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The Zealand Trail runs from the end of the Zealand Road to the junction with the Ethan Pond and Twinway Trails near the AMC Zealand Falls Hut. Most of the trail follows an old railroad grade with slight uphill, but a few places where the grade is eroded or muddy the trail takes a rougher bypass route. Most of the brook crossings have wide bridges for skiing, but half a dozen minor ones require hopping on rocks.
The distance becomes much greater in the off season when the Zealand Road is gated and you must walk in, however the route is popular for cross-country skiing and the hut is open on a caretaker basis by reservation.
The Zealand Railroad was unique among logging lines in that it was actually chartered as a mainline railroad authorized to connect to other railroads, in particular the Boston & Maine in North Woodstock which would provide a shorter route from Concord to the Crawford Notch region. When logging ended, the right-of-way was deeded to the Boston & Maine, but the state charter was allowed to lapse when engineers determined the connection would be too costly.
Distance: About 2.5 miles one-way
Elevation gain: About 500 feet, nominal on return
Maps:
USGS Crawford Notch
AMC Franconia-Pemigewasset or Crawford Notch-Sandwich Range
Location: White Mountains Region
NH 2003-2004 map G/H-7
DeLorme NHA&G 44-C/D2 - Bethlehem
The trail is located on the Zealand Road off US Route 302 near Twin Mountain
Trailhead: End of Zealand Road about 3.6 miles from US Route 302, elevation about 2000 feet
Follow US Route 302 about 2.2 miles E from its junction with US Route 3 in Twin Mountain, turn R on Zealand and proceed 3.6 miles to parking lot at end
44.2241°N, 71.4787°W (WGS84)
WMNF fee site
Far End: Junction of Twinway and Ethan Pond Trail, elevation about 2460 feet
Owner: White Mountain National Forest
Maintainer: White Mountain National Forest
Special regulations: No camping within 1/4 mile of trailhead or hut
The Zealand Trail leaves the parking area and enters the old logging railroad grade, which is relatively wide, straight, and level. Occasionally the trail will leave the railroad grade on a relocation, often with rock steps and waterbars. There are occasional views of Zealand Notch which from this direction looks entirely forested. The trail circles R of several beaver ponds, and at 2.3 miles the A-Z Trail to Crawford Notch leaves L. The Zealand Trail now passes L of Zealand Pond, to end at 2.5 miles at the intersection of the Ethan Pond and Twinway Trails.
The Zealand Road is gated from mid-November to mid-May, hikers may use the snowmobile parking lot .1 miles E on US Route 302 which is plowed. The road may be packed for skiing, and snowmobiles use short sections including the bridges.
Hut open by reservation on a caretaker basis in the off-season.
Map Notes: The USGS map does not show the present parking area.
Zealand Trail, old railroad section
Zealand Trail bridge
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