Kezar Corridor Lands, Lovell

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 cool and leafy, and you can do a little side leg to a picnic table (this spot is located fairly close to the parking lot at the intersection of Old Waterford Road and Patterson Hill Road). The best access to the pond is on its eastern side, via a short hikers-only trail that departs from the ATV track.

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.