Shannon Brook, Brook Walk, Faraway Mtn. Trail (Castle in the Clouds Conservation Area)
Hike Type: Merging Out-and-Back
Distance: 12.49 miles
Elevation: 2,165 feet
Time: 4 hours, 56 minutes (4 hours, 38 minutes moving)
Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge, Castle in the Clouds Achievement
Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge, Castle in the Clouds Achievement
The Hike
It was going to be another rainy day in Southern New Hampshire, so I decided I would head up to the Lakes Region/Ossipee Mounatins to finish my redlining of the Castle in the Clouds Conservation Area. I woke up at my usual time of 4:40am and made my way to Hooksett for my first stop of the day - which involved a toilet christening AND breakfast sandwiches! I still have yet to understand the schedule of breakfast sandwiches being available there, but the dopamine rush I get when they ARE available is worth it. From Hooksett to the trailhead I got to enjoy a beautiful sunrise from first light all the way to sun up. It was 40 degrees at the trailhead with a small breeze. I was joined by two other cars who got started just before me, and I experienced the classic lower abdomen pressure (thankfully it never grew to anything). It was just after 6:30am, and I was off!
The actual trailhead is across the road from the parking area, which is shared by a nice informational kiosk.
"Welcome to Castle in the Clouds Conservation Area" from Trail Kiosk
This landmark property is part of the Ossipee Mountain ring dike, a circular formation of volcanic origin nine miles in diameter whose impenetrable terrain long discouraged roads and settlement. Beginning in the late 1700s, this property was the site of a small farming community that became known as the Lee Settlement, and in the late 1800s, Boston industrialist B.F. Shaw established Ossipee Mountain Park, with a summer hotel for visitors who were coming to the Lakes Region for its natural beauty and pictureque villages. Literay figures John Greenleaf Whittier, Lucy Larcom, and Robert Frost all visited this land. In the early 1900s, Thomas Plant, who made his fortune in the shoe manufacturing industry, constructed Lucknow, the striking stone Arts and Crafts-style house known today as the Castle in the Clouds
In 2002, through the generosity of over 2,000 donors, the Lakes Region Conservation Trust (LRCT) acquired this magnificent 5,381-acre property, for thoughtful public recreation, conservation of wildlife habitat, and preservation of the special character of the Lakes Region. In 2004, LRCT established the Castle Preservation Society (CPS), which now owns and oversees the magagement of the Castle in the Clouds historic buildings and 135 acres of surrounding grounds for their historic, cultural, and community values. LRCT holds a conservation easement on the CPS property and owns and stewards the surrounding 5,246 acres of land - LRCT's largest conserved property - including two trailhead parking areas and 30 miles of trails which are open free of charge from sunrise to sunset for enjoyment by all. With their complementary nonprofit missions, LRCT and CPS work in partnership in caring for this landmark property.
We hope that you will enjoy exploring the property, and we ask that you respect the boundaries and property rights of abutting landowners and treat the land with care. With its mountain summits and scnic forested slopes, miles of trails and carriage roads, spectacular views and waterfalls, diverse flora and fauna, unique geological features, remnants of early settlement, and remarkable Castle, this property is one of the ecological and historical treasures of New Hampshire.
"Shannon Brook Trail" from Trail Kiosk
This trail starts across the road from the Lower Trailhead Kiosk. Follow this trail 1.4 mi to access the many trailheads located near the Shannon Pond Kiosk. There are also many trail junctions along this trail. In the winter this is a major State of NH maintained snowmobile corridor.
The lower Shannon Brook Trail (and all of it, truly) was a wide, pine cone-covered woods road. It was delightfully and shockingly dry considering the springtime of it all, and the trail soon parallels the Shannon Brook with the access road on the other side. The trail eventually levels out at a fenced portion (I assume for erosion control and/or snowmobile saftey). There was a large, easily navigable blow down after the snowmobile bridge just before the start/end of the Brook Walk.
The Brook Walk almost instantly became my favorite trail!
