Kezar Corridor Lands

This large protected area has several multi-use and old logging roads running through, which factor into the recommend trails on the hiking map by Greater Lovell Land Trust, the protector of the land.

I recommend sticking to the 0.9-mile Groundhog Trail, a hiking trail, 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 southeastern side of Patterson Hill is very steep, with loose rock. The Groundhog Trail is nicely built, with switchbacks, bringing you to an overlook where you can rest on a shaded picnic table and take in a view of the Kezar River valley. The elevation gain is about 442 feet.

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, starting from the Old Waterford Road trailhead, you can also do a moderately easy 0.2-mile hiking trail to a pond-side picnic table and view of Patterson Hill behind Dan Charles Pond.

For those who like to check out waterfalls, 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 — you’ll pass lots of harvested forest. At this first trailhead, you’ll find a small parking area and kiosk. 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.