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    Cotton Valley Trail

    4.2 (6 reviews)

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    Russel C. Chase Bridge - Falls Path - Abandoned Excelsior Mill

    Russel C. Chase Bridge - Falls Path

    5.0(1 review)
    0.5 mi

    Very popular and well-travelled, the Bridge-Falls Path is a nice easy little trail, about half a…read moremile long. Starting downtown at the Wolfeboro Train Depot, it follows the path of the now defunct Wolfeboro Scenic Railway. The tracks are gone, but the scenic views remain. There's plenty of parking at the historic depot, and a short ride on your bike or a leisurely stroll will take you along Wolfeboro's Back Bay and past some informative signage telling the history of the area. After passing through the wooded shade and some interesting rock outcroppings, you will see the remains of Berry Mill, built in 1840, and still making excelsior when I was a kid in the early 80s. Here you can often find people fishing along the river, and others walking their dogs, taking photos, or just simply enjoying the sun. Crossing the bridge at Wolfeboro Falls, near the run-down water wheel, the Bridge-Falls Path comes to an end. But if you still have some adventure left in you, you can venture across the street and continue the 12 mile path onto the Cotton Valley Trail, also known as the Wolfeboro-Sanbornville Recreational Trail or the Honorable Russell Chase Memorial Path. The rails are still in place from here on, and still used once a year for hobbyists to try their own rail vehicles. But that's another review! The Bridge-Falls Path is lit for nighttime use, but I'm not really sure I'd go it alone in the dark. Unfortunate signs of graffiti are sparse (and oddly kooky- OctoCat, half-octopus half-cat! These vandals are likely young kids with an off-kilter sense of humor.) Overall, the Bridge-Falls Path is a great start to the Cotton Valley Trail.

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    Russel C. Chase Bridge - Falls Path - Back Bay section

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    Back Bay section

    Lake Winnipesaukee

    Lake Winnipesaukee

    4.9(9 reviews)
    12.1 mi

    Lake Winnipesaukee is one of those places where a review almost feels inadequate. We come up here…read moreevery year, and for me, this isn't simply a place I visit. My parents used to bring us here when I was growing up, so there is a lot of personal history tied to this lake. Coming back as an adult has that wonderful feeling of seeing a place you remember as a kid and realizing that the lake, the mountains, and the scenery are still just as beautiful. Winnipesaukee is enormous, with more than 250 islands, miles of shoreline, countless coves, and mountains surrounding the water. The scenery changes constantly depending on where you are. One moment you're looking across a wide expanse of blue water toward the mountains, and the next you're tucked into a quiet cove surrounded by trees and summer homes. It is quintessential New Hampshire. Summer is when the lake really comes alive. Boats are everywhere, from kayaks and paddleboards to fishing boats, sailboats, and speedboats. There are marinas, beaches, waterfront restaurants, docks, and plenty of places to get out on the water. The M/S Mount Washington cruising around the lake is one of those sights that never gets old. You can spend an entire day boating, swimming, exploring the islands, or simply sitting beside the water watching everyone else enjoy it. The surrounding towns each add something different. Meredith has a beautiful waterfront and charming downtown, Wolfeboro has that classic New England summer-resort character, Alton Bay has its nostalgic lakeside atmosphere, and Laconia offers more shops, restaurants, and entertainment. Exploring the communities around the lake is part of the fun. And then there are the mountains. Mount Major provides spectacular views over the lake, while the Belknap Range creates a beautiful backdrop from the shoreline and water. There are hiking trails, scenic roads, beaches, parks, and countless overlooks where you can stop and appreciate just how big and beautiful this place really is. Fall might be my favorite season here. The forests surrounding the lake turn into a sea of red, orange, and yellow, and the cooler weather makes hiking and exploring especially enjoyable. The lake takes on a quieter personality after the summer crowds leave. Winter completely transforms the area, with ice fishing, snowmobiling, and other activities taking over when conditions permit. Even Alton Bay has its famous ice runway, where airplanes can land on the frozen lake when the ice is thick enough. What I appreciate most is that Winnipesaukee never feels like just a tourist attraction. It feels like a real place with generations of history and families who return year after year. There are busy summer afternoons and quiet mornings when the water is almost completely still. There are enormous lake houses, old cottages, working marinas, little beaches, restaurants, and peaceful coves where you can feel completely removed from everything. For me, though, the best part is the memories. As a kid, I didn't really understand why my parents kept bringing us back here. It was simply somewhere we went on vacation. Now I understand. They weren't just taking us to a lake. They were creating memories that would stay with me. That's probably why coming back every year means so much. The towns have changed, the restaurants have changed, and I've certainly changed, but the lake is still here. The mountains are still on the horizon, the boats are still moving across the water, and there is still that unmistakable feeling of being somewhere special. Lake Winnipesaukee is beautiful in every season, endlessly enjoyable, and filled with the kind of scenery and memories that make you want to return. We come back every year, and I can't imagine that changing anytime soon.

    Oh my, there is a beautiful view around every corner. I was only here one night but had so much…read morefun. I stayed at a campground in Alton Bay. It is nice to have the best aunt in the world there. We sat on the porch looking out at the lake and told stories. We laughed and laughed. In the evening, we went to pop's for fish and chips. I ate the whole thing! It was so good. Then we went for a walk around the campground. The houses are really cute. We went to Wolfeboro in the morning. We had coffee and donuts at a cute bakery. They sat out on the dock watching the boats go by. I tucked in a few stores but I wasn't looking for anything. I hope to come back in August and explore some more. There is so much to do up here. The popular activities are boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, and wildlife viewing.

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    Lake Winnipesaukee
    Lake Winnipesaukee
    Lake Winnipesaukee

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    Jewell Falls

    Jewell Falls

    4.2(13 reviews)
    44.7 mi•Nasons Corner

    This hike is a nice place to take a short stroll for the locals but not a place I would recommend…read moretourist to come. First off, it is only about half mile from parking to the waterfall. So total hike was only 1 mile. it is a WALK, not hike. Good for families with young ones. Be very aware that the mosquitoes here are super HUNGRY! I have never gotten so many bites within such a short time inside a hike! I got 6-7 bites all over my legs just from hiking here for 30 mins. My husband got 8+ bites all over his body! Luckily my little one only got 1 bite. We were all over Maine in the last 2 weeks including kayaking and out at Acadia national park. All outdoor activities and barely got any bites until now! There are other trails here too but after getting so many bites, we wanted to run away as fast as we could! I wish I didn't come here. View and waterfall are not worth it for trade off of these hungry hungry mosquitoes!! *sooo itchy* :-/ Bring bug spray if you wanna come!

    Jewell falls is a waterfall of water flowing from the Fore River and is named for Tom Jewell who…read morewas one of the founders Portland Trails and very much alive today. Did you know that Portland Trails started in 1991? He donated the land around the falls and the rest of the land the trail walls through is a mix of public and private land. You see evidence of this with many marked signs that designate private property -- good to respect these so we can continue to walk these trails. Somehow I got lost off my usual path I take and ended up going on the greater fore river sanctuary trail loop around and across the railroad tracks, but the boardwalks were great! Back to the falls, if you start at the trailhead near Brighton ave, it's less than 0.25 miles of a walk. The falls are made of horsetails of rushing water over large slabs of rock. The trails are really well maintained and there's not too many people. You can definitely still hear traffic from some parts but there are a few quiet enclaves.

    Photos
    Jewell Falls
    Jewell Falls
    Jewell Falls - My friend on the tracks at the entrance!

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    My friend on the tracks at the entrance!

    Cotton Valley Trail - hiking - Updated October 2026

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