2 Short Hikes Near Stark NH: Devil's Slide and Bald Mountain Notch Trail

On 17-May, the morning was consumed by pleasant phone conversations with family members who were wishing me a Happy Birthday.  Then, in the afternoon, I did two short hikes in the vicinity of Stark, NH.  Both of these treks were basically designed to simply follow-up on some left-over business from previous adventures.

SHORT HIKE #1:

A few years ago, I visited the top of the massive cliff complex named Devil's Slide which looms over the small village of Stark, NH (see snapshot below). 

Devil's Slide cliff looming over Stark, NH

At the time I did this hike, I knew that there was a rough and somewhat unofficial trail to this location.  However, I was uncertain as to how to access this trail, and so I opted to bushwhack on public land to the top of Devil's Slide.

But, since doing that bushwhack, I have learned that the trail to Devil's Slide has become official.  And what's even more important, I learned how to access this trail! (Click HERE for a link provided by the Society for the Protection of NH Forests.)

Upon stepping foot on the trail, I was shocked to see that it has fresh blazing which extends for the full length of the trail (nearly 0.9 mile).

Fresh blazing on trail leading to top of Devil's Slide

Although the trail is blazed, it might still be a bit too rugged for some hikers.  And, it should be made known that there are a few spots that are very steep!  The next photo attempts to show one of the steep spots.

One of several steep spots along trail to Devil's Slide

You are amply rewarded for your efforts when you reach the top. There are spectacular views looking across the cliffs that constitute the Devil's Slide complex (see next photo).

View looking across cliffs on Devil's Slide

Also, you are treated to a bird's eye view of the idyllic little New England village of Stark, NH.

Zoomed View of Stark, NH from top of Devil's Slide cliff

Un-Zoomed View of Stark, NH from top of Devil's Slide cliff

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SHORT HIKE #2:

My second short hike of the day was a slow meander along a portion of the Bald Mountain Notch Trail (part of the Cohos Trail system).  The trailhead is on Percy Road about 0.3 mile west of Bell Hill Road.

If all you want is a lovely walk in the woods, then this is a trail to consider.   It's an ideal corridor for walking for as far, or as little, as you want to go.  The trail runs for a distance of 2.8 miles, but it doesn't lead you to a traditional destination such as a mountaintop, a ledge, or a pond.  It just unceremoniously ends at a junction with two other trails.

The next composite photo shows the beginning of the Bald Mountain Notch Trail, as well as a typical segment of the trail at its lower end.  (At the upper end, this corridor becomes more "trail-like".)

Beginning of Bald Mtn Notch Trail, and typical segment of trail at its lower end

A little over 2 years ago, I hiked the entire length of the Bald Mountain Notch trail and posted a Blog report about this trek (Click HERE to read that report.)  In that Blog report of early May 2011, I expressed a desire to return to this location in order to explore a brook that bisects the trail at a point which is roughly about a mile from the trailhead.

To fulfill my desire, I trekked along an old logging road that parallels the brook mentioned above. This trek was enjoyable, and it satisfied my lingering curiosity about what "wonders" might be just around the next bend.  However, it resulted in no astonishing discoveries of magnificent cascades, nor anything else for that matter!

I occasionally wandered off the logging road a hundred feet or so to get a closer look at the brook which was pleasant, but unremarkable.  However, there were a fair number of Springtime wildflowers along the way which are always eye-pleasing (see next two photos).    

Typical scene along unnamed brook that parallels an old logging road

Some of the wildflowers seen while wandering along the old logging road

To sum it up, the two short hikes briefly described above are worthy of consideration the next time you are in the vicinity of Stark, NH and have just a limited amount of time to spend enjoying the great outdoors in the far north of northern New Hampshire!

P.S. If you are uncertain of the location of these two hikes, perhaps the map shown below might provide a general idea.

(Devil's Slide is at bottom left, and Bald Mtn Notch Trail is at upper center.)