Summary

Time for a backpack in beautiful Zealand forest at peak foliage! We won't be slugging up summits or hiking lots of mileage so if you’re looking to peak bag, this isn't the trip for you!

This is going to be a nice casual backpack into the Pemigewasset Wilderness with a back-country overnight. We will be camping along Whitewall Brook. Beginner backpackers are allowed on this trip. If you are a beginner and have any questions please don't hesitate to ask the group via a comment on this page or us via email if you prefer. 

Be bear aware! Fall is a very active time for bears as they are getting ready to hibernate for the winter. Never leave any food, trash, wrappers or smelly items of any kind in your tent or on your person at night. Everything must be either hung in a bear bag or kept in a bear canister if you have one. 

The Trip - The Pemigewasset Wilderness sits in between RT 93 and RT 302 and is just north of the Kancamagus Highway. Most of the area we’ll be in is relatively flat. There are no shelters along the route and we will be back-country camping so you must bring your own shelter (tent, hammock, bivy, etc).  

The Plan - We will meet at the Zealand trailhead off of RT 302. From there we will take the Zealand Trail towards the Zealand Hut and then follow the Ethan Pond Trail south. From there...the forest is ours!  

We'll hike down Zeacliff trail to Whitewall Brook to find a campsite, have lunch and set up camp. We’ll then take a short hike to Thoreau Falls which are beautiful when there is a good flow of water, has fine views of Mts. Bond and Guyot, and great for sunbathing. We’ll return back to our site to cook dinner, have a campfire and enjoy each other’s company. We like to bring some whiskey to sip by the fire. We’ll get up the next morning, cook breakfast, break camp and hike back to the parking lot.

We’ll hike 4.6 miles to our campsite. It will be 1.6 miles round trip from our site to visit Thoreau Falls. Total mileage all together will be around 9.8 miles over two days. We’re not looking to run a marathon or cover 20 miles in one day. This is a casual backpack.

Water - We will be along or close to a couple different rivers so water will be readily available.

Gear: Keep in mind this trip is in fall. The nights might become a bit chilly:

Shelter (tent, hammock, bivy etc.) 

Sleeping bag with pad 

A warm layer of clothing for the night

Wicking layers of clothing for daytime (No Cotton!) 

Wind proof shell jacket

1 Liter of water (we will have access to the river for water) 

1 lunch, 1 dinner, 1 breakfast and snacks 

Cooking stove with pot, plate and eating utensils

Bear bag with hanging rope [or bear canister]

We’ll carry a water filter for the group and a saw for cutting up firewood

Your pack should not weigh any more than 35 pounds with water.

Find a tent mate: Contact someone else in the group on this page to share a tent, food, and cooking. It will lighten your load! 

Lodging Option: This will be especially helpful if you have questions about your pack that we can discuss before leaving the next day. Bunk beds are available at our house [with Wi Fi] near Waterville Valley, NH for Friday night at $25 for Friday night. Coffee/bagels each morning and linen/blankets/towels are provided. Space is limited so email ASAP to reserve a bunk!

Directions To Trailhead Parking Lot

The Zealand Trailhead is reached by following Zealand Road, which leaves US 302 at Zealand Campground about 2.3 miles east of Twin Mountain village, to a parking area on the left 3.5 miles from US 302, just before a gate. We will be driving a blue Toyota Tacoma truck.