Hiking the West River Trail

I hiked the West River Trail on a sunny, warm morning in early fall – it was splendid. It was cool under the trees (with not a bug in sight!) and the sunlight and shadows made every-changing patterns on the forest floor, on the trees, over the rocky brooks. Occasional glimpses of the West River, which runs next to the trail, tumbling rocks and tall, quiet trees made for an excellently quiet walk through the woods. I ended at Angel Falls, a small waterfall with a great view of nearby peaks.

The trail is easy to follow, sometimes blending into the forest floor, giving it an especially natural feel. Just keep looking out for the purple blazes and markers and you’ll find the path again. The West River Trail provides a lot of options for anyone looking for an easy to moderate hike of any distance since it can be accessed from the Winhall Campgrounds, Ball Mountain Lake, Jamaica State Park and in South Londonderry. 

Route: Turn into the Ball Mountain Lake road, outside of Jamaica on Route 30; park at the West River Trail trailhead and follow the purple blazes and markers

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate (slight hills and uneven terrain).
Distance: approximately 4 miles (from parking area to Angel Falls and back)

Marker on the West River Trail

Follow the trail from the parking area at the Ball Mountain Dam to the left towards Angel Falls/Winhall Campground. The trail goes through a hilly wooded area and is marked by purple paint blazes and diamond-shaped purple trail markers (look for these high on the trees). The terrain is slightly uneven, from tree roots and rocks, and small hills keep the walk interesting. On the way to Angel Falls, the path is mostly shady and goes over a few small, rocky brooks, through glades of trees and over a wooden bridge before opening up for a beautiful view of the West River. Angel Falls is then a short distance on the left.

Angel Falls

This Hike of the Week is part of a continuing blog series to celebrate hiking in and around Stratton Mountain. For more information about hiking at Stratton, visit Stratton.com. Please hike safely - always research your route, tell someone your plan, dress appropriately and be prepared with plenty of water and snacks.