MODERATE
Hiking, snowshoeing, horses on sections. Currently checking status of motorized and wheeled vehicles with New Ipswich and Temple police.
There are easier ways to get to the summit of Kidder Mtn if you go from the New Ipswich, NH side. Check out AllTrails. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/new-hampshire/kidder-mountain I prefer taking old Brown Rd from the Temple side. Perhaps a bit sadistic? Perhaps avoiding other hikers? Parking at the end of Brown Rd. is minimal, and there is often a terrifying, yet friendly, guardian yellow lab who lives near by, but 3 cars can easily park on the side of the road. Kidder is accessible from the Wapack trail off West Rd. but lately that is a bit overgrown, and seems to be little used.
There is a wonderful camp, at the beginning of Old Brown Road, which for many years has been well cared for. I am sure it was way out in the woods when first built. Sadly, we learned the owners recently passed away.

Behind are the ruins of an old sheep barn.

A bit of interesting history:
…
it was in October, 1758, that the first settler, a man by the name of Joshua TODD, came over the mountain from Peterboro, to establish a home for himself and family in the southwestern portion of what is now the town of Temple, near Kidder mountain. He probably followed the trail that had been cut through the southwestern corner of the township between Kidder mountain and Temple mountain some years before, for the purpose of moving artillery, troops and supplies at the time of the French and Indian Wars. The section of the country was a vast wilderness.
From Brown Rd, Old Brown heads up hill, a good warm up.


At the top of this climb is a 4 way junction.
Turn right and you get to West Rd. Left heads toward the trail to Kidder. If you stay on this logging road it is a dead end, but a pretty ride. Cattywompass across and the trail heads toward the Wapack trail Now that water is running I hope to come up from the Wapack and see this waterfall. While sections of the Wapack leg are rocky, some areas are beautiful, and horse friendly. Researching to see if this is in fact an old Inn. Behind the foundation. Can’t resist a tree hugger.
Unfortunately, the trip to Kidder was marred by 4 wheelers and dirt bikes.
Today I wanted to explore some side trail off the main route. I was VERY disappointed to see that 4 wheelers continue to dig up the trail.
The trail wanders down the old road toward New Ipswich.
Unfortunately dug up.
We crossed a little creek, which fortunately now has water.


The old road continues through the woods. Until you reach the right turn toward the summit.
A bloody 4 wheeler highway. An aberraberation! And such a peaceful trail.
While the old road continues toward New Ipswich, we took a right and then, at the old log landing we took a left.


And climb.
and climb…
Our ire was raised as the 4 wheeler and dirt bike continued their quest to destroy the trail up to Kidder’s summit.
There are no publishable words!!
And so to the summit!
Merry Christmas. Had I known I would have made an environmentally friendly decoration.
We met a few hikers who came up from the New Ipswich side. After enjoying the expansive views, extending to a view of the Boston sky line, we headed back down for a knee crunching descent.
We made it, though it looked as if the dirt bike almost wiped out on their way down.

Kidder is a little over 1800 feet. It is a great hike with an impressive view. As we headed back down Old Brown Rd., the scream of fast moving ATVs could be heard on the road from West Rd.
And as always; Trees.
I’ve always approached Kidder from the Wapack Trail on the West Road end. The first half-mile is usually muddy, except in drought years like this. Thanks for revealing another access point. I wonder if there’s an ATV/OHRV club in the area that might take an interest in trail restoration or maintenance. I’ve found that to be the case on a few trails in southern NH. Of course that doesn’t stop the careless folks!
I am not sure they are allowed. I am sure not on Kidder. I want to go in from Wapack. That is how I used to go. There are some off shoot trails I want to explore that don’t trek all the way up the mountain. Let me know if you want to go with us. Always like another pair of eyes.
We tried to go in that way today. Magical with all the snow. However new beaver pond blocked the trail. Going to try the other way down next time.
Awesome pics, thanks so much for sharing. Until the PRD on Brown Rd, there was another rout up that was fun. I loved the rout up from Brown Rd, and have done it over 50 times I’m sure. Thanks again. WW