Area Hiking information

Lake Winnipesaukee area

ABENAKI TOWER WALK Wolfeboro. Easy, gradual, ideal for families with small children; 1/3 mile, 20 minutes. Steep climb to the tower, but the views are worth it.

Trailhead: 8 miles north of Wolfeboro Center on Rte. 109.

BELKNAP MOUNTAIN Gilford.

21/2 hours, elevation: 740' Easy, invigorating climb to magnificent Winnipesaukee and Ossipee Mountain views. Rte. 11A to Gilford, at the blinking light, south through Gilford Village (Belknap Mountain Road) Stay on this road, left and right. Look for Carriage Road on the left. Pass the gate, go 1.3 miles to the end of Carriage Road. Trails begin at upper parking lot.

MOUNT MAJOR Alton Bay.

Moderate, 2 hours; elevation: 1,000' Challenging hike, spectacular views.

Trailhead: near Winnipesaukee scenic lookoffs on Rte. 11, about five miles north of Alton Bay. The parking lot is marked.

Newfound Area

MOUNT CARDIGAN Alexandria.

Moderate/difficult. 4.4 miles, 4 hours; elevation: 3,121' Outstanding peak, views. Picnic, pond, AMC lodge, camping at base.

Trailhead: Rte. 3A north from Bristol 2 miles to blinking light, left on West Shore Road to “sign tree” intersection; straight thru Alexandria Village, right on Cardigan Mtn. Rd., several mi. to Shem Valley Rd., to Cardigan Lodge trailhead.

STINSON MOUNTAIN Rumney. Moderate, 21/2 hours; elevation: 1,390' Spectacular views of the Baker River Valley, Franconia and Sandwich Mountain Ranges. Rte. 25 from Plymouth to Rumney. North through the village to Stinson Lake. Right near outlet of lake; drive uphill, take a sharp left into the parking lot.

Ossipee Area

MOUNT CHOCORUA Rte. 16, Chocorua. elevation: 3,500'. Challenging; 4.3 miles. Piper Trail approximately. 31/2 hours to the summit. Views of the Sandwich Range. Trailhead: White Mountain National Forest parking off Rte. 16, 6.1 miles south of the Kancamagus Highway (NH Rte. 112). Watch for trailhead road.

OSSIPEE RANGE at Castle in the Clouds. 45 miles of trails. Mt. Shaw (2,975'), with White Mountains views and Bald Knob, with spectacular Lake Winnipesaukee views are most popular. All abilities. Park off Rte.171 by the information kiosk, east of the Castle entrance and Severance Road, or from the Castle.

Sunapee Area

NORTHERN RAIL TRAIL 56 miles, 13' wide. Free outdoor activity venue, away from cars, along lakes, through river valleys and quaint villages. In warm weather, trail is used for bird watching, bicycling, running, walking and horseback riding; in winter, for X-C skiing, snowshoe hiking, snowmobiling.

SUNAPEE RAGGED KEARSAGE

GREENWAY A 75 mile emerald necklace of hiking trails, surrounding Lake Sunapee and crossing Sunapee, Ragged and Kearsarge Mountains. Maintained by Greenway volunteers. www.srkg.com

squam Lake area

RATTLESNAKE MOUNTAIN Holderness/ Sandwich. Easy, 1.8 miles, 11/2 hours; elevation: 1,260' Best view of Squam Lakes. Old Bridle Path follows a cart route to the rock covered summit. Trailhead: Rte. 113N from Little Squam in Holderness Village. Park after Rockywold and Deephaven camps; trail is across from Mount Morgan Trail. Look for “Old Bridle Path” signs as a privately owned trail is nearby. elevation: 2,029' Rte. 25 to Center Harbor. In the town center, take Bean Road for approximately two miles. Turn right onto a marked dirt road; follow to the base.

RED HILL Center Harbor.

SQUAM LAKE BEACH TRAIL Center Harbor, off College Road. Moderate, approximately 11/4 miles, 1 hour. ”Forest to beach“ walk through Chamberlain-Reynolds Memorial Forest to a cove on Squam Lake.

SQUAM LAKES NATURAL SCIENCE

CENTER Rte. 3/113, Holderness. Hiking up Mount Fayal, and several trails at the Science Center including Gephart, Ectone and Davison Trails. Great views of Squam Lakes.

SQUAM LAKES RANGER PROGRAM

Hike all 50 miles over 26 trails to earn your Ranger baseball cap, Patch and Completion Certificate as a Squam Ranger. Many treks are child & dog friendly. Join and receive a T-shirt, backpack and Squam Trail Guide and Trail log. Information: see Squam Lakes Association at squamlakes.org

For more information: contact the White Mountain National Forest office in Plymouth at 603-536-6100 or www.lakesregion.org