"Brook Walk" from Trail Kiosk
The Brook Walk Trail begins at the upper bridge crossing Shannon Brook below Shannon Pond. The bridge is accessible from the Shannon Pond Kiosk or the Brook Walk Kiosk. From this bridge, the path descends for 0.3 mi, passing seven waterfalls and then crossing the lower bridge and climbing steeply for 0.2 mi to the Shannon Brook Trail.
"History of the Brook Walk" from Trail Kiosk
In the late 1870's, Boston industrialist Benjamin Franklin (B.F.) Shaw bought hundreds of acres of land here in the Ossipee Mountains and created one of the first summer resort sites in the Lakes Region, Ossipee Mountain Park, for visitors seeking rest and recreation amid the region's lake and mountain scenery. Ossipee Mountain Park included a large guest lodge named Weelahka Hall, after the beautiful brook running through the property. Among the visitors to Ossipee Mountain Park were some of the leading figures of the day, including poets John Greenleaf Whittier, Lucy Larcom, and Robert Frost, whose experiences here are reflected in some of their works.
One of the most popular features of Ossipee Mountain Park was a path known as the Brook Walk, constructed along a two-mile section of Shannon Brook (then known as Brook Weelahka). Here the brook runs through rugged terrain (once referred to as the Little Yosemite of the East) where, during the period of glacial retreat, the brook had carved several impressive gorges into the landscape, sculpting beautiful rapids, flowing through cataracts, flumes, and waterfalls along the way.
The Brook Walk allowed Ossipee Mountain Park's guests to take leisurely strolls along the banks of the brook while enjoying the numerous scenic beauties which nature had created here. A series of rustic bridges crossed the brook, enabling guests to gain the most favorable perspectives from which to view these natural wonders. Artists and early photographers came to capture these beautiful scenes.
In the early 1900s, the land was purchased by shoe manufacturer Thomas Plant, who constructed "Lucknow," the magnificent house known today as the Castle in the Clouds. Plant eventually closed the property to the public, and the Brook Walk and its marvelous attractions were lost to public view. Eventually the path fell into disrepair, and the bridges and parts of the path were lost to lack of maintenance and to floodwaters.
In 2002, through the generosity of over 2,000 donors, the Lakes Region Conservation Trust acquired the magnificent 5,381-acre Castle in the Clouds proeprty - for thoughtful recreation by the public, conservation of wildlife habitat, and preservation of the region's natural heritage and scenic character. LRCT stewardship volunteers soon identified the Brook Walk as a lost wonder of the property and began a project to restore the path, to the extent feasible, to something of its former wonder.
Through the dedication and hard work of these volunteers, the Brook Walk was reopened in 2007 and can again be enjoyed by visitors to the property. The rugged terrain along the brook and the many beautiful falls make this one of the most dleightful short hikes in the Lakes REgion. You can read more about the Brook Walk and its history in The Brook Walk: Hidden Gem at the Castle in the Clouds (2017) by David Leuser, which is available at the Castle in the Clouds Gift Shop.
Walking the Brook Walk Today. This trail will lead you to viewing points for seven spectacular waterfalls. Much of the trail follows the route of the trail that led visitors to these viewpoints more than a century ago. Signs along the trail provide descriptions of the waterfalls and include images of old photographs, postcards, and stereoviews that will give you an idea of how these falls appeared to Ossipee Mountain Park visitors many years ago.
Visitors have the choice of walking the Brook Walk and returning uphill by the same trail or making a loop and returning by other trails as shown on the map.
The trail started with a steep descent on a narrow footbed, quickly coming near the Shannon Brook with a distant view of Bridal Veil Falls. The trail eventually bottoms out and crosses a footbridge over the brook to a spectacular view of the Falls of Song. There was a boardwalk to the right an a wide, unblazed path to the left (which apparently only leads to the access road). The boardwalk had a sketchy blowdown on it but I explored anyway. It was so cool! I didn't expect this trail to be a little gorge.
