Pulpit Rock

By Sam Shirley

With a summit elevation of less than 1,000 feet and a round-trip hike of under a mile, Pulpit Rock (910′) manages to punch well above its weight in terms of views! It is easily one of my favorite sub-1,000-foot peaks in the state. Thankfully, it is also now protected as part of the Crooked River Headwaters Easement, held by the Mahoosuc Land Trust.

The trail is well marked with orange blazes and is generally well maintained. Departing the trailhead, the trail follows along the base of the hill for a bit, before turning upwards and passing through a boulder field. Before you know it, the trail levels out and reaches the top of Pulpit Rock, only about 1/3 mile from the trailhead.

From the top of the rock, there are great views south and west across the Crooked River Valley towards the southern Oxford Hills and the White Mountains. Mount Washington and the Presidential Range are clearly visible, and poking around the top of the rock a bit will yeild a few different perspectives.

Directions: Heading north on McIntire Road in Waterford, look for a small dirt road on the left, shortly after passing under the high tension power lines. The start of this road is marked with snowmobile trail signs and a “no camping” sign. The first 100 yards of this road is the roughest, but can be navigated by just about any car, including small sedans and hatchbacks, without much trouble. Stay on the main dirt road, avoiding a few minor side roads. The road soon joins the power lines, where it splits in two. Both options take you to same place in the same amount of time. After the two roads rejoin, the road veers into the woods for a short distance, before rejoining the power lines. When the road leaves the power lines for the second time, a ford of the Crooked River will be visible to the left. The road gets quite narrow for the last 100 yards to the trailhead, but is still passable without issue. (Alternatively you can park where the road leaves the power lines for the second time.) Look for the orange-blazed trail on the right, about 100 yards after leaving the power lines. There is room for one or two cars to park directly across from the start of the trail.