Picnic at Hall's Ledge

Yesterday the Fat Man and I took a break from cliff climbing to check out a little trail in Jackson, New Hampshire called Hall's Ledge.  We saw a 2011 article in the White Mountain Shopper by John Comptom, which described this little gem of a trail. 

You can start from the bottom on Route 16, but the Fat Man thought we could shave off some of the elevation by picking up the trail off Carter Notch Road. We parked our car at the end of the road in a small parking area, then walked back on the road and up to the right.  

Starting up the road

It was a wide road with a gentle incline. As soon as you pass the Orchard Trail on your left, take the next trail, which takes you to the Hall's Ledge trailhead.  There's a sign that says Wildcat Valley. Also look for the sign below. 

Take this trail off the road

We weren't sure it was the right trailhead so we walked on the road about a 1/2 mile further than we needed to and had to double back.  But it afforded us some extra mileage and a lovely view.

Pretty view from the road

The leaves are starting to change here and it's really quite magnificent.

Fall colors

We nicknamed this the "poop road and trail" because all day long we came across poops of various sizes and colors.  

Got poop?

We also found some moose tracks and were hopeful we might see one of these amazing beasts.  But it was not to be.  

Moose tracks

It was a pretty deserted trail and I thought we might see a bear or two.  Normally we don't worry about bears, but we just heard about a black bear that killed a Rutger's University student at a place we often hike.  Unfortunately, this boy was inexperienced and didn't know that running is the worst thing you can do.  Back away slowly and do not make eye contact.  If you have sticks, wave them in the air to make yourself look bigger.  Never play dead (that only works with Grizzly Bears).  

More of the trail

The trail meandered up for a while in the woods until we reached a spot that afforded us some unbelievable mountain views.

Gorgeous scenery

The picture above almost looks like a painting.  The light was just right to pick up all the beautiful colors and the mountains in the distance (this view was actually much better than Hall's Ledge itself).  

The trail was filled with all kinds of greenery, including ferns.  A little ways on the trail we passed a giant rock that had a memorial plate.  Apparently, 500 acres of the Wildcat Reservation were donated in the memory of Charles Morrill Baker.  

We don't know the exact mileage, but after a ways, we finally found this sign directing us Hall's Ledge.  It might have been around 1.5 miles.

We had read about the picnic table in the middle of nowhere and it was a lovely spot to stop and have lunch.  "Any trail that has a picnic table at the summit is okay in my book," said the Fat Man.  Unfortunately, the view of Mount Washington was a bit obscured by overgrown trees, but it was still a very pretty place to sit for a bit.

The Fat Man deemed the hike "whoopee-pie worthee" and polished off the second half of his dessert from Portland Maine.  I had some healthier apple slices.  

There really wasn't any ledge to speak of.  Later, we met an elderly couple who said the ledge exists, but not too many folks have ever seen it.  Sounds like a New Hampshire myth, if you ask me.

On the way back, The Fat Man snapped this picture of me gazing out over the mountainside.  I wish I'd sucked my gut in just a little bit more.  But those torturous step aerobics classes seem to be paying off.  

Later I almost stepped on this enormous toad.  He was very slow moving.  

Hall's Ledge definitely ranks as one of those trails that offer a great view for modest effort.  

Heidi's rating: ★★★★ Gorgeous mountain views.
The Fat Man's rating: 4 and 1/2 Reese's peanut butter cups.