Kezar Corridor Lands

This large protected area has several multi-use and logging roads running through, which factor into the recommend trails on the hiking map by the Greater Lovell Land Trust, which protects this land. I recommend sticking to the 1-mile hiking trail up to the view atop the 965-foot Patterson Hill and avoiding most of the dusty ATV/snowmobile trails. In particular, the four-wheeler track up the “backside” of the hill is very steep, with loose rock. Once you get to the overlook, you can rest on a shaded picnic table and take in a decent view of the Kezar River valley.

One section of an ATV trail is nice: the western stretch along Dan Charles Pond is leafy and cool. On this side of the pond, not far from the trailhead, you can also do a new little hiking trail to a pond-side picnic table (see the map below, I haven’t walked this yet).

For those who like to check out waterfalls, you can continue north on Old Waterford Road for 1.15 miles past the first Kezar Corridor trailhead to reach a small parking area and short trail to Kezar Falls Gorge.

Directions: From Route 5, turn right onto Old Waterford Road, which will turn into a well-maintained dirt road in a couple of miles. From the intersection of Route 5 to the first trailhead on Old Waterford Road it’s roughly 4.5 miles. At this first trailhead, you’ll find a small parking area and a multi-use trail headed into the woods marked by a sign for Dan Charles Pond. If you continue driving along Patterson Hill Road for another 0.6 miles or so, you will reach an alternative parking area on your right, with a trailhead kiosk.