Carroll's Hill

Length: 2.0 miles out-and-back

Difficulty (click for info): Easy

Elevation Gain: 430 feet (+40 feet on return)

Rating (click for info): 4/10

Elevation: 986'

Prominence: 21'

Driving Directions:
Trailhead and parking area are on Westbrook Court in Swanzey, NH. From Rt. 32, 3.6 miles south of the rotary in the center of Swanzey and 5.1 miles north of Rt. 119 in the center of Richmond, turn west onto Westbrook Court. After driving 0.4 miles and passing mailboxes 71/85, you will come to an open field on the right. Pull off the road into the grass at an "enter" sign and drive along the side of the road until reaching the designated parking area at the left edge of the field. Click here for a Google map.

About the Hike:
Just one of the many locally maintained hiking trails around Swanzey, this mile-long trail climbs a short hill in the "Franconia Mountain Range", which bears no resemblance to the range in the White Mountains which contains some of the highest peaks in New England. This Franconia Range is a series of low, flat hills mostly used for logging and communications towers. Toward the northern end is this little knoll with a clearing on top that is maintained for view purposes and makes for a nice afternoon walk. The range also includes Hewes Hill, another great local hike just down the street. The top of Carroll's Hill has a nice rocky knoll with a bench and a cleared view of the surrounding countryside and out to Mt. Monadnock.

From the parking space in the field, follow the left edge of the clearing to a sign for the trailhead and walk into the woods on a narrow footpath. The trail leads through the forest between two clearings for 0.2 miles, and then joins a woods road from the left, following it past a gate. It ascends gently on the wide pathway for a quarter mile to reach the col between Hewes Hill and Carroll's Hill, where it swings to the left and descends a short distance. Over the next 0.15 miles, it bears left at two forks. It climbs on a straight course, a little more steeply, for 0.3 miles to a sign, where the trail forks left onto a narrower path. The trail circles around some striped ledges and leads 0.1 miles to the outlook, where the trees have been cleared out atop a steep dropoff. The view over the treetops reveals a flat expanse for miles, with isolated Mt. Monadnock in the distance.

Printable directions page