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The Ranger Trail is the route once used by the fire lookout on Smarts Mountain and a former route of the Appalachian Trail. There are views from the abandoned fire tower on the summit which has been restored for hikers. A variety of loop and through hikes can be made on the mountain. 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 3.6 miles one-way
Elevation gain: About 2100 feet Northbound, nominal 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 and private
Maintainer: unknown
Special regulations: Unknown
The Lambert Ridge Trail begins to climb straight uphill from the parking area while the Ranger Trail follows the woods road up the brook with occasional ups and downs. At about 2.0 miles it reaches the ruins of the warden's garage at a brook crossing and begins to ascend more steeply as a path. At about 3.0 miles the Lambert Ridge Trail rejoins from the left and the trails run concurrently to the summit. The trails switchback up to the summit ridge, and at 3.5 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 Ranger Trail ends at a junction:
Unknown
Map Notes: The Ranger Trail is incorrectly shown as the Appalachian Trail on the USGS 7.5' map
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