North of Dixville Notch

Colebrook - Clarksville - Pittsburg - Stewartstown

Garfield Falls:

(See DeLorme's New Hampshire Atlas & Gazetteer, Map 53)
Take Rt. 3 North through Pittsburg, NH, 4.7 miles past the 1st Connecticut Lake Dam, to the Magalloway Mtn. Rd. (on the right)
Follow this dirt road for approximately 14 miles, being careful not to turn off the main road. Main road narrows up by Camp No. 7 and the edges of the road tend to be on the soft side. Look for the new signs put up as of 2007 . Take the trail on the South side of the boulders. This is a 10-15 minute walk to the Falls. Steep descent to the bottom of the Falls, to a pool. Obscure trails branch out alongside the river on the opposite bank, winding up through the rocks and thick brush in some spots. Good views of what we call middle and upper falls. (See photo's below) ( Also note: The State went in a did a beautiful job cribbing and putting in log steps making this trail a lot safer!)

*NOTE: The Magalloway Mtn. Rd. is gated 1.2 miles in. This road is closed to vehicular traffic from December 15th thru Memorial Week-end. The Magalloway Road becomes snowmobile Trl. 112 during the winter months.


Magalloway Mtn. Trail:
From Rt. 3, (North) in Pittsburg, NH, go 4.7 miles past the 1st Connecticut Lake Dam, and take the Magalloway Mtn. Rd. (on the right).

At 1.2 miles, you'll cross a bridge over the Connecticut River and see a gated road straight ahead. Smith Brook Rd. goes off to the left but Magalloway Mtn. Rd continues through * the gate. (See *Note below and related story)

Stay on this main road which bears left at 2.3 miles and left again at 2.9 miles. At 5.3 miles, take a sharp right. Bear right at 6.3 miles, and at 8.3 miles this road dead-ends at a grassy area at the base of the mountain trail. (No Trailhead Sign)

The trail itself is moderately steep in some sections, relatively steep in others, and reaches the summit in 0.8 mile. Great views of Aziscohos Lake to the southeast, and Rump Mountain to the Northeast. Part-time manned tower at summit. This trail can be snowmobiled during the winter but not recommended!

Picture taken from the Fire Tower on top of Magalloway Mountain

*NOTE: If you drive in via vehicle before Memorial week-end, just happen to see the gate open, and drive through, make sure you have the following items with you (non-exclusive list)

*May, 2002 escapade: We were just out poking around, riding the tote roads in the area, when we decided to go up the Magalloway Mtn. Rd. We drove the 1.2 miles to the bridge crossing the Connecticut River and 'Lo and Behold!', the gate was open!!! We continued through, explored a dozen or more tote roads looking for moose, then turned around a couple of hours later to head for home.

We got back to the gate and it was NOW CLOSED!!! We couldn't get back out! "Now what do we do?" We got out of the truck, inspected the quality of the padlock, calculated gate-breaking speeds, then looked for alternate routes around the gate. Nothing! We got back in the truck, turned around, and took a side road off to the right that just served as a snowmobile trail a few weeks earlier. After a few miles of mucky terrain and boulder-thumping, we came to a narrow but deep brook-crossing containing a Red Jeep Wrangler. We got out and approached the tent pitched on the opposite bank beyond the Jeep. We said "Hello?" and out of the tent emerged a man in his early 20's.

As conversation evolved, we learned the Jeep had gone into the brook the previous night and the occupants spent half the night trying to dig it out, with no success. The other 'occupant' was still in the tent sleeping at 10:00 am, worn out from the exertion, we presumed.

Pete managed to drive his Chevy through the brook to the left of the Jeep, then pulled him out with chains, taking out a pretty good portion of the riverbank.

We advised the Jeep owner not to try to go back out "That Way" because we were all locked in and we told him we had no clue where we were going but thought we were headed for Cedar Stream Rd.

After a few miles of more solid terrain, we did come out to the Cedar Stream Rd. with 'NO Gate', and headed for home. We couldn't help but wonder how long the Jeep would have been stuck out there if we hadn't been 'Locked In'.

Moral to Story: Don't go though open gate before and during Memorial Week-end, and after Dec. 15th unless you have all of the above listed items...plus!

Hellgate Falls: This is a bush-whackers paradise!...Take the Magalloway Road approximately 1 1/2 miles to the first heavily traveled right at snowmobile intersection (signs still up last we were out there)...this is Buckhorn Rd. Follow this for about 4-5 miles and the road turns into Cedar Stream Road. About 1/4 of a mile after you pass the two camps almost across from each other, you will see a bridge. Just before the bridge is a snowmobile trail (Trl 137) on your left...Go up this trail, cross Rowell Brook, then come to the second snowmobile bridge...just before the second bridge, on your left, you'll see an old snowmobile trail...follow this up, and within a short distance, you'll see orange flags on a tree on the right...follow the orange flags to the falls...steep decent to the bottom of the falls...some prefer to use ropes...your discretion...Not a good hike if you have young children...very dangerous and steep...No footpath cut, but follows a grown-in skidder path for most of the way...picture below taken in May, 2004 from the foot of the falls...

Fourth Connecticut Lake: To get to the Trailhead...drive North on Rt. 3 through Pittsburg up to the Canadian Border...( 22 miles from the Village). Park across from the U.S. Customs and the Trailhead is located in the small clearing just above the Customs building...Sign in at the Trailhead ...

Round-trip is approximately 1.7 miles long and steep in sections. Lake itself is very remote and pretty...If you follow the Loop Trail out around Fourth Lake, you will literally step over the Headwaters of the Great Connecticut River....

The Connecticut River is the longest River in New England, flows through four states, and covers 410 miles before emptying out at Long Island Sound...

Fourth Connecticut Lake is the smallest of the Connecticut Lakes, covering approx. 2.5 acres. It is at an elevation of 2,670 ft. and much of the trail follows the border of The United States and Canada. At .4 mile, you'll be at the Preserve corner and the Eastern Boundary...At .2 of a mile more, you'll be at the lake and the Loop Trail that takes you .5 miles around the Lake.

Nice hike...steep in some sections...nice views of Canada and the Eastern Mountains coming back...

The 'Falls in the River':

Located 1/2 mile north of Big Brook Bridge...on the Connecticut River...Park at the pull-off on Route 3 just above Big Brook...hike east off the road into a clearing and stay east until you hear the river...stay parallel to the river now still traveling north...try to stay about 50' from the river for about 3,000'...soon the terrain reaches a set of narrow, bony ribs that are somewhat steep...Drop down one, bottom out and climb again...Descend and approach the river where the volume of sound is rising to a crescendo...Thanks, Kim Robert Nilsen, The Cohos Trail for the information and photo!...

Indian Stream Canyon: To reach the trailhead of the Grand Canyon in Pittsburg...take the Indian Stream Road...follow that for 15 miles (watch the milemarkers)...Just before you get to the 16th mile marker...you'll see an old sign frame on the left...park across from this sign and just follow the blue blazes down...trail branches off...If you go to the right, it'll bring you along the canyon wall to the top of the falls (which you can't see from the river)...If you go left, it'll take you down the canyon for a half mile or so...Impressive in the Spring with the run-off...Very interesting in the summer when the water is low and you can view the many unusual rocks found there...A passive hike, but pretty...Caution: Bog bridges are old and covered with moss...tend to be on the slippery side...stairs need to be replaced...(Note: As of 2007, this trail has been up-graded and is now well marked with new signage on the Indian Stream Rd.)