Mountains, ocean, farmland, lakes, forests — in New England, we’ve got it all. Sometimes it takes a chance encounter with a tourist or a “scenic overlook” sign to remind us to look around, and marvel at the beauty we often take for granted.
We asked local folks to share some of their favorite, off-the-beaten-track beauty spots in the region.
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John Connelly, outdoor guide and owner of Adventurous Joe Coffee, www.adventurousjoecoffee.com, Falmouth, Maine
Favorite place: West Branch of the Penobscot River, Maine
Why it’s special: “Spectacular” is the word Connelly uses to describe this spot. “It is a very spiritual place for me, since I was one of the first whitewater boaters to paddle there, and it is where I learned the art of fly-fishing for its spirited landlocked salmon,” Connelly says. Competent whitewater paddlers can enjoy the challenges and rewards of this world-class river, while adventurous novices are advised to join professionally guided whitewater-rafting trips. The West Branch passes through Ripogenus Gorge, a thrill-ride of Class IV rapids named Exterminator, Staircase, and the Heaters, Connelly says. “Then it cascades through the Cribwork Rapids, a lengthy Class V rapid that rounds a bend, revealing Mount Katahdin, Maine’s tallest peak, nearly a mile high.” The lower river is mostly slow moving with large rapids scattered down its length. Catch your breath here, surrounded by “views of Mount Katahdin that are truly mesmerizing,” Connelly says. Put this one on your Maine-musts list.
Gary Eckhart, artist, www.moosewalkstudios.com, and organizer of Great Vermont Plein Air Paint-Out, Warren, Vt.
Favorite place: Lincoln Brook, Warren, Vt.
Why it’s special: Most visitors to Mad River Valley know Warren Falls, but Lincoln Brook remains a secret, Eckhart says. Lincoln Brook runs from the base of Lincoln Gap for about 2.5 miles. The majority of the way, the brook is a waterway meandering through stunning meadows, birch, hardwood, and evergreen groves, and the occasional ripple of a rapid. “During the last quarter mile, it reaches its true majesty when it cascades over rocks carved eons ago,” Eckhart says. “Over time, the brook has carved a chasm with walls up to 50 feet high, leaving interesting rock formations dotted with ferns and freshwater plants. Following the ridge on the north side is a path through stunning plant growth, where varieties of evergreens and hardwoods form a majestic green cathedral over the stream.”
Spring and summer bring a riot of wild flowers with a festive showing of trillium, followed by autumn’s vivid palette. Visitors are overwhelmed with the pristine beauty, Eckhart says. “Even children fall under its spell.”
Douglas Brooks, boat builder, www.douglasbrooksboatbuilding.com, Vergennes, Vt.
Favorite place: Kingsland Bay in Ferrisburgh, Vt.
Why it’s special: Enclosed by two peninsulas that jut into Lake Champlain, “Kingsland Bay is a perfect natural harbor,” Brooks says. The east side is home to Kingsland Bay State Park, while the west side is completely undeveloped wilderness, with expanses of exposed Panton stone, the local geology, and fossil remnants dating from the time the lake was connected to the sea, along with deep hemlock forests. “The entire area is ringed by a shoreline of rocky cliffs, dramatically overhung by cedars,” Brooks says. “I love this spot because of the dramatic interface between land and sea. Even the dead cedars are magical — their bleached trunks resemble enormous curved bones. Coastal trails hug the cliffs on both sides of the bay, and a walk on the wild, western side will reward you with a tiny cobblestone beach, perfect for swimming.”
Winter is one of his favorite times to visit Kingsland Bay. “Ice fishermen use the bay and when there is black ice, as translucent as window glass, I’ve actually seen fish swimming beneath my feet.”
Dan Houde
A climb up to the summit of Black Cap Mountain near North Conway rewards hikers with stellar views.
Dan Houde, marketing director, Mount Washington Auto Road Great Glen Trails, Gorham, N.H.; www.greatglentrails.com.
Favorite place: Black Cap Trail, part of the Green Hills Preserve, near North Conway, N.H.