#7 Falls of Song
The Falls of Song, 50 feet in height and formerly known as Ossipee Falls, is the largest and most spectacular of the falls seen along the Brook Walk. From the Brook Walk's early days, this site has been a popular resting place for visitors. In the days of Ossipee Mountain Park, there was a bridge known as Cataract Bridge, across the falls. An 1995 Boston newspaper description of the scenic beauty and amenities of Ossipee Mountain Park stated of the Falls of Song that "their location in the depths of the primeval forest, their exquisite setting under the overhanging cliffs, the silvery clearness of the water and their magical musical effects, seemingly changing their song at every hour of the day, unite to place these falls among the most interesting and wonderful in the United States." It was B.F. Shaw's visits to the famous Ossipee Falls in the summer of 1879, and his climb to the source of Brook Weelahka and his delight in the prospect across the mountain and lake landscape, that inspired his purchase of the land that became Ossipee Mountain Park.
The trail then climbs up to the top of the falls, but does not provide any views of the brook going over (unless you're feeling really daring, but I would not recommend that). I saw a tiny black rodent scurry across the trail (I don't think it was a mouse, I didn't notice a tail), and then I came to the Bridal Veil Falls - the same falls I could see through the trees from before.
#6 Bridal Veil Falls
Bridal Veil Falls (also known as Upper Ossipee Falls) can, under the right water conditions, have a lacy appearance like a bride's veil. A huge boulder was once located near the base of the falls, as seen in this photograph. It was moved downstream by floodwaters in the twentieth century and is now found many feet farther down the ravine.
Next up were the Emerald Pool Falls which were more gentle, less spectacular, but still very pretty.
#5 Emerald Pool Falls
Emerald Pool was named for the mosses on the rocks at the bottom of the falls, which, in the right light create a vivid emerald color. The bridge shown in the photograph was washed away along with a substantial amount of rock and soil in floods in the mid-twentieth century, resulting in the smaller pool you see today.
The trail rejoined an old road bed and then turned to approach The Cascades, which were a lovely series of smaller falls.
#4 The Cascades
The Cascades consist of a series of low falls flowing into pools. Harriet's Bridge, named for the wife of B.F. Shaw, once crossed the stream over the Cascades. The path continued along the stream bank on the opposite side. The bridge and path along the bank were washed away by floodwaters many years ago. In the 1890s, the bridge was rebuilt and renamed "Dollie's Bridge" after B.F. Shaw's granddaughter, Dorothy James. This second bridge also did not survive floodwaters and was washed away. The path was then relocated and now runs along the high bank on which you stand.
Further up were the Whittier Falls - I noticed that this trail would be best hiked in the opposite direction that I hiked it (i.e., in the order in which the falls are labeled) so it ends with the most spectacular. To be clear, though, all of the falls were absolutely beautiful.
#3 Whittier Falls
Named after John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892), one of the most celebrated American poets in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Whittier Falls consists of two tiers of falls. Whittier was recognized as the poet of everyday life in rural New England, and at one time all New England school children learned his poems. Less known is that in the years leading up to the Civil War, he was a passionate and active abolitionist. This set of falls was one of Whittier's favorite resting spots in Ossipee Mountain Park. "Surely there is nothing in all New England mountains to compare with thy place," Whittier wrote to B.F. Shaw, the owner of Ossipee Mountain Park. An arched bridge, originally known as Mary's Arch, crossed the brook above the upper level of the two-tiered falls, shown in these postcards.
I saw the sun for the first time when I approached the Twin Falls, which I assumed were named becuase there were two of them, but the description says the naming origin is unclear...
#2 Twins Falls
How the falls got their name "Twin" is unclear. It may have been from the photograph featured top right, which was published in the October 1892 issue of The New England Magazine accompanying an article entitled "In the Ossipee Glens" by 19th century poet Lucy Larcom. In the article Miss Larcom related her impressions of a visit to Ossipee Mountain Park, including a walk along the path known as the "Brook Walk." The three sets of small falls as seen in the photograph - each of them made of two seperate small falls, side by side and about equal in size - a series of "twins." Twin Falls was also known by some as "Seven Cascades" as it made up a series of small falls flowing over a 90+ foot-long area of rough ledge. A footbridge formerly crossed the brook below the falls and is shown in some old photographs, including the stereoview photograph to the bottom right.
