QUICK TRAIL FACTS
- Preserve Size: 12,268 acres
- Trail Mileage: >1 mile one way
- Pets: yes
- Difficulty: moderate
- Sights: Beautiful views, open ledges
By Sam Shirley
One of the Oxford Hill’s small peaks is the wonderful Patch Mountain (elev. 1,565 feet) in Greenwood, with glorious views from two open ledges — especially in the fall. The trail starts at a hunting camp and follows a rutted and fairly degraded ATV trail to a pair of viewpoints on the south summit of the mountain.
Soon after its start, the trail passes an old abandoned house and a large old foundation and well. It’s just over a mile to the top, and the trail is relatively easy the whole way with only a few moderate climbs.
At the top, there are two lookouts. The main ATV trail ends at a large open ledge with a directional view south, with a good look over Pennesseewassee Lake in Norway. Soon before reaching this ledge, a more minor trail branches left and leads about 100 yards to a clifftop with more wide-ranging views east and south, including Noyes Mountain and Harvard Quarry. It was a perfect place to sit and bask in the sun on a mild fall day.
Patch Mountain lies within the 12,268-acre Crooked River Headwaters conservation easement, protected in 2021.
Note (fall, 2025): Check out the comment below for important details about the trail!
Directions: The trailhead, via Patch Mountain Road, is passable from both the north and south. We drove in from the north and out to the south. The road condition can vary — it’s best to high a high-clearance car. From the north, the road is in a bit better condition; medium clearance is required, but not always 4WD. From the south, you will need medium- to high-clearance and 4WD.
From Greenwood Road, coming in from the north, follow Patch Mountain Road for 1.5 miles, where it takes a hard turn to the left. Continue for another ~0.8 miles — you’ll pass Patch Mountain Cemetery — to a small pull-in near a hunting cabin and abandoned house where you will find the start of the ATV route. The pull-in is roughly 1,200 feet past the cemetery.
Patch mountain road dirt section is not open to non landowner passenger vehicles now. ATV only. There is some logging activity on lands south of patch mountain. One can park at the Oversett pond trail lot on north side, or there is room for one or two vehicles at the intersection of Patch and Hayes on south side. Either way its a 2.5 to 3 mile easy walk to the start of the ATV trail up Patch mountain. Do not venture off of patch mountain road as much of it is posted no trespassing. The ATV trail up Patch mountain from Patch mountain road has been maintained recently and is in great condition. It is a very technical trail for an ATV, easy to moderate difficulty for hiking. Views from the two ledge section at top are excellent to south and over to Noyes mountain.