Near the secluded town of Washington, a hidden gem, known as Pillsbury State Park, looms over the serene landscape. This location is the definition of tranquility and peace. When it comes to state parks, Pillsbury has a diverse and wide array of natural features that strike awe to any adventurer traveling along its trails.
Once we turned off Route 31/Washington Road and parked outside the gate at Pillsbury State Park our journey was simple: an 8 mile loop with Lucia’s Lookout being the climax of it all. We ascended to the lookout via the Bear Pond Trail and then connected with the Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway Trail. Our descent from Lucia’s Lookout (2493 foot elevation) was along the Five Summer’s Trail.
While hiking in state parks, we are no stranger to fellow hikers, or park guests. At Pillsbury, we were entirely alone, connecting instead with the natural wonders of the trail, babbling brooks, far off mystical mountains, vibrant wildlife, and various types of tree groves scattered throughout. One of the most awe-inspiring moments of the hike came after we turned onto the Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway Trail and entered a dense spruce grove. Words cannot explain the silence, and inner peace I felt standing there in the absence of noise, while a light fog back lit the spruce trees in front of me. All these natural ingredients converged together to create a truly remarkable experience, that brought me closer to inner peace, and taught me a much needed lesson.
Walking in a beautiful diverse landscape is not the only benefit of visiting Pillsbury State Park. I felt tremendous peace in the calming sound, and flowing energy of the brooks and streams along the Bear Pond Trail, Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway, and Five Summer’s Trail. At the time of my visit, I was down on my luck, however, Pillsbury State Park taught me valuable lesson. When you are down on your luck, you must look inward to find peace and ascend to greater heights. Once I reached the top of Lucia’s Lookout and saw all of the majestic mountains, I realized something; the world is filled with so much beauty and it was time to stop feeling sorry for myself and embrace it.
For more inspiration to do this hike check out our photo album on Flickr and watch the video embedded below: