Durrell Mountain Road Question

gokart-mozart · 10-22-2025, 10:07 AM

Recent detours on Route 11 from Alton Bay to Gilford got me looking at, and then traveling over, some back roads.

There is a road that connects Guinea Ridge Road in Gilmanton to 107 in Belmont called Durrell Mountain Road.

Is that road open to the public, and is it passable (4WD heavy SUV) all the way? I've read all the old posts here that mention that road, last one in 2017, and posts are conflicting about this question.

upthesaukee · 10-22-2025, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gokart-mozart

Recent detours on Route 11 from Alton Bay to Gilford got me looking at, and then traveling over, some back roads.

There is a road that connects Guinea Ridge Road in Gilmanton to 107 in Belmont called Durrell Mountain Road.

Is that road open to the public, and is it passable (4WD heavy SUV) all the way? I've read all the old posts here that mention that road, last one in 2017, and posts are conflicting about this question.

Why would you want to take that detour when you can simply take Rand Hill Road (in either direction)?

Or are you just curious?

Dave

gokart-mozart · 10-22-2025, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by upthesaukee

Why would you want to take that detour when you can simply take Rand Hill Road (in either direction)?

Or are you just curious?

Dave

I hate driving the same way every day. Like to mix it up.
And, also curious.

Do you know the answer to my question?

John Mercier · 10-22-2025, 12:02 PM

I believe that it was a discontinued road - but not really sure.
I also seem to remember gates as conservation land is all around it.

Riviera · 10-22-2025, 01:52 PM

I’ve ridden it on a mountain bike. It’s rough terrain. A good off road vehicle could do it, but I wouldn’t take most daily driver SUVs through there.

I also recall a gate.

BroadHopper · 10-22-2025, 02:19 PM

The road is steep in history. It was built to get iron ore from Belknap Mtn range to Gilmanton Iron Works. It was a passable road up until the 80s.

The road is listed as Class 4 in the NH road gazetteer. Navionics, where most of the GPS maps came from also list the road as Class 4.

Around 2015, I decided to revisit Durrell Mtn Rd with my Pathfinder. On the Belmont side, there were large boulders blocking the entrance. So, I went to the Gilford side and it was open. On the Gilford side part of the road is a major snowmobile corridor. When the snowmobile corridor ended, the road was barely passable. I did manage to travel to the rock barricade. As I was turning around, a man approaches me and says I was trespassing. I told him I'm on my way back. I did not see any trespassing signs. He claims there is a gate at the other end. I did not see one. I also showed him my GPS that shows it is a road. He said the GPS is wrong.

I visited the Belmont road agent. He said it was classified as Class 4 and the man who approach me must give right of way until he gets permission from the DOT to close the road.

I visited the Gilford road agent, he said the same. The road is on Belknap Conservative Trust land. He had no idea why the man in Belmont says I am trespassing.

Today there is a gate that prevents ATVs from using the snowmobile corridor on the Gilford side. You can still walk the road to Belmont. The boulders are still there on Belmont side.

The GPS and the NH road atlas still show the road as class 4.

upthesaukee · 10-22-2025, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gokart-mozart

I hate driving the same way every day. Like to mix it up.
And, also curious.

Do you know the answer to my question?

Sorry, I do not, but the comment in post #6 by Broadhopper has a good explanation.

Have a great day

Dave

gokart-mozart · 10-22-2025, 03:15 PM

Thanks to all for answering my question.

Where I live there are three Class 6 roads which would greatly simplify my travels if they were improved to the point that transit by conventional autos were possible.

We were visited several years ago by a couple from Ireland, who rented a car and a GPS at Logan airport and called us in distress from Tumbledown Dick Road because they had become stuck on a boulder while following "fastest route".

It's always good to ask before you go.

John Mercier · 10-22-2025, 04:15 PM

Durrell Mountain Road runs to Sargent Road in Gilmanton.
It barely, if at all touches Gilford at the Peverly Conservation property.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Du...oASAFQAw%3D%3D

On the Belmont side, past Roger's Rd across the little land bridge between the two wet sections, past the parking area on the left, up the hill past the large pond on the left - from there on is all nearly impassible until you reach the Gilmanton side with the town forest section.

The Class 4 is probably only the sections on the Belmont side to the large pond, and on the Gilmanton side to the town forest parking.

