QUICK TRAIL FACTS
- Preserve Size: 800,000 acres, White Mountain Forest
- Trail Mileage: ~6.9 miles in network
- Pets: yes
- Difficulty: moderate
- Sights: old mine, views, Lord Hill summit is 1,257 ft; Pine Hill is 1,250 ft.
The trail systems of Lord and Pine Hills are in blue; the neighboring preserve trails are in green.
This is a nifty trail network with two smallish summits with nice views. Or, you can do just one. The Pine Hill loop is about 3.7 miles, and the Lord Hill loop is about 3.3 miles. But if you just want to go the Lord Hill summit, it’s 1.3 miles. Go another .1 mile to check out the old Lord Hill mine.
I think — and this is purely subjective! — that the Lord Hill hike might be nicer than Pine Hill. Better views, a cool mine, an easier hike. Pine Hill has some pretty steep trudges.
Note: On the access road to the Pine Tree trail, make sure you stay to the left. I marked on the map where I missed the road to the left. If you go to the right, you hit some No Trespassing signs. There is a chain across the correct trail — just step over it and continue up. When I was here in July 2016, there was a tiny faded trail sign pointing left. You’ll continue walking straight up, while a driveway/road curves left into someone’s private lot.
There is a neighboring preserve, Bishop Cardinal, whose trails connect with this mountain trail network.
Directions: There are two trailheads — one for Lord Hill, the other for Pine Hill. To get to the one closer to Pine Hill, follow Route 113 either 16.8 miles north from Fryeburg or 13.2 miles south from Gilead. Turn onto Deer Hill Road, which is .7 miles south of the Baldface Circle Trailhead on the eastern side of the road. Take Deer Hill Road 1.5 miles (becomes Shell Pond Road/Evergreen Valley Road) and take a right (soon after the trailhead sign for Big Deer Hill on the left) onto a short connecting road, followed by a quick left. Park to the side of the road. From here, the hike begins by continuing down the road (which also leads to some houses).
To get to the Lord Hill trailhead, follow the directions above but continue along Shell Pond Road 3.1 miles to the trailhead on the right. It’s near Horseshoe Pond. Alternatively, from the east, take the West Stoneham Road from Route 5. Continue on Adams Road (becomes Shell Pond Road) for about 3.2 miles to reach the trailhead on the left.
