Monadnock - Sunapee Greenway: Section 5

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Features Birding · Commonly Backpacked · Fall Colors · Spring · Views · Wildlife

From the center median in the town of Washington, head right down Route 31, then veer left onto the gravel road. Follow this road (Half Moon Pond Road) to a the junction with Mill Street (on right)/ Half Moon Pond Road (continues left). Follow Half Moon Pond Road to the junction with Lovewell/ Lovell(?) Mountain Road.

Follow Lovewell Mountain Road to the right. Continue straight on this old logging road. At the sign for Lovewell Mountain State Forest, take a left uphill. The trail gets much steeper here, leading to the summit.

In a short distance from the summit, there is a small side trail to the left that leads to a small spring. This spring was nothing more than a puddle when I went through in early December; you may fare better during the spring. Decent water is scarce through this area, so don't pass it up if you're running low. There are two viewpoints atop Lovewell Mountain (one is signed/one isn't/both are on the right).

The trail descends, sharply, from Lovewell Mountain, then rises to a small ridge. It descends gradually to its junction with the Max Israel Shelter. The trail hits a few more small ridges, then descends to Half Moon Pond Road.From here the trail connects to the Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway Trail: Section 6 and continues to the end.

For more information on the trails in Pillsbury State Park, please visit nhstateparks.org

For more information on this trail, please purchase the Monadnock - Sunapee Greenway trail guide from msgtc.org.

Flora: Eastern hemlock, spruce, birch, oak, beech.
Fauna: Chickadees, bluejays, pileated woodpecker, hairy woodpecker.