RUMFORD — Want to get away without really getting away?

There are many opportunities on a local hiking trails close at hand in the River Valley.

Besides, how many recreational diversions are there now-a-days that pay so many dividends, healthy exercise, tranquility and priceless views, at no cost.

The following are a random sample of relatively easy hikes, all within minutes of anywhere in the River Valley.

* Angel Falls hiking trail, in Byron. One of the shortest (0.6 mile) and easiest hikes but yields a wonderful return for your efforts. The trail crosses several streams as it gradually rises until it you round some boulders and view a waterfall tumbling roughly 90 feet down a cliff. Angel Falls got its name due to the way the water pours over the rock resembles angel hair.

To get to the Angel Falls hiking trail, drive north on Route 17 from Mexico. Once you reach beautiful Coos Canyon, continue traveling on Route 17, 4.2 miles, at which point you should see a bridge, across the Swift River, on your left. Take this road and drive 0.2 miles until you reach a fork in the road and bear right. At 3.6 miles, from Route 17, you will reach a gravel pit where you can park you car and look for the Angel Falls hiking trail.

* Mount Zircon, (elev. 2,240 feet) in Rumford, provides a 360 degree view from its summit which including a wonderful view of New Hampshire’s Presidential Range to the west and the Mahoosuc Range to the north. The 2.5 mile long hike from the parking area to the summit is considered moderately strenuous.

To get to the Mount Zircon trail head follow Route 2 west of the Rumford Information Center, in Rumford Falls. At the top of the hill, take a left onto a bridge crossing the Androscoggin River and proceed 0.9 of a mile to a fork in the road. Bear right at the fork and continue 2.2 miles to the site of the former Mount Zircon Spring Water Co. bottling plant, on the left side of the road. The Mount Zircon Trail access is 100 yards, beyond the Zircon Bottling Plant — look for a pipe gate with a sign which reads Rumford Water District. Park your car near the pipe gate and pass under the pipe gate onto the gravel road beyond. Hike up the gravel road approximately 2 miles, passing the white building that covers the Mount Zircon Moontide Spring at 1.5 miles, to the Mount Zircon trail head sign on your left. The half mile leads you to the treeless summit.