Castle in the Clouds Waterfalls Hike
Trail names: Shannon Pond Trail, Turtleback Mountain Trail, Connector Trail, Shannon Brook Trail, Brook Walk Trail
Location: Castle in the Clouds Conservation Area, Route 171, Moultonborough NH
Permitted uses: Hiking, Nature Study, Snowshoeing, Cross-country skiing, activities described as “Low impact” recreational use.
Prohibited uses: No Camping, No overnight use, No fires, No mountain bikes, No motorized vehicles, No horseback riding, no fishing.
Hours: Daylight hours, year round
Fees and Parking: There is no fee to park or use the trails. Parking is across the street from the trailhead and there is ample parking. There is also more parking available near Shannon Pond on Ossipee Park Road, Moultonborough NH.
Pets: Dogs are allowed on the trails and must be leashed.
Accessibility: Hikes are not wheelchair accessible.
Hiker amenities: There are information kiosks close to the entrances of the Brook Walk Trail and Shannon Pond Trail. Each kiosk has a posted map and information about the area. The Brook Walk kiosk has a history of the Brook Walk and waterfalls. There are restrooms and trash bins near the trailhead and also food at Cafe in the Clouds which is located between the Brook Walk and Shannon Pond Kiosks. Information about the Oak Ridge Interpretive Trail is posted on the side of the Shannon Pond information kiosk.
Length and Trail information: Our hike was done as a loop and was roughly 3.5 miles in length and was an easy hike. Each trail has its own colored trail blaze. The trails are well marked and easy to navigate. They are well traveled and it’s unlikely that you will not see other hikers or visitors during your hike.
The Hiking Trails at Shannon Pond are temporarily closed due to reconstruction, but visitors are welcome to stop at the dam and observe the wildlife at the pond and feed the trout. Shannon Pond is a man made pond that was installed around 1913 by then owner, Tom Plant. He stocked this pond with trout and had it for his personal use. This pond is still stocked with fish and visitors are encouraged to purchase food to feed the fish in the pond. Please do not bring any outside fish food to feed them. Fishing is not allowed here. There are picnic tables at the Pond, so visitors can also enjoy a picnic before or after enjoying the hiking trails. And if you time your hike just right, you might be able to get an ice cream treat from the Cafe in the Clouds.
Pond Trail runs beside Shannon Pond and looks very much like a dirt road. It provides access to the Shannon Pond Kiosk and the Turtleback Mountain Trail, Connector Trail, Brook Walk Trail, and Shannon Brook Trail. There is also an interpretive trail close by: the Oak Ridge Interpretive Trail. This trail has 18 information stops and plaques posted to assist visitors in learning about the trails and the inhabitants both past and present in this special area. Five of the 18 stops are along the Turtleback Mountain Trail, and we enjoyed stopping to read and learn about each place. This sampling of the interpretive trail was an interesting addition to our waterfall filled hike and we would encourage others to enjoy them as well.
Brook Walk Trail is the highlight of this hike, but does have some very steep sections, especially coming off of the Shannon Brook trail access. If you hike Brook Walk Trail from the Shannon Brook Trail, like we did, you will be seeing the falls in reverse order. Be careful and take your time as you descend this steep section of trail as the footing can be tricky. The Brook Walk has a sturdy wooden bridge that crosses the stream and runs alongside it leading hikers to the Falls of Song Waterfall. This is the 7th waterfall on the hike and is 50 feet tall. It is considered to be the most spectacular of the series. Each of the additional six waterfalls are identified with a plaque that gives visitors insight into interesting facts about each one and offers a peek into the history associated with each waterfall. Use caution as you walk along the trail as the spray from the waterfalls can make some areas slippery. The terrain is not difficult or steep, but do use caution as there are rocks and roots to navigate, and likely your attention will be toward the beautiful waterfalls that are there and not your foot placement.
