Noyes Mountain

This mountain, protected by the Western Foothills Land Trust, has a gorgeous view from the top of the old Harvard mine, the bulk of which sits slightly below the 1,501-foot summit. The trail is well made, with lots of stone steps up steep sections, and a well-constructed stone bench tucked into a slab of bedrock (on the Perham Trail).

The distance to the summit, via Perham, is about 1.5 miles, and the route back along Harvard Trail is about 1.4 miles, making a loop of just under 3 miles. You might want to hike up the steeper Perham and come down Harvard, which, while less steep, does have a steep section near the end of it. You’ll also enjoy views along your ascent up Perham, especially from its final 0.3-mile stretch, which is fairly flat to boost!

From the fixed-up parking area, large enough for about four cars, the trail begins on an old farm road that edges a field with apple trees. At about 0.3 miles, you’ll turn left onto a wide track that begins to climb steeply up through the woods. After walking up for about 0.4 miles, the trail splits.

At the summit, there’s an open area with great views, of Patch Mountain and other hills, over the cliff face of the tourmaline and apatite mine. A cable wire strung along the edge of the lookout makes it feel a bit safer. From close to the summit, you can follow a trail — it’s marked with a sign — to check out the mine. This trail is fairly rough, with loose rock, so take care.

Check the land trust website to see whether the parking lot is open, as it is closed seasonally.

Directions The parking lot is off Richardson Hollow Road in Greenwood. If you put in the address 172 Richardson Hollow Road, you’ll pretty much get right there. From the junction with Greenwood Road, it’s about 0.8 miles on your left.