Aaaaaand finally - the Roaring Falls! There was a bridge atop of these falls, but it was partially hidden by blowdowns. This bridge leads to the closed part of the Brook Walk. The open section of the Brook Walk gently climbs to the open parking areas around Shannon Pond.
#1 Roaring Falls
Roaring Falls is the first waterfall downstream from Shannon Pond. Note that Shannon Pond, and the dam which created it, did not exist when the Brook Walk was constructed in the 1880s. Roaring Falls lives up to its name, with rushing water flowing from a small flume cut through ledge starting below the bridge visible just upstream. The pool below Roaring Falls was called Pewee's Pool, after the small woodland birds (members of the flycatcher family) that visited it to get a drink. In old photographs and postcards, a large boulder is visible at the left of the falls. In the mid-1900s it was moved by floodwaters and came to rest near the top of the next falls, Twin Falls, about forty yards downstream.
I found a picnic table near Shannon Pond in the sun to enjoy my second breakfast sandwich of the day. The breeze was a little chilly but the sun felt incredible. From here, I meandered my way over to the Settlement Trail, which was wide, dry, and relatively featureless. I took the wide part of the loop on the ascent, which didn't lead to anything noteworthy. I'm guessing by its name, there used to be settlements in this area? The trail reaches a Height-of-Land near the loop and then gradually descends, crosses a crystal clear brook on a footbridge, and then crosses Cold Spring Road.
"Settlement Trail" from Trail Kiosk
This 1.0 mi trail begins 0.2 mi from the start of the Mt. Roberts Trail. The trail continues for 0.3 mi and then forms a loop from which a 0.5 mi spur leads to Cold Spring Rd and the Cold Spring trailhead.
Cold Spring Trail starts at Cold Spring Road and was immediatley VERY muddy. It slowly and gently meandered up the bowl that is made up by the high ridge connecting Mt. Roberts and Mt. Shaw - a very classic Castle in the Clouds Conservation Area trail. I mindlessly continued along until I head some commotion over in the woods. I initially looked up for birds and saw an ADORABLE black bear cub high up in a tree, and then I peered down to see what I assume is the mama bear standing standing to the tree taking turns looking at the cub and then at me. Due to her attention to me, I did not stop for pictures, but instead made some noise and kept on hiking - minding my business. THEY WERE SO CUTE. Just a little spooky. The Cold Spring Trail continued on a few switchbacks, past the Roberts Cellarhole, and then terminated at the Faraway Mountain Trail.
"Cold Spring Trail" from Trail Kiosk
From the Upper Trailhead Kiosk, walk toward Shannon Pond and follow the left fork of the paved road toward the barn with the red roof. Before the barn, there will be a gate to the right on a paved road near the NW shore of Shannon Pond. Follow this road for about 0.5 mi to the trailhead of Cold Spring Trail. The trail is a carriage road with many switchbacks that will lead in 1.3 mi to the junction with the Faraway Mtn Trail. Combined with the Oak Ridge Cutoff, it is the shortest distance to the High Ridge Trail and Mt. Shaw.
Roberts Cellarhole
On this site stood the home of Isaac Roberts (born c. 1780) and his wife Nancy (born c. 1793). The home was built in the early 1800s. The couple had seven children, and the farm stayed in the Roberts family until 1911 when two of the Roberts' daughters, Lydia Roberts and Jane (Roberts) Whitten, sold 100 acres of land to Alfred H. Handley, Thomas Plant's personal secretary. Handley worked with Plant's brother, William, to acquire the properties that became Plant's Lucknow estate, known today as the Castle in the Clouds. In addition to the stone foundations indicating the location of the Roberts homestead buildings, evidence of the farm is present in the old apple trees scattered through the woods nearby. The Roberts family is also remembered in the name of Mt. Roberts, one of the most popular hiking destinations on this property.
