Pitcher Mountain – New England's Narrow Road

Blueberry Picking on Pitcher Mountain

blueberry picking sign — Blueberry picking sign and cash box at Pitcher Mountain

We had started a tradition years ago when we first moved to New Hampshire. We found a great little mountain to climb that offered a gorgeous panoramic view and it was loaded with blueberry bushes.

We’d head up to Pitcher Mountain in Stoddard in July and each of the kids would help me fill our little buckets full of blueberries.
This year my son was not too thrilled with the idea. It’s boring. He’s 14 now. But he was hanging around the house without anything to do and I convinced him to go just for the hike. He whined and moaned and couldn’t wait to leave, but I managed to get him to help me pick at least a few berries.

I asked him which trail he wanted to take back down and he said “the fastest one”.

Then I put my dollar into the box when we got to the parking area at the bottom, and he said that I was probably the only person who put any money in. He said it like I was such a moron. Teenagers.

Pitcher Mountain is quite a drive for us now that we have moved, but it’s still one of my favorite places to hike. We had a great time! 😉

The view in the photo below is one of the best from the top. It was clear enough to see Mount Monadnock.

View from top of Pitcher Mountain — View of Mount Monadnock from the summit of Pitcher Mountain.

mountaintop view — Looking northwest from the summit.

This is a Beautiful Week for Enjoying The New Hampshire Outdoors (newenglandsnarrowroad.wordpress.com)
Blueberry Picking On Such A Summer’s Day (cwdetroit.cbslocal.com)
Our Pack Monadnock Hike in June (newenglandsnarrowroad.wordpress.com)

Hike A Little Mountain With a Big View

view of mountains — View From The Top of Pitcher Mountain

I don’t remember how I learned about Pitcher Mountain, but it is one of my favorite places to hike. It’s not a long way to the top from the parking lot, so most everyone would be able to do this hike. It does get a bit steep, with rocks to navigate near the top. Follow the trail to the right, which is a dirt road until you reach the edge of the pasture, then you will be on a steeper trail.

The pasture area is part of the Pitcher Mountain Farm located in Stoddard, New Hampshire. You will pass it on Rt. 123 heading west toward the small parking area for hiking. Blueberry bushes cover the top and it can get quite busy during July and August when berry picking is best. There is a money box in the parking area for donations at that time of year.

fire tower on Pitcher Mountain — Fire Tower at the Top

There is a fire tower on the rocky top and other trails to follow back down through the woods. They won’t have the nice views you’ll see by the pasture, but if you want to extend your hike, follow the trail markers out across the blueberry field toward a pole and then go down that path that leads through the woods. It comes out at a road where you will turn left and walk back to the parking lot. It’s a cool walk down after a hot day of picking (and eating) berries.

Hiking Pitcher Mountain

A short hike up Pitcher Mountain gives plenty of awesome views.

My son and I have a tradition of going to Pitcher Mountain to pick blueberries each August. The mountain is in Stoddard, New Hampshire and the hike to the top is quick, but the views from the 2163 foot summit are gorgeous!

This is the first time I’ve seen these new wind towers. Sorry my photo isn’t that good, but we counted 8 of them on the hillside in Lempster. I’ve heard that they are loud, disrupt the flight patterns of birds, and other negative info. Wind Towers are also being put up near another favorite spot of min – Gregg Lake in Antrim. I’ll have to become informed, but after reading about it, I don’t see how it will save me any money and I wouldn’t like these things popping up all over this beautiful state to ruin the views!

The top of the mountain is full of blueberry bushes. If we split up and pick, then combine our efforts, we can gather a nice crop of berries to eat, cook with and freeze. All that is required is a donation at the bottom of the hill in the parking area.

According to this site, New Hampshire has 17 active standing fire towers and others that are not used. If you want to know how to visit them click here.

Fire tower at the top of Pitcher Mountain in New Hampshire. — Pitcher Mountain Fire Tower

Every year I say I’ll go back again and get more berries and then the time goes by and blueberry season has ended. But the mountain is still there, and we can always go for a hike and get some new photos.