Spofford Gap - Temple, NH
Posted by: 
NorStar
N 42° 48.610 W 071° 52.979
19T E 264282 N 4743766
Spofford Gap is a gorge separating Temple Mountain from other mountains to the southeast and traversed by West Street from Temple to Sharon, NH.
Waymark Code: WMF8BC
Location: New Hampshire, United States
Date Posted: 09/09/2012
Views: 16
Between the towns of Temple and Sharon, along West Street is Spofford Gap, marked on a USGS map, but little but a home-made road sign that marks the geographic location on earth.
Spofford Gap is marked on the USGS topographic map. The high point of the rise (estimated from contours on the topo map) is 1390 ft. The gap is between Temple Mountain to the north, approximately 1900 ft high, and Kidder Mountain-Wilcat Hill to the south, approximately 1800 ft high.
To get to the gap, you should first print out a map. There are not signs saying 'To Spofford Gap' at either end, so you will have to watch road signs very carefully. The easiest would be to go to the center of Temple along NH Route 45, then go south from the common and take a right onto West Street. From there, just follow the road straight. The road will gently rise to a farm on the left. There is a turnout for the farm - at one end are the mailboxes and a homemade sign saying "Spofford Gap Lane." This is the only sign within the gap that mentions it. The road then goes through a thickly wooded section. You get the impression that the way is narrow, but you don't actually see the walls of the gap. Then the road descends gradually to become Nashua Road in Sharon to an intersection with Greenleaf Road. If you turn right and travel just beyond the next intersection, you will come to a trailhead for the Wapack Trail. There you will find posted two topographic maps of the trail that show the gap, as well.
More Info:
TopoQuest.com (Spofford Gap):
(
visit link)