A Woodland Trail In New Hampshire Takes You To The Madame Sherri Ruins

New Hampshire might be known as a beautiful place to spend time in the outdoors, but it’s not quite as well known for it’s…mysterious ruins. But this hike, one of our favorites in the state, leads directly to one of the most fascinating remnants of history in New England. While we know the background of what’s left in the woods, it’s fun to follow the trail and imagine what life was like at the destination!

All 513 acres of Madame Sherri Forest are beautiful, but we’re especially fond of the section that holds the ruins of the castle from which it gets its name!

Jesse Roussell / Google

The castle was really more of a home, albeit a large one, built in the 1920s as the summer home of New York fashion designer Madame Antoinette Sherri.

Paul Kuralt / Google

The three-story home was mainly used to entertain guests who came to her beloved summer home from the city.

Thomas Harvey / Google

While Madame Sherri’s life was filled with pomp and circumstance, her money eventually ran out and after World War II she almost completely ran out of money.

Anya L. Amorim / Google

The home was eventually completely abandoned, left to blend into the forest surrounding it. And in 1962 the castle burned down leaving just the skeleton of the home.

M R / alltrails.com

That includes the most notable section, the stairs that seem to lead nowhere.

Photo Credit

In 1998 the land surrounding the home was donated to the New Hampshire Society for the Preservation of Forest. Today, the trail leading to it is a great way to explore the forest while also having a chance to appreciate the history of the home.

Trae Herman-Durica / alltrails.com

The Ann Stokes Trail is a loop through the forest that includes views of the castle, as well as the landscape.

Kevin Oskow / Google

And it’s quite a beautiful landscape! Views go for miles.

Chad Dinger / alltrails.com

Year-round, this is a beautiful way to remember just how much you love New Hampshire.

Jody Parker-Matt / alltrails.com

The Ann Lopes Trail is 2.3 miles and can be accessed year-round. Be sure to check conditions before heading out on any hike in the winter as conditions can become icy quickly. Feel free to bring the pups along, but they’ll need to stay on a leash. You can learn more about the trail on alltrails.com.