with you.
It was a cool 41 degrees and cloudy. Becca and I decided to take the out and back hike to Little Pond first in hopes of a clear day later. To reach the pond keep taking lefts–Remick Rd & John R. Woodhouse Trail, one way distance from the parking area is 1.5 miles. The trails are well blazed and there are trail signs along the way.

We walked up the old road into the forest and Woodhouse Trail is a nice path. We rock-hopped across a stream and then we met a family returning from the pond. The only people we met the whole day.
Nearing the pond the trail is more steep and above the cascading waters of the pond’s outlet. With the previous day’s rain there was plenty of water running over the wide ledges and rocks in the streambed. The trail stops at a nice ledgy area on the edge of the water. Little Pond was full of water and it didn’t look as boggy as I thought it would.
Becca and I stood quietly on the rock and admired the wild area. Then we heard the noise. A moose bellowing, this cow moose made a strange moan. It only called twice. We strained our eyes and looked hard but we didn’t see it.

Walking along the cascading water again on our way back was nice.
At the beginning of the High Pasture Loop Trail we took some time poking around the Remick Place. Forgotten apple trees that might survive if someone pruned them again surround the area around the cellar hole. According to the SPNHF website the circa 1830 farmhouse was moved to New Hampton including the foundation stones. Stonewalls crisscross much of the land, it must have been a great farm.
We hiked steadily uphill and then took the Beeline Trail straight up to Mt. Crosby. About halfway up Beeline we were wowed by snow frosted trees. They glistened bright white and we thought we were done with fresh snow. When we reached the open ledges of Mt. Crosby, elevation 2,220 feet, below the clouds and over the wind turbines we saw that the bigger White Mountains were freshly frosted too.
Woop, woop, woop, we could hear the sound of the nearby wind turbines on Tenney and Fletcher Mountains. The breeze was carrying the sound towards us of their big blades moving through the air. The Groton Wind Farm has 24 wind turbines and was constructed in 2012 (you can see them to the west from I-93 as your drive by Plymouth).
We took in the grand vista and wished that the clouds were a little higher.
The hike over to Bald Knob was quick, less than half a mile, and we made a good little scramble to reach its ledgy summit. More big views and in all directions, mountains and lakes filled our eyes.
We completed our loop descending the Bald Knob Trail and the Old North Groton Road back to our car.
It was fun to hike snow and ice-free trails. There was just a little mud and the spring flowers were pushing up. Spring is really here.
Have Fun.