Cow Mountain Pond

Cow Mountain Pond 01-12-2026
Photo credit: Morgan Manzi

	January 2026
				1 First Day Hike - Brighton State Park First Day Hike - Brighton State Park January 1, 2026 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Brighton State Park, 102 State Park Rd, Island Pond, VT 05846, USA Hike starts at 10AM. Depending on conditions this will be either a snowshoe or micro-spike hike. We will start at the parking area and hike to the Shoreline Trail, then follow the Shoreline Trail along Spectacle Pond to Council Point. We will return on the Main Trail. Total distance 2.25 miles, 560 feet of elevation gain, about 2 hours hiking time. RSVP gmcnek@gmail.com See more details •	2	3
4	5	6 Split Rock Snowshoe - NEK Split Rock Snowshoe - NEK January 6, 2026 8:00 am - 1:00 pm Snowshoe to Split Rock via the Gore - Middle Mountain Trails. This 4.8 mile out and back, with 434 feet of elevation gain takes about 3 hours to complete. The hike starts at the Gore Mountain Trailhead on Rte 114. We snowshoe to Gore Junction which connects with the Kingdom Heritage Trail, then we follow the KHT south (Also known as the Middle Mountain North Trail) to Split Rock. We might need to bushwhack around a beaver dam on the Gore Trail. Meet behind the Community National Bank in Island Pond at 8AM. Bring hydration, extra layers of clothing, snowshoes. Map and Directions: https://www.trailfinder.info/trails/trail/gore-mountain See more details •	7	8	9	10
11	12 Cow Mountain Loop Snowshoe - NEK Cow Mountain Loop Snowshoe - NEK January 12, 2026 8:00 am - 3:00 pm Meet behind the Community National Bank in Island Pond, leaving for the trailhead at 8AM. This loop hike is 6.2 miles long if we hike to all the ponds and summit, 1,122 feet of elevation gain. Estimated hiking time is 6 hours. Bring lunch, snacks, extra layers, and hydration. This hike is dependent on weather conditions. Parking is limited so we can meet in East Burke at 8:30. https://www.trailfinder.info/trails/trail/cow-mountain-pond See more details •	13	14	15	16	17
18 NEK GMC Winter Ski, Snowshoe, Potluck & Meeting NEK GMC Winter Ski, Snowshoe, Potluck & Meeting January 18, 2026 9:00 am - 3:00 pm NorthWoods Stewardship Center, 154 Leadership Dr, Island Pond, VT 05846, USA Mark your calendar! For a day of fun, exercise, food, and hiking information and updates from NEK GMC, Northwoods Stewardship, and Vermont FPR. Begin the morning with a cross country ski tour, or a snowshoe hike, at the Northwoods Stewardship Campus, followed by a potluck lunch, then our NEK GMC winter meeting. Meet new people or see some familiar faces at this annual event! This is a free event, though donations are suggested for use of the trails. See more details •	19	20	21	22	23	24
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Please be advised:

The trail closure on Monadnock Mountain remains in effect. There's still a "NO TRESPASSING" sign on the gate at the gravel pit, although it is easily overlooked when the gate is open. The continued presence of an old trailhead parking sign at this location only adds to the confusion over its status, but a person working at the gravel pit confirmed to me that this trail is still closed.

As some of you may be aware, there is an alternative route that avoids the gravel pit, but I wouldn't recommend using it at this time. It follows a private right of way that encroaches on a nearby dwelling. While this property isn't posted, its owner has expressed no interest in encouraging public access to their land. Please respect this choice and find another mountain to hike for now. Thank you!

Cow Mountain Pond

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January 2026

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Monadnock Trailhead Closed