The Denmark Mountain Hikers climbed Little Deer Hill in Stow, Maine on Friday, April 10, 2026. Twenty hikers gathered at the trailhead. Hiking today were Greg Moulton, Rhonda Poliquin, Tina Estes, Greg Dean, Steve Kelley, Pat Marchetti, Kathy Huchthausen, Jim Wilson, Chuck Donovan, Phil Johnson, Tom Dugas, David Atchason, Laura Sullivan, Janet Arens, Sandy Bell, Toni Carros, Polly Lombardi, Louise Jensen, Robin Marciello and Jacob Schor, with Ruby and Piper, the enthusiastic hiking dogs.
We started on the Leach Link Trail at 9:40 AM. Since this trail starts on the east side of the Cold River, it avoids crossing the dam near the AMC Cold River Camp, which can be difficult in high water. Temperatures were around 40 degrees under partly sunny skies. All of us started in bare boots. However, the start of the trail had packed snow and ice, so some of us stopped and put on micro-spikes. Naturally, as soon as we had done that, the snow and ice disappeared, and the trail was mostly bare ground. The spikes apparently had a preventative effect.
The Leach Link Trail was mostly level or gradual, and very pleasant. It went along a high bank above Shell Pond Brook, and then descended to walk along the Cold River. It ended at the east end of the dam. The water was not especially high, and some of us walked out on the dam to check it out or take pictures.
Ruby and Piper thought it was a great spot for a swim. Ruby caused some excitement when she was caught by the current, swept through the sluiceway of the dam into the rapids below, and then calmly swam to shore as if nothing had happened. “Oh, I meant to do that.”
We then took the Deer Hills Trail to the summit of Little Deer Hill. There was some climbing and a few steep stretches, but nothing really difficult, and we made steady progress. We arrived at the summit at 11:20 AM.
The open ledges of the summit had beautiful views of Baldface and other mountains in the Evans Notch area. It was now sunny and warm, upper 50s or low 60s, and we were content to hang out, eat lunch and admire the views. After 40 minutes we roused ourselves and started down at 12:00 noon.
We descended the Frost Trail and the Deer Hills Bypass to complete a loop back to the dam. This route proved to be quite treacherous in spots, with lots of slippery leaves underfoot, and wet, slick ledges for added fun. There were several slips and falls, but luckily no serious injuries. There was one scraped arm. Very minor, but it gave Greg M. a chance to practice his first aid skills.
After arriving back at the dam, we continued on the Leach Link Trail, back the way we came.
We arrived at the trailhead around 1:45 PM. Greg M’s GPS showed 5.2 miles in 4 hours, 8 minutes, with 758’ elevation gain. The mileage figure is suspiciously high; the distance from the map is more like 4.2 miles, so there must have been a lot of back and forth or random wandering. A perfectly enjoyable hike, even with a slightly challenging descent, on a beautiful day.
Next week’s hike:
April 17– Moderate – Boulder Loop (1,750 ft.), Albany, NH – 3.1 mi. RT, 950 ft. elevation gain. RT hiking 2 1/2 hours. RT driving 2.0 hour.
Meet at the Denmark church at 8:30 am. We’ll probably climb the loop
trail counter-clockwise. Access is from the Kancamagus
Highway. Classed as Moderate because the climb to the summit
counter-clockwise is a very bony, bouldery climb.]
Directions to the trailhead: Take the Kancamagus Highway west about 5.5 miles from Route 16 in Conway. Turn right onto Dugway Road/Passaconaway Road, cross the Swift River through the Albany Covered Bridge (built 1858 and restored 1970). Just beyond on the right is a good-sized parking lot (This is a WMNF parking lot and there is a daily fee for parking). The Boulder Loop trail begins just across the road from the parking lot. Dugway Road is not plowed in winter and parking then is at the intersection with the Kank requiring an additional 0.2 mile walk to the trailhead.
Leave a comment