I had to take a moment to emotionally prep for this last long new segment of trails - 1.7 miles would be the longest stretch of the day, and it was all up (althought, CiTC up is not too difficult). I was hypervigilant of all sounds, but never passed another animal larger than a crazy red squirrel! The trail had a few long switchbacks with the occasional snowmobiling bridge. I appreciated the gentle grades but did feel bored at times. I also was able to hyper-fixate on my pack straps. I think I'm doing something wrong - I feel some pulling on my shoulders no matter what I do... Hmm!
Higher up, there was seasonal obstructed views of Lake Winnipesaukee and Gunstock Mountain (which made me wish I were skiing). Snow began to appear about halfway up the trail, and the last few switchbacks were much wetter and snowier - it looked like it had been a few days since anyone had been up here!
"Faraway Mtn. Trail" from Trail Kiosk"
This trail begins 1.4 mi up the Turtleback Mtn. Trail from the Shannon Pond Kiosk. It climbs steadily N on a carriage road, often on switchbacks, for 2.9 mi until it ends at the High Ridge Trail. From this junction you can turn W for 0.9 mi until you reach the Faraway Mtn. viewpoint, which provides splendid views to the S of the Castle with Lake Winnipesaukee and mountains in the background. Continue for another mile to Mt. Roberts. If you instead turn E at the junction, you will reach Mt. Shaw in 3.3 mi. Along the Faraway Mtn. Trail, there are four side trails that can provide shorter loop hikes back to Shannon Pond.
I eventually reached the ridge on the Faraway Mountain Trail, which soon termianted at the High Ridge Trail (it looked like a former trail used to continue straight at this junction, but it is not marked on the Trail Bandit Map, so maybe not). I had a delightful Snickers bar at this junction for a short break. I was very glad that I drove north to be in the sun - it shaped up to be a beautiful day at 45 degrees with sun and almost no wind.
The lower Faraway Mountain Trail was absolutely lovely, continuing at easy grades winding around a few drainages. I also enjoyed seeing the ledges on Mt. Roberts through the trees - a definite perk to hiking here in the early spring.
I left the Faraway Mountain Trail onto the Faraway Mountain Connector Trail, which felt more like a trail than an old carriage road, which was a nice change. The sky looking north was crytsal clear, but I noticed the sky looking south was getting darker. There was an impressively muddy spot near the end of the Connector Trail, and then I wiggled my way back to the Crystal Spring Trail and back onto Settlement, which was slightly punishing with the gentle uphill after all the miles.
"Faraway Mountain Connector Trail" from Trail Kiosk
The trail begins 0.2 mi from the start of the Cold Spring Trail on Cold Spring Rd. After crossing a stream, the trail heads uphill to the Faraway Mtn Trail. Combined with the Oak Ridge Cutoff, it is the shortest distance to the High Ridge Trail and Mt. Shaw.
I followed the Settlement Trail, skipping the wide loop, to the Whitten Trail, which was short but had a cool graveyard and a few cellar holes.
"Whitten Trail" from Trail Kiosk
This trail begins 0.2 mi from the start of the Settlement Trail. After 0.2 mi it will end at Cold Spring Rd while passing the Whitten and Copp cellarholes.
Whitten Cellarhole
On this site stood the Whitten homestead. The house was probably built in the early 1800s. In 1850 Joseph Whitten (born c. 1816) and his wife Sally (born c. 1820) lived here with their nine children. Joseph left to fight in the Civil War, joining the Fifth Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers (the famous "Fighting Fifth," which sustained the greatest total loss in battles of any infantry or cavalry regiment in the Union Army) and participating in 18 major combat engagements. He was captured during the Richmond-Petersburg Campaign in 1864 and died in a Confederate prison camp in early 1865. In appears that a son, Joseph (born c. 1846), then took over as head of the family. Records show that in 1881, another son, Samuel (born c. 1853), granted permission to B.F. Shaw to lay water pipes over his land. The land was eventually acquired to become part of Thomas Plant's Lucknow estate.
