Shelter Rock, Old Osseo Trail – Shelter rock is a large boulder on the side of the old Osseo Trail in Lincoln, New Hampshire. Cut in the early 1900s, this section of the Osseo Trail began near the East Branch & Lincoln Railroad’s logging Camp 3. It traveled up through the Clear Brook drainage to Osseo Peak (Whaleback Mountain) and then on to Mount Flume. This large boulder is an interesting feature of the trail.
During the early years of the Osseo Trail, it was part of the Franconia Ridge Trail, but in the 1980s, when the Clearbrook Condominium development was built, this portion of the Osseo Trail was abandoned and rerouted to its current location. The start of the trail is now along the scenic Lincoln Woods Trail.
Even though this section of the trail is considered to be abandoned, it is regularly used by locals and hikers. The trail is in better condition than some of the active trails in the White Mountain National Forest. Over the years, a number of trails in the White Mountains have been abandoned, but various parties continue to maintain some of them.
There is also an area along the trail that was part of some kind of research and / or survey project; the metal tags, like the one pictured above, remain on a number of trees. And two abandoned camp sites can be found along the old Osseo Trail.
Interesting links:
Trailside Scenes
East Branch & Lincoln Railroad
Abandoned New Hampshire
Happy image making..
© Erin Paul Donovan. All rights reserved | Historic Information Disclaimer | White Mountains History
To license any of the photographs above for usage in print publications, click on the photograph.
Owner of ScenicNH Photography LLC
Erin Paul is a professional photographer, writer, and author who specializes in environmental conservation and historic preservation photography mainly in the New Hampshire White Mountains. His work is published worldwide, and publication credits include: Appalachian Mountain Club, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Backpacker Magazine, and The Wilderness Society.
ScenicNH Photography LLC
Specializing in environmental conservation and historic preservation photography mainly in the White Mountains region of New Hampshire, Erin Paul’s photography and writing focuses on the history of the White Mountains, and telling the story of abandoned places and forgotten historical sites.