Why it’s special: This short but moderate 25-minute trek offers major rewards: “It looks over North Conway Village, farmland, plus the Cathedral and White Horse Ledges and the Moat Mountain Range, and it gives you a real sense of getting out for an adventure,” Houde says. Access to the trailhead is via Hurricane Mountain Road, off Route 26/302, a steep and twisty route that is open from May through October only. The climb itself is easy to moderate in difficulty as it meanders through beech forests and red oaks. At the summit of Black Cap, the views open up to the White Mountains, the farmlands, and fields of North Conway, and the Route 16 corridor north to Mount Washington and into western Maine, he says.
“The summit is unique, because there are many secluded areas for experiencing the views in solitude, along with wide-open vistas that allow you a communal view with other hikers. You get a feeling of being in the middle of nowhere, yet you’re just a short hike and drive back to the bustle of North Conway.”
Jennifer Benner, Connecticut Forest Park Association, Rockfall, Conn., www.ctwoodlands.org.
Favorite place: Mattabesett Trail (part of the New England Trail) to Chauncey Peak, Meriden, Conn.
Why it’s special: “The hike along the section of the New England Trail that leads to Chauncey Peak in Giuffrida Park is a true beauty spot,” Benner says. The trail is part of the 825-mile Blue-Blazed Hiking Trail System, maintained by volunteers. The terrain is rugged, with mixed forest and an elevation climb to 688 feet. Views along the way provide plenty of eye candy, including Mount Higby, a quarry, and Crescent Lake. “The full Giuffrida Park portion of the NET offers hikers the chance to skirt traprock ridges and be rewarded with views of other Connecticut landmarks like the Hanging Hills and Castle Craig,” Benner says. Connector trails within the wooded park offer several loop options, and “you can summit Chauncey Peak and Lamentation Mountain if you’re feeling ambitious.”
“My most memorable moment on this trail was on a direct hike to Chauncey Peak in autumn. The vibrant fall foliage blanked the landscape for miles and miles, and the crisp, cool air was refreshing on this rigorous climb.” A map of the Blue-Blazed Hiking Trail System is available at www.ctwoodlands.org.
Barbara Erickson, president and CEO of The Trustees of Reservations, www.thetrustees.org.
Favorite place: Bartholomew’s Cobble, Sheffield.
Why it’s special: The first National Natural Landmark in the state, Bartholomew’s Cobble is home to one of North America’s greatest diversities of fern species, as well as the widest array of forest types in Berkshire County. “The incredible, uninterrupted view atop the summit of Hurlburt’s Hill, where much of Sheffield and the South Berkshires unfolds in front of you, looks much the same as it would have hundreds of years ago,” Erickson notes, thanks to the active conservation ethic of county residents. Walking paths reveal stunning views of the Housatonic River.
Visiting with kids offers the opportunity for special moments at this property, maintained by The Trustees of Reservations. “Looking for frogs in the vernal pools [here] is a wonderful experience,” Erickson says, recalling a visit when her own children were very young. “It was my son’s first encounter with frogs, and there were so many of different sizes that he was enthralled. It was a beautiful moment, at that blissful time when children are incredibly curious about the workings of nature,” she says. That experience showcased “the entirety of Bart’s Cobble as nature’s playground and the amazing interaction of all that lives there,” Erickson says.
Cindy Sabato/Save the Bay RI
A view of the Atlantic Ocean from the granite shoreline of Black Point in Narrangansett, R.I.
Cindy Sabato, Save the Bay, Providence,
www.savebay.org.
Favorite place: Black Point, Narragansett, R.I.
Why it’s special: “Black Point is a hidden gem along our shoreline,” Sabato says, who discovered it during a photo shoot for the University of Rhode Island. Although this spot is tucked away, it isn’t difficult to access. “A short, easy hike from a small parking area just off Ocean Road north of Scarborough Beach goes through thickets and thick woods,” Sabato says, “and it opens up onto a rugged shoreline of giant granite slabs that offer an abundance of active tide pools during low tide,” she adds.
“There’s also an easy flat trail loop, and a trail you can take all the way down to Scarborough Beach. “I could sit on the rocks in near solitude and listen to waves crashing for hours! It is quite magnificent.”
Diane Bair and Pamela Wright can be reached at bairwright@globe.com.
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