TOWN: Merrimack
DESTINATION: Merrimack Town Highpoint
ELEVATION: 512 Ft
SUMMIT COORDINATES: N42 51.863, W71 33.186
TRAIL: Gateway Trail, Ridge Trail, bushwhack
DISTANCE: 1.8 miles
ELEVATION GAIN: 250 Ft.
HIKING TIME: 40 minutes
SEASON: Summer
DATE: September 28, 2014
WEATHER: Sunny, warm
PARKING: Parking can be fount at the playing fields behind Merrimack Middle School off Madeline Bennett Drive.
USGS QUAD: USGS South Merrimack Quad
MAP: (Merrimack HighPoint)
DESCRIPTION:
Drive past the entrance to Merrimack Middle School and park at the lot providing access to the soccer fields. The gravel access road called the Gateway Trail makes a S pattern and continues 0.45 miles to the Ridge Trail entrance. The Ridge Trail is marked with a vertical sign post on the left. After 0.04 miles the ridge trail exits left and a path continues straight. Drop and cross the culvert continuing on this unparked trail 0.11 miles to a 'end of trail' sign and rocks blocking passage of wheeled vehicles. Continue walking another 0.2 miles to a trail merge. Bear right and begin your gradual ascent. After 0.55 miles you reach the height of land and the true summit is a few hundred feet to the left. The summit was marked with a glass jar and small log book. Most registries were accidental finds by local hunters.
TRAIL DISTANCES:
HIKING DISTANCES
| ||
|---|---|---|
DESTINATION
| DISTANCE | TOTAL DIST. |
| Gateway Trail - Ridge Trail | 0.35 Mi | 0.35 Mi |
| Ridge Trail - End of Ridge Trail | 0.1 Mi | 0.45 Mi |
| End of Ridge Trail - Summit | 0.45 Mi | 0.90 Mi |
| Summit - Parking | 0.90 Mi | 1.8 Mi |
HIKING TIMES:
HIKING TIMES
| ||
|---|---|---|
DESTINATION
| TIME | TOTAL TIME |
| Gateway Trail - Ridge Trail | 10 min | 10 min |
| Ridge Trail - End of Ridge Trail | 2 min | 12 min |
| End of Ridge Trail - Summit | 8 min | 20 min |
| Summit - Parking | 18 min | 30 min |
NOTES / COMMENTS:
After examining Google Earth and topo maps, I expected to bushwhack approximately 0.4 miles. It was a pleasant surprise to find such a well defined trail system leading a few hundred feet from the summit. Coming from the height of land you'll need to bushwhack a few hundred feet over a false summit to the true summit marked with a small cairn. I was extremely surprised to find a canister jar at the summit. The entries were all from local hunters who stumbled upon the HP. I didn't see any hiking names or reports from people intentionally trying to find the high point.
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| The Gateway and Ridge Trail junction. |
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| Merrimack NH Highpoint |