Copp Cellarhole
On this site lived Jonathan Copp, 2nd (born c. 1792) and his wife Sarah (Sally) Horn Copp (born c. 1785). They were married in Moultonborough in 1817, and they probably cleared the land and build their house around that time. They had one son, John A.H. Copp (born c. 1820). At the time of the 1840 U.S. Census, Sally's mother, Hannah Horn (born c. 1765) was living in the household. Sally's father, Ebenezer Horn (born c. 1755), had been a soldier in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. After the deaths of Jonathan and Sally in the 1860s, their son John continued to live here for a time. By 1880, he was living in the Carroll County Home in Ossipee. The land was eventually acquired to become part of Thomas Plant's Lucknow estate.
From the Whitten Trail terminus, I turned onto the Crystal Spring Road, and decided I would be a good law-abiding hiker and not try to hop my way across the Shannon Brook on the closed bit of trail. I hiked around Shannon Pond, enjoyed the views of Roberts and Faraway from Shannon Pond, and then hiked the section of the Pond Trail that I needed, which had some cool old artifacts lying around in the woods, and had a final interpretive trail sign that I missed last time I was here!
"Pond Trail" from Trail Kiosk
This is a short trail that starts just before the Shannon Pond Kiosk on the left beside the pond. It first travels close to the shoreline and then through a short section of woods bordering the pond. By corssing a small footbridge and bearing left on Cold Spring Rd, you can loop around the pond and return to the kiosk. It can be enjoyed by all, but is especially suitable for young children who enjoy exploring the natural world. Distance is about 0.5 mi.
Station 18. Source of Life
Living creatures, including people, need clean water to suvive. Animals drink water from the brook and other water bodies. Keep your eyes open for tracks along the edges of the brook.
Shannon Brook starts as a wetland high up on Faraway Mountain. Rain and melting snow collect there, run downhill, are joined by other small streams and flow into Shannon Pond. Flowing under the dam, it becomes a brook again, with a series of 7 spectacular waterfalls you can enjoy from the Brook Walk (see Castle Trails map). Some of this water will flow to lake Winnipesaukee. Some of it will evaporate into the air to form clouds, and become rain and snow.
Now officially on my return, I was super happy to have completed all the trails! I only saw people around Shannon Pond all day, which was a joy. I was embarassingly excited for another round of car pizza... again... but it was worth it! I noticed my hips were also acting up, which seems to only happen when I'm hiking here (I think it's because it's the only time I hike at 3mph for long distances with no breaks). There was a short uphill after a snowmobile bridge, but soon enough I was back at my car with PIZZA!!!
I had a nice easy drive home, avoiding rush hour traffic, and noticed that RayTheMover.Net "The Florida Express" in Manchester closed down?!?!?!? A landmark, gone!! (I later learned they just moved locations).
Step-By-Step
- Park at Shannon Brook Trailhead on NH-171
- Start hike along red-blazed Shannon Brook Trail.
- At second jct., turn left onto white-blazed Brook Walk.
- At terminus, turn right onto road and follow signs towards Mt. Roberts Trail.
- Continue onto orange-blazed Mt. Roberts Trail.
- At hairpin turn, turn right onto white-blazed Settlement Trail.
- At Settlement Loop split, turn left.
- At loop terminus, turn left to continue on Settlement Trail (skipping a small part of the trail).
- Settlement Trail terminates at Cold Spring Road - cross road.
- Continue onto red-blazed Cold Spring Trail.
- At terminus, turn left onto orange-blazed Faraway Mtn. Trail.
- At terminus with High Ridge Trail, turn around.
- At jct. with Cold Spring Trail, continue on Faraway Mtn. Trail.
- At second jct., turn right onto red/yellow blazed Faraway Mtn. Connector.
- At terminus, turn left onto red-blazed Cold Spring Trail.
- Cold Spring Trail terminates at Cold Spring Road.
- Continue onto white-blazed Settlement Trail.
- At Settlement Loop, continue straight to skip loop.
- At jct., turn left onto Whitten Trail.
