Abenaki Trails
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Description
Historical sites of interest for the Abenaki Native Americans. Each spot has a story to tell!
1. Sites Along the Contoocook River.
Several sites along the Contoocook River in Hopkinton and Henniker had thriving Abenaki communities for thousands of years which eventually disappeared in the face of white settlers. Two local sites include the confluence of the Hopkinton and Warner Rivers in Hopkinton, and a site near the Hopkinton/Henniker border. For the site located on the Hopkinton/Henniker border, the area of the village sites was cut in half when construction of the Everett Dam started in 1959.To visit the area near the confluence of the Contoocook and Warner Rivers, you can go to the LLewellyn Bandstand that is off Depot Ln on the south side of the Contoocook Railroad Covered Bridge.To visit the area near the Hopkinton/Henniker line, you can go to Amey Brook Park on the Old Concord Rd. in Henniker.
2. Mt Kearsarge
Mount Kearsarge is one of the oldest mountains in New Hampshire and stands at 2,937 feet in elevation. It is home to both the Winslow and Rollins State Park's, and is a easy access family-hiking location. The hiking trails can be accessed by the parking area at Winslow State Park, the picnic area in Rollins State Park, and Kearsarge Valley Road south of the golf course. Please hike with caution and research the trails you will take before hiking. A link for the hiking trails in provided below.https://www.nhstateparks.org/getmedia/d1055d52-a86b-49a2-8772-4c851eb0a8ee/KearsargeHikingMap_Web.pdf
3. Bradford Spring "Big Medicine Water"
Bradford Springs was first recorded in history as early as 1750, but was know for its apparent healing powers by the local Native Americans well before the European colonizers arrived. Bradford Springs is located on East Washington Road, Bradford, New Hampshire, 03221. The springs were eventually turned into a health resort with a hotel named The Hermitage in 1858 and ran a steady business until the 20th century when interest in the healing springs began to fade.
4. Indian Tie-Up
This geological formation known as Indian Tie-Up is in Henniker on Liberty Hill Road. You can access it by taking Day Pond Road off Rte 114 in Warner and about ½ mile at Liberty Hill Road in Bradford, NH take a left toward Henniker and go about a mile. You CANNOT drive down Liberty Hill Road depending on the conditions, it is not maintained, so drive as far as you can and park if you have to. You are simply walking into the woods along trails at times and up a hill to find it. This is a great leaning rock among rocks on a ridge a short hike to the west of the road that can easily shelter say 20 people.
5. Henniker Footprints
In the middle of Henniker, South of the Contoocook River there are a set of clear human-shaped footprints imprinted into the stone. It is on New England College property along one of the hiking trails that run on and near the campus. Because this is a sacred site exact directions will not be given online.
