Smarts mountain |
TOWN: Lyme
DESTINATION: Smarts Mountain
ELEVATION: 3238 Feet
SUMMIT COORDINATES: N43 49.528, W72 02.285
TRAIL: Lambert Ridge Trail
DISTANCE: 8.0 miles
ELEVATION GAIN: 2135 Feet
HIKING TIME: 3 hours
SEASON: Late Summer
DATE: August 23, 2013
WEATHER: Partly cloudy, 75 degrees
PARKING:
From route 10 in Lyme NH follow Dorchester Road 4.75 miles to the trailhead on the left. The gravel lot is marked with a trail kiosk and has parking for 10-15 cars.
USGS QUAD: USGS Smarts Mountain Quad
MAP: (Smarts Mountain)
DESCRIPTION:
The parking area on Dorchester road serves two trailheads both leading to the summit of Smarts Mountain. The Lambert Ridge Trail begins opposite the trailhead kiosk and map and follows white blazes also marking the Appalachian Trail. The trail ascends steeply through a hardwood forest soon reaching open ledges after approximately 1 mile. The open ledges transition to and from the woods and provide good peephole viewing mostly in an easterly direction. At approximately 2 miles you'll reach your first view of Smarts mountain and the fire tower at it's summit. The trail drops into a hardwoods forest and remains nearly level for a good distance before transitioning to the steep steps. At 3.5 miles you encounter the junction with the Ranger trail and the Smarts mountain summit is a steep 0.5 miles away. The are no views from the summit proper however there is a standing inactive fire tower which provides panoramic views from the cab.
TRAIL DISTANCES:
HIKING DISTANCES
| ||
---|---|---|
DESTINATION
| DISTANCE | TOTAL DIST. |
Lambert ridge trail - open ledges | ~ 1.0 miles | ~ 1.0 miles |
Lambert ridge trail - view of Smarts Mountain | ~ 1.0 miles | ~ 2.0 miles |
Lambert ridge trail - Ranger trail merge | ~ 1.5 miles | ~ 3.5 miles |
Lambert ridge trail - Smarts summit | 0.5 miles | 4.0 miles |
HIKING TIMES:
HIKING TIMES
| ||
---|---|---|
DESTINATION
| TIME | TOTAL TIME |
Lambert ridge trail - open ledges | 20 minutes | 20 minutes |
Lambert ridge trail - view of Smarts Mountain | 20 minutes | 40 minutes |
Lambert ridge trail - Ranger trail merge | 35 minutes | 1 hour 15 minutes |
Lambert ridge trail - Smarts summit | 15 minutes | 1 hour 30 minutes |
Smarts summit - Parking | 1 hour 20 minutes | 2 hours 50 minutes |
NOTES / COMMENTS:
Smarts Mountain stands at 3238 feet elevation however has an elevation gain over 2000 feet making this little mountain the 9th most prominent mountain in the state of New Hampshire. It is the highest point in the town of Lyme and on several hiking checklists such as 52 mountains With a View and the NH 3000 footers. It's 41 foot standing inactive fire tower was originally built in 1915 however the Dartmouth Outing Club made several repairs over the years where it remained in service until 1980.
The Lambert Ridge trail along open granite ledges
Wooden stairs and a steel ladder ascending a steep pitch nearing the summit.
The Smarts Mountain fire tower.
Mt. Cube
Views from the tower
nice post
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