- At terminus, turn right onto Cold Spring Trail.
- Follow road around Shannon Pond.
- Turn left onto orange-blazed Pond Trail.
- At kiosk, follow green blaze to Bridle Path and turn left to continue on Pond Trail.
- At bridge washout, turn around.
- At kiosk, turn left onto yellow-balzed Turtleback Mountain Trail.
- At jct., turn right onto Turtleback Connector.
- At terminus, turn left onto Shannon Brook Trail.
- Follow Shannon Brook Trail to car.
"Shannon Brook Trail" from Southern New Hampshire Trail Guide, 5th Ed. (2021)
This red-blazed trail is the access route from the LRCT trailhead on NH 171 to the various trails that lead from the Castle in the Clouds grounds to the higher summits of the Ossipees. In 2019, the upper 0.4 mi. of the trail was closed permanently due to erosion caused by repeated flooding from the Shannon Pond Dam. Shannon Brook Trail begins as a gated woods road on the north side of NH 171, 0.2 mi. east of the main entrance to the Castle in the Clouds and across from the designated hiker parking area. It follows the woods road, soon swings left past one of the estate buildings and approaching Shannon Brook at 0.3 mi. The route climbs moderately keeping well above the brook, and passes the junction with Bald Knob Cutoff on the right at 0.7 mi. Then it swings left and descends to cross a bridge over a branch of the brook at 0.8 mi. It passes a junction with Brook Walk on the left at 0.9 mi., and at 1.0 mi. the trail ends at a gate and junction with red-and-yellow-blazed Connector Trail on the right. To continue to Shannon Pond, follow Connector Trail for 0.1 mi. and then turn left onto Turtleback Mtn. Trail for 0.3 mi.
"Brook Walk" from Southern New Hampshire Trail Guide, 5th Ed. (2021)
This white-blazed trail follows the route of a historical path used by guests visitng Ossipee Park in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It is exceptionally scenic, passing seven named waterfalls on Shannon Brook, accompanied by interpretive signs. (Note: Parts of the route are rough along the steep brook bank.) Reach Brook Walk from the hiker parking area on NH 171 (via Shannon Brook Trail) or at the upper end of Ossipee Park Rd. In 2019, the short segment of a snowmobile trail that connected Brook Walk to Shannon Pond Trail was closed permanently due to erosion caused by repeated flooding from Shannon Pond Dam.
The upper end of the longer and more scenic western section of Brook Walk begins at a kiosk near a paved road on the Castle in the Clouds grounds, 125 yd. south of Shannon Pond. Here, the trail descends gradually on a grassy road for 0.1 mi., turns left onto a snowmobile trail for 10 yd., and then turns right into the woods, descending along the west side of Shannon Brook past Roading Falls, Twin Falls, and Whittier Falls. At 0.3 mi. it turns left onto an old road, follows it for 100 yd. past Harriet's Cascades, and then turns left off the road and descends along the brook, with rough footing in places, passing Emerald Pool Falls. The route continues down to a beautiful view of Bridal Veil Falls at 0.5 mi., swings away from the brook briefly, and then descends to a flat area on the left near the top of the 60-ft. Falls of Song. (Caution: Use great care in this area. Do not venture near the edge of the falls.) The trail descends steeply over rock steps, turning left at the bottom at 0.6 mi. It then crosses a short bridge to a boardwalk that leads left 50 yd. to a viewing platform at the base of the Falls of Song. An extension of the trail continues ahead (southwest) for 0.1 mi. to a parking area at a hairpin turn on Castle in the Clouds' entrance road, 0.4 mi. above the gate on NH 171. Brook Walk crosses a bridge over Shannon Brook, then swings left (northeast) and climbs steeply to the east of and away from the brook, meeting Shannon Brook Trail 0.9 mi. above NH 171 and 0.5 mi. below Shannon Pond.