Slickcraft · 10-22-2025, 07:31 PM

On 107 south you can take Middle Route all the way to Rt 140 then into Alton.

Or take Middle Route to left on Sargent Rd to right on Guinea Ridge Rd , left on Places Mill Rd then left on Avery Hill Rd to Alton Mt Road to Rand Hill Road not far from UP.

BTW, where is Alton Mt? Been there many times.

Alan

tis · 10-23-2025, 05:16 AM

So coming from Alton it isn't a big deal to use Rand Road to get to Laconia? Do you need extra time?

upthesaukee · 10-23-2025, 07:59 AM

Nope, a minute or two at most. And the detour should be over in just a few days.

Dave

tis · 10-23-2025, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by upthesaukee

Nope, a minute or two at most. And the detour should be over in just a few days.

Dave

Great, thanks. Good to know. Last time we went, we went through Moultonborough, but have to go Sat. so think we will go through Alton.

codeman671 · 10-23-2025, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tis

Great, thanks. Good to know. Last time we went, we went through Moultonborough, but have to go Sat. so think we will go through Alton.

The Rand Hill detour is no big deal. I travel it twice daily. Hardly any difference in time. Unless you are driving a large commercial vehicle that is overweight it should not be a deterrence.

tis · 10-23-2025, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by codeman671

The Rand Hill detour is no big deal. I travel it twice daily. Hardly any difference in time. Unless you are driving a large commercial vehicle that is overweight it should not be a deterrence.

Thank you.

codeman671 · 10-23-2025, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tis

Thank you.

I timed it tonight, five minutes from end to end. Will be curious to find out what the same stretch on route 11 takes when it is open next week.

upthesaukee · 10-24-2025, 04:36 PM

Route 11 is back open. Life for me is back to normal.

Dave

tis · 10-24-2025, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by upthesaukee

Route 11 is back open. Life for me is back to normal.

Dave

Open for good? So it will be open tomorrow?

upthesaukee · 10-24-2025, 06:54 PM

Open for good

DAve

ghfromaltonbay · 10-24-2025, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by upthesaukee

Open for good

DAve

Glad to hear it. Had to use the detour heading to Laconia several times. We waved to you as we drove by. Didn't want to blow the horn. Save that for driving in NJ.

tis · 10-25-2025, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by upthesaukee

Open for good

DAve

Perfect. Thank you for letting us know.

codeman671 · 10-25-2025, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by codeman671

I timed it tonight, five minutes from end to end. Will be curious to find out what the same stretch on route 11 takes when it is open next week.

It was 2 1/2 minute staying on Route 11.

steve-on-mark · 10-25-2025, 03:46 PM

Took me 3 minutes.. I drive safely...

Sent from my Pixel 7a using Tapatalk

10-22-2025, 10:07 AM	#1
gokart-mozart Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 199 Thanks: 2 Thanked 57 Times in 36 Posts	Durrell Mountain Road Question Recent detours on Route 11 from Alton Bay to Gilford got me looking at, and then traveling over, some back roads. There is a road that connects Guinea Ridge Road in Gilmanton to 107 in Belmont called Durrell Mountain Road. Is that road open to the public, and is it passable (4WD heavy SUV) all the way? I've read all the old posts here that mention that road, last one in 2017, and posts are conflicting about this question.

10-22-2025, 03:15 PM	#8
gokart-mozart Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 199 Thanks: 2 Thanked 57 Times in 36 Posts	Thanks to All Thanks to all for answering my question. Where I live there are three Class 6 roads which would greatly simplify my travels if they were improved to the point that transit by conventional autos were possible. We were visited several years ago by a couple from Ireland, who rented a car and a GPS at Logan airport and called us in distress from Tumbledown Dick Road because they had become stuck on a boulder while following "fastest route". It's always good to ask before you go.

10-23-2025, 07:59 AM	#12
upthesaukee Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Alton Bay Posts: 5,614 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 2,483 Thanked 1,987 Times in 1,087 Posts	Nope Nope, a minute or two at most. And the detour should be over in just a few days. Dave __________________ I Live Here... I am always UPTHESAUKEE !!!!

