Once reaching Zealand Falls Hut, you get a good view of Zealand Notch and Carrigain Notch from right in front of the hut.Also, before the steep section even starts, you can go to the left to access the Zealand River and some cascades downstream from the waterfall. From here, you can scramble down the high embankment to the ledges if you wish to do more exploring and get a better look at the falls. During the steep section, keep looking to your left for a 20-foot spur that leads to a view of Zealand Falls. Turn left on Twinway / Appalachian Trail and head steeply uphill for 0.2 mile to the AMC Zealand Falls Hut.After taking in all the scenery, keep going straight ahead on Ethan Pond Trail / Appalachian Trail for 1.3 miles, still over gentle grades, where you will reach its end at a junction with Twinway / Appalachian Trail and Zealand Trail.Turn left and walk on Ethan Pond Trail / Appalachian Trail, over nearly level terrain, for 0.8 mile which will bring you to the junction with Zeacliff Trail (on the left) in the middle of an open section of trail with stunning views of Zealand Notch.After getting your fill of Thoreau Falls, retrace your steps for 0.1 mile back to the junction with Ethan Pond Trail / Appalachian Trail.To Zealand Notch, Zealand Falls, AMC Zealand Falls Hut, and Whitewall Brook Outlook: Whether or not you decide to explore on the other side of the river, be sure to walk upstream on the ledges just to check out the scenery.īeaver swamp area along Zealand Trail (photo by Webmaster) If the waterway is running strong, look for better crossing points farther upstream. The trail continues right across the North Fork and you may want to check it out to see if it leads to any good lookout points near the base of the waterfall. Now turn left and follow Thoreau Falls Trail for 0.1 mile, slightly downhill, which will bring you to the top of Thoreau Falls at an open ledgy area.Keep going straight on Ethan Pond Trail / Appalachian Trail for another 0.5 mile until reaching the junction on the left with Thoreau Falls Trail.Turn right onto Ethan Pond Trail / Appalachian Trail and walk on easy grades for 2.0 miles which will bring you to a junction with Shoal Pond Trail on the left.After enjoying Ethan Pond, retrace your steps for 0.1 mile back to Ethan Pond Trail / Appalachian Trail.If you want to go to the campsite, cross the brook over the boulders and keep going for about another 0.05 mile. Follow the spur for 0.1 mile, gently downhill, until reaching Ethan Pond on the left.At a signed junction for Ethan Pond Shelter, turn right onto Ethan Pond Spur.Again, stay straight on Ethan Pond Trail / Appalachian Trail and hike for another 1.0 mile, at first uphill and then over gentle grades.Keep straight at this junction and climb for another 0.3 mile until reaching Willey Range Trail, also on the right.Bear right to stay on Ethan Pond Trail / Appalachian Trail and keep hiking uphill for 1.0 mile which will bring you to a junction with Kedron Flume Trail on the right.From the Ethan Pond trailhead at the top of Willey Station Road, hike uphill on the combined Ethan Pond Trail / Appalachian Trail for 0.3 mile until reaching a junction with Arethusa-Ripley Falls Trail on the left.Much of the route follows the Appalachian Trail (AT).įor an easier hike, you can do this trek in reverse (starting on Zealand Trail), which would bring the overall rating down to Easy/Moderate. The highlights of the trek include Ethan Pond, Thoreau Falls, close-up views of the valley between Zealand and Whitewall Mountains (Zealand Notch), views and cascades at the ledges of Whitewall Brook, Zealand Falls, Zealand Pond, and a beaver swamp area. This point-to-point hike takes in a lot of wonderful scenery, and except for the first 1.9 miles, is mostly easy strolling. Zeacliff is the knob to the left and Mount Hale is in the background. SDHers: Mark, Kathy, Amanda, Diane, Paul, Deb, Mike, Leesa, Brian, Deb H., Rachel, Cheryl, Sally, Steve, Ken, Tessa and Quincy (Deb's dogs) Ponds, rivers, waterfalls, cascades, views White Mountain National Forest, Crawford Notch State Park Zealand Notch, Zealand Pond Destinations:Įthan Pond (2820'), Thoreau Falls (2400'), Zealand Notch Outlook (2448'), Whitewall Brook Outlook (2630'), Zealand Falls Hut (2630'), Zealand Falls, Zealand Pond (2457')Įthan Pond Trail, Ethan Pond Spur, Thoreau Falls Trail, Twinway, Zealand Trail, Appalachian Trail Kathy at Thoreau Falls (photo by Mark Malnati) More Ethan Pond, Thoreau Falls, Zealand Pond Trail Reportsīrian at Thoreau Falls (photo by Mark Malnati) Zealand Notch, AMC Zealand Falls Hut, and Whitewall Brook Outlook Hike New England - Ethan Pond, Thoreau Falls, Zealand Notch, Zealand Pond
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