"Settlement Trail" from Southern New Hampshire Trail Guide, 5th Ed. (2021)
This white-blazed trail, with a loop in its middle section, follows old roads at easy grades through an area of settlements from the early 1800s. It diverges right (northeast) from Mt. Roberts Trail 0.4 mi. from the parking area on Ossipee Park Rd. and ascends gradually, crossing two spots that were paved with cobblestones 200 years ago. At 0.3 mi. blue-blazed Whitten Trail diverges right and descends 0.2 mi. to Cold Spring Rd., passing the Whitten family gravesite and cellar hole and the Copp cellar hole. Settlement Trail swings left and reaches the lower junction with Settlement Loop at 0.5 mi. The right branch of the loop ascends 50 yd. to the upper loop junction. The left branch (the main route) continues ahead for 0.1 mi. and then turns right and leads to the upper loop junction at 0.7 mi. Here, Settlement Trail turns left, then swings right and descends gradually, crossing a brookbed just before reaching Cold Spring Rd. across from the start of the footpath section of Cold Spring Trail.
"Cold Spring Trail" from Southern New Hampshire Trail Guide, 5th Ed. (2021)
This red-blazed trail follows a paved road and an old bridle path from Shannon Pond to the middle section of Faraway Mtn. Trail. From the kiosk by Shannon Pond, the most scenic route follows orange-blazed Pond Trail to the right (north) into the woods, passing the junction with Oak Ridge Trail on the right, bearing left across a bridge over Shannon Brook, and reaching paved Cold Spring Rd. at 0.2 mi.; Cold Spring Trail turns right here. (Pond Trail makes a 0.5-mi. loop around the pond, using roads part of the way.)
Pond Trail's junction with Cold Spring Rd. can also be reached in 0.2 mi. from the parking area near the gate on Ossipee Park Rd. Walk up the paved road past the gate for 0.1 mi. and turn left at a T intersection. In another 80 yd. bear right to continue on the paved road, avoiding a gravel road ahead that leads to Mt. Roberts Trail, and walk past a sign for Cold Spring Trail and a gate to the junction with Pond Trail. Mileages given below include the 0.2-mi. approach by either route.
Cold Spring Trail follows the road uphill at easy grades. At 0.4 mi., by the Copp cellar hole, blue-blazed Whitten Trail diverges left. It climbs past the Whitten family gravesite and cellar hole and ascends 100 ft. to meet Settlement Trail in 0.2 mi. At 0.6 mi., opposite the northern terminus of Settlement Trail, Cold Spring Trail turns right into the woods onto an old bridle path; travel is prohibited on the road beyond this point, as it leads to an inholding (i.e., privately owned land located within a parcel of public land). The trail soon passes to the right of the Roberts cellar hole, and at 0.7 mi. Faraway Mtn. Connector (marked with red and orange diamonds) diverges right, ascending 0.3 mi. and 200 ft. to Faraway Mtn. Trail. Cold Spring Trail climbs moderately through several turns, with occasional wet footing. At 1.0 mi. it bears right at a fork and ascends by long, grassy switchbacks to Faraway Mtn. Trail, which can be followed left for 1.7 mi. to High Ridge Trail.
"Faraway Mtn. Trail" from Southern New Hampshire Trail Guide, 5th Ed. (2021)
This orange-blazed trail follows an old carriage road and connects Turtleback Mtn. Trail, 1.1 mi. from the kiosk at Shannon Pond, with High Ridge Trail, 0.9 mi. east of Faraway Mtn. Lookout. Leaving Turtleback Mtn. Trail by either of two forks, Faraway Mtn. Trail ascends gently past junction with Bridle Path on the left at 0.1 mi. and, after a sharp right turn, on the right 0.2 mi. At 0.5 mi. Faraway Mtn. Connector enters on the left, having ascended 0.3 mi. from Cold Spring Trail, and in another 90 yd. Oak Ridge Cutoff diverges right. At 0.8 mi. Faraway Mtn. Trail turns sharply left across a bridge over a branch of Shannon Brook. It turns right where Cold Spring Trail enters on the left at 1.2 mi. Faraway Mtn. Trail then makes a long traverse to the left and climbs by several switchbacks to end at High Ridge Trail.
