Copple Crown and East Peak

• If you've parked at the plow-turnaround rather than driving all the way to the trailhead, then you must first bear left at the fork in the gravel road and walk 0.3 mile to reach the signed trailhead.
• From the trailhead sign, walk through the woods for about 0.1 mile, then bear left onto a dirt road.
• Follow the dirt road on easy grades, keeping to the main route and ignoring the side roads. You will be following a long-abandoned town road (possibly called "Woodman Hill Road"), flanked by stone walls. There is at least one cellar hole along this stretch.
• After 1.2 miles on the dirt road, you will arrive at a Lakes Region Conservation Trust (LRCT) kiosk at a fork.
• Beyond the kiosk, the trail will be blazed in blue. Bear left and follow the blue blazes and white signs up the mountain. This section of trail is well marked.
• After 1.2 miles, you will come to a side path on the left signed "East Peak", which leads to the outlook on the eastern knob.
• For now, keep going straight on the main trail for less than 0.1 mile until you reach a fork; we will visit East Peak on the way back.
• Follow the left branch for 100 yards to reach a restricted outlook to the south then return to the fork.
• Follow the right branch for less than 0.1 mile to reach the summit and just beyond it, a ledgy viewpoint.
• After enjoying the summit views, retrace your steps for less than 0.1 mile on the main trail back to the East Peak spur.
• Turn right and follow the spur for 0.2 mile to arrive at the clifftop outlook with views to the south.
• Retrace your steps for 0.2 mile back to the main trail.
• To return to the parking area, turn right and retrace the blue-blazed path for 1.2 miles, turn right again and retrace your steps on the dirt road for 1.2 miles, and then turn right once more into the woods for the final 0.1 mile.
• Be sure to pay attention to blazes and signs, both on the way up and for the return trip, in order to avoid getting lost on intersecting paths.

• At the junction of Routes 16 and 109 in Wakefield, New Hampshire (opposite Sanbornville), turn west onto Route 109.
• Follow Route 109 West for 1.2 miles, then turn sharply left onto Governors Road.
• After 0.4 mile on Governors Road, turn right onto (Moose) Mountain Road.
• Follow (Moose) Mountain Road for about 1.5 miles where the pavement will end.
• It is recommended that you park at the plow-turnaround just after the paved road ends. Beyond this point the road can be bad in wet conditions and rough even in dry conditions.
• Or, you may bear left at the fork and follow the rough gravel road for 0.3 mile which will bring you to the trailhead and another parking area. There is a sign indicating "Ellis R. Hatch Wildlife Management Area" and a nice parking lot for about eight vehicles.
• During winter, the gravel road beyond the fork is not plowed, so count on walking a little extra. Optionally, you can also intersect with the trail by taking the right-hand fork of the road instead of the left which will save you a bit of hiking (see the trail map above).

• Copple Crown and East Peak on 11/29/2008

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