I could tell when I looked at the map, Benton was going to be a very laid back place to visit. I’m pretty sure there are more miles of rivers and streams than roads in Benton. Part of the White Mountain National Forest is in Benton and the Appalachian Trail crosses the south east corner of the town.
My first stop was at Long Pond. I caught a glimpse of it through the trees on my way there…
I could tell right away, this was my kind of place! There were a couple kayaks at the water’s edge, loaded with fishing gear and just waiting to be paddled out onto the quiet waters.
I admired the fishing piers for those who’d rather not paddle…
I chatted with this fellow and his wife for a bit before moving on…
His love of all things nature resounded in our talk. He told me about hiking nearby Mt Moosilauk and of quiet days fishing from this pier. While he didn’t catch any fish while we were chatting, he assured me there were lots of them lurking in the clear waters.
As I was driving along Rt. 25 I could see the cliffs on Owl’s Head Mountain…
Just below Owl’s Head is Oliverian Pond. I drove down to the boat launch to have a look around…
And to get a better look at the cliffs…
A few posts ago, I showed off Trouble’s new hood mounted jack, now, I have an app for my phone which warns me if I am getting close to the roll-over point…
I wouldn’t bet my life on it, but it is fun to use. Near the dam, there is a historical marker I thought was pretty interesting…
I’m very glad the US Forest Service had the forethought to protect these lands. It’s hard to imagine what would have become of these beautiful areas if they hadn’t!
Until next week…
Touring NH 
I’d love to climb that mountain and see the pond from up there.
That’s a pretty fancy phone app!
I’m glad this kind of beauty is protected too. I hate to think what this state might be like if it wasn’t.
I’d like to see the pond from the top too, but not by scaling those cliffs! The app is neat, like I said, I wouldn’t bet my life on it though!
Gorgeous photos! I love finding all the historical markers. I think they’re up to 250 of them now!
Thanks Ally. Some of the markers are more interesting than other. Do you know how many there are in NH?
That yellow kayak really adds a pop of color and vibrancy. Lovely!
I was really wishing I had brought my kayak! The water was so clear and beautiful.