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The Lambert Ridge Trail is the present route of the Appalachian Trail up the S side of Smarts Mountain and the trail corridor is owned by the National Park Service; note that at least three previous routes may instead appear on older maps. There are views from open ledges on the way up and from the abandoned fire tower on the summit. A variety of loop and through hikes can be made on the mountain.
The area near the bottom of the trail is used for bear research by Ben Killam, author of Among the Bears, and there are signs requesting that his radio-collared bears not be shot. The remains of a Learjet that disappeared the day before Christmas in 1996 while trying to land at Lebanon airport were found several years later on a small peak to the NE of Smarts Mountain.
While many hikers consider the fire tower to be the summit of the mountain, purists may also wish to visit another area with the same highest contour about .4 miles E near the J Trail.
Distance: About 3.9 miles one-way
Elevation gain: About 2300 feet Northbound, about 200 feet Southbound
Maps: USGS Smarts Mountain
Location: Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee Region
NH 2004-2005 map J-5
DeLorme NHA&G 38-F3 - Lyme
Lyme is located on the Connecticut River N of Hanover and Lebanon
Trailhead: Dorchester Road (Cummins Pond Road) about 1.8 miles E of Dartmouth Skiway, elevation about 1110 feet
N 43.7971, -72.0719 W (WGS84)
From I-89 exit 18, take NH Route 120 about 5.0 miles to Hanover, where it ends go R on NH Route 10. After another 10.0 miles reach Lyme village and turn R on Main Street which becomes Dorchester Road. About 3.0 miles out, the pavement goes R to the Dartmouth Skiway but you should angle L on Dorchester Road which is now gravel. Continue 1.8 miles to trailhead on L just before bridge.
Note: the continuation of Dorchester Road to Dorchester is not officially maintained and may be blocked by mud or beaver dams.
Upper End: J Trail near summit of Smarts Mountain, elevation about 3238 feet
Owner: National Park Service/ state
Maintainer: Dartmouth Outing Club
Special regulations: No vehicles
The Lambert Ridge Trail begins to climb straight uphill from the parking area; the woods road up the brook is the route of the Ranger Trail once used by the fire lookout and a former route of the Appalachian Trail. The Lambert Ridge Trail ascends steadily, passing W of the first bump on the ridge and up to the open highpoint with views at about 1.7 miles. After descending to the col, the trail angles uphill to rejoin the Ranger Trail at about 3.3 miles which runs concurrently to the summit from there. The trails switchback up to the summit ridge, and at 3.8 miles pass a short spur path R leading to a view ledge and site of the former Smarts Mountain Leanto. About .1 miles beyond, an obvious path L leads to the abandoned fire tower which has been restored for views for hikers after use as a radio platform, and just beyond the Lambert Ridge Trail ends at a junction:
Unknown
Map Notes: This trail is not shown on the USGS 7.5' map, the Appalachian Trail shown is the old location on the Ranger Trail
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