Highlights
Easy to find
Well marked
Time
Approximately 40 minutes for the woodsy trails. Shorter for the trail around the edge of the parking lots – under thirty minutes I would guess.
Difficulty
Easy with a couple of moderate climbs for the woodsy trails, and easy and flat for the trail around the edge of the parking lots.
Getting to the Trail Around Dartmouth
To get to the trail around the edge of Dartmouth parking lot, turn left into the trailhead parking across from a staff parking lot. If you get to the Main Entrance you’ve missed the trailhead parking. (You can also park at the North Entrance, but that tends to be busier.)
I walked across the street and down the sidewalk.
I crossed the road to the other side and on the sidewalk I saw the markers on the ground to know which way to go, since I wanted to towards the north entrance I turned left. Here begins the official walk!
On the Trail Around Dartmouth
The trails at Dartmouth are well loved and used; I saw a lot of people walking on the paths around Dartmouth itself, doctors, hospital workers, visitors. They provide a place of comfort and stress relief. I really applaud Dartmouth’s use of space to provide a welcoming and relaxing environment for staff, patients, and visitors.
There’s a walking trail that goes from the north entrance to a staff parking lot drive. It is great for people who are on a lunch break, waiting for an appointment, just need to get outside enjoy some nature.
There will be a gravel trail to follow.
It’ll curve left and then straighten out.
You’ll come to another parking lot entrance. Cross the street.
Keep walking and enjoy the mix of sun and shade.
There are even benches to sit and reflect if you need.
At the end of the trail you can just turn around and head back or you can loop through the woods at Joe’s path to Albert Schweitzer trail which will lead you back to the car if you parked at the trail head parking lot. It’s 1.8 miles round trip if you do the loop. It’s called route 1 on this map.
Getting to the Trails in the Woods
There are three entrances to the woodsy trails at Dartmouth: Albert Schweitzer Path by the trailhead parking, Joe’s Path by the North Entrance, and Holly’s Path by the Main Entrance. You can see a map of all the trails here.
Option 1: Start at Albert Schweitzer Path
This path is accessed via the water tower access road off the trailhead parking.
Take a left into the trailhead parking from the main road (LaHaye Dr.), which is across the street from a staff parking lot and the next drive after the Same Day Outpatient Surgery Facility.
Turn right to the wide gravel path. There are more trails and a trail head map and sign in front of where you park, but these are trails that connect with the Boston Lot Lake trail system, which you can see my excursion on here.
There will be a path on your right to start the trail.
*This trail has red markers.*
Option 2: Holly’s Path
I usually start here. I park in the Main Entrance and walk towards the left corner of the building on the side walk. You’ll see a path on your left, which is the picture with the bolder and bench a couple pictures up. Continue for a few minutes on this path and you’ll see a sign. Turn right and cross the street.
You’ll see the sign to the start of Holly’s Path.
*This trail has yellow markers.*
Option 3: Joe’s Path
I have actually never been on Joe’s Path; it’s on my to-do list. It starts off close to the beginning of the Dartmouth end of the northern access road that goes to Hanover and ends up across from Jesse’s. You can see it’s location and how to get to this entrance to the path here.
*This trail has blue markers.*
On the Trail in the Woods
The trail meanders through the woods and is really relaxing to walk through.
As you wander you’ll see some plants you can learn about, which I thought was pretty neat. You’ll also see a sign pointing in the right direction.
It quickly comes to a junction of Albert Schweitzer trails (red markers) and Joe’s Path (blue markers). This is what the right side of the trail looks like that goes to Joe’s Path.
I choose to go left and went on Albert Schweitzer trail (red markers).
You can enjoy a little brook on your walk.
There’s a bit of a hill on the trail you can see here.
It’ll flatten out and you’ll be enjoy the woods for another ten minutes or so until you come to the water tower access road.
Take a left and enjoy the sunshine! The trailhead is all the way at the end about a ten minute walk or so.
I really enjoy this walk and hope you do too!
