CASTLE IN THE CLOUDS TRAILS: 4/16/17

Summer made an early appearance on Easter Sunday, and Carol and I took advantage of it with a leisurely hike around lower elevation trails at the Castle in the Clouds Conservation Area in the Ossipee Mountains. It's a wonderful trail system, and there are lots of geocaches to seek.

Shannon Pond is a peaceful spot on the Castle grounds.

Wagon wheels and other interesting relics near a geocache site.

The Whitten cellarhole dates back to the late 1700s.

Carol logs a geocache at the Oak Ridge Lookout, reached by an easy mile's hike from the upper trailhead at the Castle. There's a fine view of Lake Winnipesaukee here.

A panorama created by Ossipee and Belknap mapmaker and trail advocate Dave Roberts.

Why it's called Oak Ridge.

The trails are well-marked with Lakes Region Conservation Trust signs.

An inviting path leads to the lookout off the Lower Bridle Path.

A nice spot to hang out in the sun.

Fine spring walking on the Faraway Mountain Trail. On our five-mile loop we used portions of ten different trails.

The Ossipee brooks were running high.

Before we headed home I took a quick hike down the spectacular Brook Walk, which passes seven named waterfalls in 0.6 mile. Shannon Brook was certainly roaring over Roaring Falls.

There are interpretive signs at the viewing point for each waterfall.

Bridal Veil Falls is my favorite along the trail.

The Falls of Song, the tallest of the waterfalls, is seen from a viewing platform at the base of the trail.