Crocker Hill

Note: Hikers have reported that this trail has been posted with no trespassing and no parking signs due to logging activities.

I think this must be mostly hiked by well-informed local people, and I couldn’t find any map online. I wouldn’t have known how to make a loop here if I hadn’t run into a nice gentleman at the trailhead who gave me instructions.

If you start your hike at the sharp corner in Thayer Road, you’ll first set out on an old road or snowmobile trail that makes a couple of switchbacks up to a ridge where you’ll see a view and a fire pit. Look for a narrow spur trail on your right marked by a cairn. Follow the cairns to the summit. Make sure you continue a bit beyond the true summit for some great views over the back of the hill and a delightful bench carved into a downed tree.

If you want to do the loop, return back along the narrow path and turn right onto the snowmobile trail. You’ll keep climbing for a ways, and when you reach an obvious intersection, go left. Take another obvious left at the next intersection a short distance farther. You’ll pass some old wells and come out on Thayer Road.

If you do the loop, the total distance is about 2.2 miles.

Directions: From Paris Hill, turn onto Mt. Mica Road. Follow 1.1 miles to the dirt road, Thayer Road, and drive 0.7 miles to trailhead. You’ll see a gate and a Crocker Tree Farm sign. If logging is taking place, continue on Thayer Road for about 750 feet and park in the opening on the right. The trail—or rather, old woods road—is a bit farther down the road, on the right. It’ll likely be gated.