Oak Hill City Forest Hiking Trails Oak Hill Fire Tower
by Amy Patenaude
Outdoor/Ski Writer
Concord, NH has wonderful trails in every corner of the city. The City’s trails total more than 80 miles over 31 trail systems for the public to use for walking, hiking, biking and in the winter, cross-country skiing.
The City of Concord Conservation Commission has put together a guide complete with maps that can be downloaded on-line from the Concord Chamber of Commerce website ConcordNHChamber.com, click on Things to Do and then Walking Trails or purchase the guide in the City’s planning office for $7.
My friend Sarah and I wanted to go for an afternoon easy hike and I suggested we go to the Oak Hill Fire Tower. The Tower Trail is about 2 miles long and climbs 500 vertical feet to reach the fire tower. There are 7 miles of trails that crisscross over Concord’s side of Oak Hill. The fire tower is actually over the town line in the town of Loudon.
On Shaker Hill Road, 2.4 miles from Route 132, we turned into the parking area at the Oak Hill City Forest Hiking Trails sign. There is an information kiosk with a map and a nearby mini library book exchange box — both made possible by Boy Scout Eagle Scouts.
The Tower Trail sign points the way and the trail is well marked and the footing is good. The trail never gets too steep and it was dry even though it had rained earlier in the day.
The fall foliage was bright. The trees boasted yellow and red leaves. The forest was pleasant and quiet. It was a nice afternoon to hike even though the sky was still cloudy.
When we reached the stone wall there is a granite monument that makes it clear that this is the boundary for Concord and Loudon. We continued on the trail passing through the wall and then the trail followed the right of way for a small powerline to the summit and the fire tower.
The fire tower is only manned during periods of high fire danger so the cabin on top was locked up. We climbed the stairs up the tower to the level just below the cabin. We were hoping for a big clear view but it was still cloudy. To the southeast we could just barely see the nearby communication tower on Plausawa Hill, Pembroke’s town highpoint.
On our return we bushwhacked off the trail to visit Concord’s highpoint. The highest elevation in the City is on its boundary with Loudon along the stone wall. I’ve been here before but this was a fun day for Sarah to collect another New Hampshire fire tower and a town highpoint too.
Back on the trail we decided not to take the direct route straight down the Tower Trail but to wind our way down along some of the other trails. We discovered more rolling terrain through the forest. Along the Dancing Bear Trail the “Swope Slope Vista” is definitely worth a visit on a clear day. The guide reports that the vista includes Mt. Kearsarge, Ragged Mountain and Mount Cardigan. But due to the clouds all we could do was imagine the view.
Potter Ridge to Winn’s Way Trails we followed down to Vista Way where we sat on a bench and tried again to see through the clouds. The nearby foliage was pleasantly pretty. On Ledges Pass we met a lady walking her cute little puppy. Patting the puppy was a treat.
Back at the car I checked my tracker and we had hiked a total of 5 miles. We enjoyed the easy hike, the miles and the time went by quick.
And think these trails are less than 15 minutes away from the State House.
Have Fun!
