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Trail Description - Unknown Pond Trail

The Unknown Pond Trail leads from the Mill Brook Road in Stark to the York Pond Road at the fish hatchery in Berlin, passing Unknown Pond along the way. Most hikers use only the N or S portion of the trail to Unknown Pond rather than walking through. This formerly bucolic area now receives vastly more use with the completion of the Kilkenny Ridge Trail from Mount Cabot to South Pond bringing more backpackers, and the closure of the Mount Cabot Trail causing peakbaggers to use this alternate.

Distance: From Mill Brook Road to Kilkenny Ridge Trail (W), about 2.2 miles one-way
From York Pond Road to Kilkenny Ridge Trail (W), about 3.3 miles one-way

Elevation gain: From Mill Brook Road to Kilkenny Ridge Trail (W) about 1500 feet, 100 feet on return
From York Pond Road to Kilkenny Ridge Trail (W) about 1600 feet, nominal on return

Hiking Time Estimator

Maps: USGS Stark, West Milan, Pliny Range
AMC North Country-Mahoosuc

Location: Great North Woods Region
NH 2003-2004 map E-7/F-8
DeLorme NHA&G 48-C4/D5 (The atlas shows 2 South Pond Roads of which the W one is actually Mill Brook Road) - Stark/Kilkenny/Berlin
Stark and Berlin are both on NH Route 110 which is NE of I-93 Exit 35

North Trailhead: Mill Brook Road 4.7 miles S of Route 110 in Stark, just before Mill Brook bridge, elevation about 1755 feet. Parking may be better on the shoulder across the bridge.
44.5535°N, 71.4093°W (WGS84)
From Exit 35 off I-93, take US Route 3 N about 35 miles to NH Route 110 at Groveton. Go E on NH Route 110 about 6 miles and turn R on Mill Brook Road beyond Stark village. Follow Mill Brook Road about 4.7 miles S to trailhead, passing through Forest Service gate at 3.9 miles.

South Trailhead: York Pond Road 1.8 miles W of the fish hatchery gate, elevation about 1670 feet. The gate at the entrance to the fish hatchery is open during work hours (approximately 7:30 AM to 4 PM although official visiting hours start at 8:30) so hikers planning to stay later should either park outside or make arrangements at the hatchery office to leave it open later.
44.4979°N, 71.3589°W (WGS84)
WMNF fee site

• From I-93 exit 35 N of Franconia Notch, take US Route 3 N about 13 miles to NH Route 115.
• Turn R on NH Route 115 and follow it about 10 miles to its end at US Route 2.
• Turn R on US Route 2 and follow it about 13 miles to the traffic light in Gorham.
• Turn L on NH Route 16 and go N 5.1 miles to NH Route 110 in Berlin, a sneaky L turn about 3 blocks after Main Street becomes one-way.
• Follow NH Route 110 about 7.7 miles NW to York Pond Road on the L, passing an extensive view of the mountains L just before the turn.
• Go W on York Pond Road, passing fish hatchery gate at 5.2 miles and turning R to trailhead parking lot at 7.0 miles, shortly before road ends at fenced raceway. York Pond Trail/Bunnell Notch Trail is across from raceway.

Owner: White Mountain National Forest

Maintainer: White Mountain National Forest

Special regulations: Dispersed camping is allowed near Unknown Pond using good camping practices - camp away from pond shore, don't wash or dispose of waste in pond, etc. Check with the Forest Service for the exact rules.
No boating or fishing near fish hatchery

Description

From Mill Brook Road, the Unknown Pond Trail starts out parallel to the brook at a gentle grade with some muddy areas, then climbs on sidehill away. It levels off and passes a town line marker at 1.0 miles and approaches the brook again, then climbs at a moderate grade on narrow sidehill for nearly a mile before crossing over the divide and descending to the junction with the Kilkenny Ridge Trail (W) near the N end of Unknown Pond at 2.2 miles.

• To Mount Cabot: Take the Kilkenny Ridge Trail W, running along a ridge parallel to the pond shore and then descending to a col. The trail begins to ascend The Horn, then angles R around it on rocky sidehill. A junction just N of the col is reached at 1.5 miles, where a side path continues .3 miles up the Horn with some ledge scrambles near the summit. The main trail climbs The Bulge, reaching a cairn on the flattish summit at 1.8 miles from the Unknown Pond Trail. The trail drops off the back side in scrub, then climbs Mount Cabot, passing several bumps before reaching the summit sign at 2.6 miles. About 10 yards past the summit sign, an unmarked path goes R 30 yards to a W viewpoint. Elevation gain, 1400 feet on way up and 400 feet on return, plus 300 feet for The Horn if climbed.

The two trails run together for .1 miles parallel to the pond shore before the Kilkenny Ridge Trail (E) leaves L. The Unknown Pond Trail passes the S end of the pond in another .1 miles and continues gradually downhill, entering an old logging railroad grade. About .1 miles before York Pond Road, the trail turns R off the grade on a relocation and reaches the parking lot at 5.5 miles.

Off Season

Mill Brook Road gated at 3.9 miles during snow and mud season, but not plowed that far unless logging in progress. Walking from NH Route 110 would make a long hike.
Check with fish hatchery personnel for conditions on that end, usually the gate is left open in winter and the road plowed to the trailhead.

Map Notes: The Mill Brook Road has been extended past the trailhead.
The Kilkenny Ridge Trail does not cross the Unknown Pond Trail directly.
The Kilkenny Ridge Trail does not pass over The Horn.
The USGS map shows the former trailhead on Fish Hatchery Road rather than the new one near the raceway.

Topozone.com live map - N of Unknown Pond
Topozone.com live map - S of Unknown Pond

Unknown Pond

The Horn from Unknown Pond

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