French’s Ledges – Plainfield, NH

French’s Ledges

The hike to French’s Ledges in Plainfield, NH is relatively short and easy while still offering decent views of the surrounding area. French’s Ledges in on a short list of only a handful of hikes to bald summits/clearings in the Dartmouth-Sunapee region and its not nearly as heavily trafficked as some of the more popular trails like Mt. Kearsarge or Lake Solitude. There are three trailheads and a multitude of different routes to the top that wind through the network of hiking and biking trails. The trail network was built by Ira Townsend who owns the majority of the land through which the trails pass. The area has been protected through a 143-acre conservation easement with the Upper Valley Land Trust since 2002.

Trail Summary

Trail Map: Map 1; Map 2

Route: Colby Hill Trail – Ira’s Loop – So Inclined – Union Trail – French’s Ledges Trail

Distance: ~3 miles out and back

Difficulty: Easy (only one short, relatively steep section at the very end)

Getting There

We began our hike from the north trailhead on Colby Hill Road. The trailhead is located between the Meriden Covered Bridge and Columbus Jordan Road on the west side of the road. There is a small pull-off about 0.4 miles from the bridge. It’s only a short drive from Kimball Union Academy. The other trailheads can be located on this map.

beginning of the trail

The Hike

There are a number of different routes to the top and the map can be a bit confusing since there is a mix of groomed and ungroomed trails that are often used by mountain bikers, but if you pay attention to the posted trail maps and blazes you shouldn’t have an issue. We followed the following route which can be followed on the maps posted on the trail: Colby Hill Trail – Ira’s Loop – So Inclined – Union Trail – French’s Ledges Trail.

Read More: Best Hikes in the Dartmouth-Sunapee Region

The hike is more or less what you would expect for a hike in this part of New Hampshire with the exception of a few interesting milestones along the way including an old ski lift and an abandoned truck whose driving days have long since passed.

The final ascent

Abandoned truck near the trail

The final ascent on the only steep section of the hike, but it is a short push to the top. Once you reach the summit, the clearing offers 360-degree views of the village of Meriden, Kimball Union, and Mt. Ascutney.