Powder House Hill Trail Network, Farmington

This is a well-used and quite extensive trail network just minutes from downtown Farmington. The day we visited, the snowy trails closest to the main parking area, off Titcomb Hill Road, were well packed down. But after just a few minutes of skiing, we were on untrammeled paths breaking trail, and away from it all.

The network here comprises several “Woods,” including the 44-acre Flint Woods, the 43-acre Village Woods, the 63-acre Horn Woods, and the 28-acre Willow Springs. The trails, which crisscross all of them, are packed into a fairly tight space. While they’re mostly well signed, the trail blazes are inconsistent. So in the winter, it can be difficult to find a few of the trails unless they’ve been packed down.

At the trailhead kiosk, there are wonderful trail maps. Grab one! And return it after you’re done. It was difficult following the outer Pole Line Trail, at the southern edge of the preserve. It comes to an end of a little residential street, Box Shop Road. We couldn’t find the trail that cuts back into the park, so we walked along the street until we saw more signs for the trail system, on the left, in about 200 feet or so.

The map indicates a couple of lookout points, but I missed them completely! Probably skiing (falling) too fast. The most prominent, I believe, is off the Woods Connector trail.

Some of the trails include steep hills, but for the most part, this is easy terrain.

These trails also intersect with snowmobile trails.

Directions: From Main Street in downtown Farmington, turn onto Anson Street, and continue .5 miles to the parking area turnout on the left.