Mt. Hale, Zealand Falls, Zealand Pond

• Start at the Hale Brook Trail parking area and hike up the yellow-blazed Hale Brook Trail, crossing a few streams en route, and arriving at the summit of Mount Hale after 2.2 miles.
  • After walking 0.8 mile from the trailhead you will cross Hale Brook.
  • Hale Brook will again be crossed 0.5 mile later.
  • A smaller brook is crossed 0.4 mile after that.
  • And a final 0.5 mile climb will deliver you to the summit of Mount Hale.
• Descend Mount Hale in a southerly direction via Lend-A-Hand Trail for 2.7 miles where it ends upon meeting up with Twinway. Twinway is part of the Appalachian Trail.
• Go straight on Twinway/Appalachian Trail (Twinway/Appalachian Trail also turns to the right) for barely 0.1 mile to arrive at the Zealand Falls AMC Hut. Just before reaching the hut you may want to make a quick detour to Whitewall Brook which slides across slanted open ledges before dropping sharply below. There are good views from these ledges. Where Twinway/Appalachian Trail curves left towards the hut, walk straight ahead for a few strides then turn right, ducking through a few trees to reach the brook and ledges.
• From the hut, descend on Twinway/Appalachian Trail for 0.2 mile until this trail ends at the junction with Zealand Trail and Ethan Pond Trail. This segment of Twinway/Appalachian Trail first descends steeply via stone steps and between the hut and the end of the trail, it passes two access points to Zealand Falls.
  • The first access spot to the falls is a spur trail about halfway down the steep pitch on the right. Walking right for only about 20 feet will bring you to the main section of Zealand Falls where the water drops straight down a 15-foot high cliff. If you're feeling a bit adventurous, you can work your way down the embankment and then across the stream to the ledgy area directly at the foot of the falls.
  • The next access spot to the falls is where the main trail veers left and there is an obvious path to the right. Follow the side trail for about 40 feet and you'll be at the tail end of Zealand Falls where there is a series of small cascades.
• From the junction of Zealand Trail, Ethan Pond Trail, and Twinway/Appalachian Trail bear left to pick up Zealand Trail which you will follow for 2.5 miles all the way to its end.
  • Just beyond this junction Zealand Pond will be on the left where a few strides off the trail will bring you to the shoreline of the pond at a small opening in the trees.
  • A-Z Trail goes off to the right 0.2 mile beyond the pond; continue straight on Zealand Trail.
  • A half-mile farther along Zealand Trail will bring you to a pretty wetlands area crossed by a sturdy boardwalk.
  • After another mile of gentle descent on Zealand Trail you will reach Zealand River where the main trail curves to the left and a short spur path goes straight ahead to the shoreline of the river.
  • Continuing on the Zealand Trail for another 0.8 will bring you to its trailhead at the end of Zealand Road.
• Finally to complete the loop, walk 1.0 mile along Zealand Road to return to the Hale Brook Trail parking area which will be on your left.

• Traveling on Rt. 302 West, Zealand Road is about 9.2 miles west of the Willey House Historical Site, and about 6.5 miles west of the AMC Highland Center. Zealand Road as well as both of these landmarks are all on the left-hand side of the road.
• Turn left onto Zealand Road.
• 3.5 miles from Rt. 302, Zealand Road ends and there is a large parking area on the left.
• The trailhead is straight-ahead from the road.

• From the junction of Routes 302 and 3 in Carroll (Twin Mountain), go east on Route 302.
• After 2.1 miles, turn right onto Zealand Road.
• 3.5 miles from Rt. 302, Zealand Road ends and there is a large parking area on the left.
• The trailhead is straight-ahead from the road.

• $5 per day
• $30 for a year-long pass
• $40 for a year for a household

• Ethan Pond, Thoreau Falls, Zealand Notch, Zealand Falls, Zealand Pond on 6/06/2009
• Zealand Mtn, Mt. Guyot, and the Bonds 2-day backpack on 8/14/2009
• Zealand Pond, Zealand Falls, Zealand Falls Hut 2-day backpack on 1/31/2009
• Zealand Pond, Zealand Falls, Zeacliff on 6/14/2008
• Zealand Pond, Zealand Falls, Mt. Hale on 8/17/2007
• Cannon, Lafayette, Garfield, South Twin, Guyot, Zeacliff 5-day backpack on 6/20/2006
• Mt. Hale via Hale Brook Trail on 9/21/2002

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