Tucked away in the remote, northwest corner of Grantham is a beautiful pond, one that few people ever hike out to see. Nearby is a hilltop with an amazing view, one that few people manage to take in. Leavitt Pond and the hilltop called “Little Mt. Washington” are hidden treasures, to be sure.

Leavitt Pond lies at the base of Leavitt Hill, which lured one of Grantham’s first settlers, Nathaniel Leavitt, to move his family here from Exeter in 1769. At one time, as his extended family grew and a community developed, there were said to be 50 Leavitt children attending Leavitt Hill School. By 1870, though, the settlement had become quite depleted, as most left to find better farmland elsewhere or moved downhill to work in the valley mills.

The Hiking Project website has a description and map of a hike to Leavitt Pond.

 The trail to Leavitt Pond is an intermediate-level trail that spans 2.8 miles and has an elevation gain of 561 feet. The trail starts off Miller Pond Road, near I-89, and passes by multiple cellarholes, with one of the largest being at the top of Fay Road. The trail continues to climb and passes by a piece of old farm equipment, just after crossing out of the Upper Valley Land Trust. It passes by Red Line Trail (on the left), just before descending to another orange gate. Shortly after passing this gate, look for the Leavitt Cemetery sign (on your right). The trail passes by some decent views over Leavitt Pond, by the stone wall. The trail continues to an open area and intersects with another road. Turning right will take you to the bike path; turning left will take you towards Little Mount Washington.