Mount Willard

The walk starts at Crawford Depot on US 302, beside the AMC Highland Center at the top of Crawford Notch. Cross the railroad tracks behind the depot and follow the Avalon Trail for a few minutes, then turn left on the Mount Willard Trail. It climbs at a steady, moderate grade through the woods, passing a short side path to Centennial Pool, a small cascade, in the first half mile. Higher up it follows an old carriage road and comes out suddenly on the wide ledges. Return the same way.

It is 3.1 miles (5.0 km) round trip with 890 feet (272 m) of climbing; allow about 2 hours. The grade is Easy: a steady climb on a good path, with no scrambling.

The ledges end in a sheer drop of several hundred feet and are not fenced, so keep children and dogs close and stay well back from the edge, most of all when the rock is wet or icy. The trail stops at the ledges; the true summit is in the trees behind them. In winter the path is often hard-packed ice and needs traction spikes.

The walk is in Crawford Notch State Park, where leashed dogs are allowed. Parking is at the depot and across the road; it fills on fine weekends and in the autumn colour season.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.