10-24-2025, 04:36 PM	#17
upthesaukee Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Alton Bay Posts: 5,614 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 2,483 Thanked 1,987 Times in 1,087 Posts	It's open !!!!! Route 11 is back open. Life for me is back to normal. Dave __________________ I Live Here... I am always UPTHESAUKEE !!!!

10-24-2025, 06:54 PM	#19
upthesaukee Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Alton Bay Posts: 5,614 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 2,483 Thanked 1,987 Times in 1,087 Posts	For good Open for good DAve __________________ I Live Here... I am always UPTHESAUKEE !!!!

10-22-2025, 12:02 PM	#4
John Mercier Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 3,562 Thanks: 3 Thanked 634 Times in 521 Posts	I believe that it was a discontinued road - but not really sure. I also seem to remember gates as conservation land is all around it.

10-22-2025, 01:52 PM	#5
Riviera Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 61 Thanks: 5 Thanked 59 Times in 20 Posts	I’ve ridden it on a mountain bike. It’s rough terrain. A good off road vehicle could do it, but I wouldn’t take most daily driver SUVs through there. I also recall a gate.

10-22-2025, 02:19 PM	#6
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,615 Thanks: 3,245 Thanked 1,115 Times in 801 Posts	Durrell Mtn Road. The road is steep in history. It was built to get iron ore from Belknap Mtn range to Gilmanton Iron Works. It was a passable road up until the 80s. The road is listed as Class 4 in the NH road gazetteer. Navionics, where most of the GPS maps came from also list the road as Class 4. Around 2015, I decided to revisit Durrell Mtn Rd with my Pathfinder. On the Belmont side, there were large boulders blocking the entrance. So, I went to the Gilford side and it was open. On the Gilford side part of the road is a major snowmobile corridor. When the snowmobile corridor ended, the road was barely passable. I did manage to travel to the rock barricade. As I was turning around, a man approaches me and says I was trespassing. I told him I'm on my way back. I did not see any trespassing signs. He claims there is a gate at the other end. I did not see one. I also showed him my GPS that shows it is a road. He said the GPS is wrong. I visited the Belmont road agent. He said it was classified as Class 4 and the man who approach me must give right of way until he gets permission from the DOT to close the road. I visited the Gilford road agent, he said the same. The road is on Belknap Conservative Trust land. He had no idea why the man in Belmont says I am trespassing. Today there is a gate that prevents ATVs from using the snowmobile corridor on the Gilford side. You can still walk the road to Belmont. The boulders are still there on Belmont side. The GPS and the NH road atlas still show the road as class 4. __________________ Someday may never be an actual day. Last edited by BroadHopper; 10-22-2025 at 02:22 PM. Reason: grammar

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10-22-2025, 04:15 PM	#9
John Mercier Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 3,562 Thanks: 3 Thanked 634 Times in 521 Posts	Durrell Mountain Road runs to Sargent Road in Gilmanton. It barely, if at all touches Gilford at the Peverly Conservation property. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Du...oASAFQAw%3D%3D On the Belmont side, past Roger's Rd across the little land bridge between the two wet sections, past the parking area on the left, up the hill past the large pond on the left - from there on is all nearly impassible until you reach the Gilmanton side with the town forest section. The Class 4 is probably only the sections on the Belmont side to the large pond, and on the Gilmanton side to the town forest parking.

10-22-2025, 07:31 PM	#10
Slickcraft Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Welch Island and The Taylor Community Posts: 3,343 Thanks: 1,249 Thanked 2,121 Times in 970 Posts	On 107 south you can take Middle Route all the way to Rt 140 then into Alton. Or take Middle Route to left on Sargent Rd to right on Guinea Ridge Rd , left on Places Mill Rd then left on Avery Hill Rd to Alton Mt Road to Rand Hill Road not far from UP. BTW, where is Alton Mt? Been there many times. Alan

10-23-2025, 05:16 AM	#11
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,833 Thanks: 764 Thanked 1,474 Times in 1,029 Posts	So coming from Alton it isn't a big deal to use Rand Road to get to Laconia? Do you need extra time?

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10-25-2025, 03:46 PM	#23
steve-on-mark Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Epping, NH / Mark Island Posts: 1,898 Thanks: 189 Thanked 738 Times in 431 Posts	Took me 3 minutes.. I drive safely... Sent from my Pixel 7a using Tapatalk __________________ ....keeping " urban decay " out of photos for nearly 3 years!