Mt. Chocorua Loop Hike
A Loop Hike over the Carter Ledges, The Three Sisters and Mt. Chocorua.
Mt. Chocorua Loop Hike
A Loop Hike over the Carter Ledges, The Three Sisters and Mt. Chocorua.
Details
Please join me for this 9.3 mile loop hike, one of the prettiest NH loops IMHO. It which will encompass the Carter Ledges, the Three Sisters and the summit of Mount Chocorua. While not a 4000-footer, Mount Chocorua has the feel of one. It is very rugged and has excellent 360-degree views of the surrounding lakes, mountains, and forests. Mount Chocorua's distinctive, bare summit can be seen from almost every direction and can be identified from many points throughout central New Hampshire and western Maine. The hike will ascend via the Piper and Carter Ledge Trails to the Carter Ledge and the Three Sisters (subpeaks). After ascending the Chocorua summit, we'll return by way of the Liberty, Hammond, Weetamoo trails back down to the Piper trail. There are lots of spectacular views along this route!
NOTE: Appropriate hiking boots with good traction are a must! If anyone is uncomfortable with the steep drop-off at the Carter Ledges, they can take Piper trail all the way up to the Three Sisters trail and meet up with us at the Three Sisters summit.
Total Distance and Elevation Gain: 9.3 miles with approximately 2800 feet in cumulative elevation gain.
Total Time: 6-7.5 hours depending on breaks and the group's speed.
Harsh weather may postpone to another date or cancel, as appropriate.
What to Bring: Typical winter hiking gear: multi-layers of wicking (not cotton) hiking clothes, hiking boots (winter preferable), micro spikes, snowshoes potentially (will be recommended to bring or not before the hiking day), sunscreen, sunglasses, hand warmers, extra layers, etc.. Also bring along lunch, snacks and plenty of water (at least 2-L).
Carpooling: Contact other participants or the trip leader to arrange.
Directions
FROM POINTS SOUTH CONVENIENT TO ROUTE 93: Take Route 93 to Exit 23. Take Route 104 East for 8.2 miles. Turn onto Route 3 and follow for 0.9 miles to the intersection with Route 25. Take Route 25 for 19 miles and then turn onto Route 113 East. Follow NH 113 for 2.9 miles. Just after the village of Tamworth, turn right onto Page Hill Road. Follow this for 3 miles to Route 16 in Chocorua (NOTE: If you stay on NH 113, you'll get to the same point.). Take Route 16 North for 6 miles to the Davies Campground and General Store (on your left just before Moulton Drive).
FROM POINTS SOUTH CONVENIENT TO ROUTE 16: From Portsmouth, NH, drive Route 16 North for roughly 70.8 miles to the Davies Campground and General Store (see above).
The trailhead parking area is accessed by a dirt road off NH Rt 16 behind Davies Campground and General Store, 6.1 miles south of the junction with the Kancamagus Hwy (Rt 112) in Conway. Look for a white Honda CRV.
Day fee for the parking lot (unless you have a sticker) is $5 cash. There are good "outhouse" bathrooms at the parking lot.
For GPS Users: 43.939451, -71.225266 (approximate address 2509 NH Route 16; Albany, NH – at the intersection of Moulton Drive).
Meeting Time: 8:00 AM.
About this event
Please join me for this 9.3 mile loop hike, one of the prettiest NH loops IMHO. It which will encompass the Carter Ledges, the Three Sisters and the summit of Mount Chocorua. While not a 4000-footer, Mount Chocorua has the feel of one. It is very rugged and has excellent 360-degree views of the surrounding lakes, mountains, and forests. Mount Chocorua's distinctive, bare summit can be seen from almost every direction and can be identified from many points throughout central New Hampshire and western Maine. The hike will ascend via the Piper and Carter Ledge Trails to the Carter Ledge and the Three Sisters (subpeaks). After ascending the Chocorua summit, we'll return by way of the Liberty, Hammond, Weetamoo trails back down to the Piper trail. There are lots of spectacular views along this route!
NOTE: Appropriate hiking boots with good traction are a must! If anyone is uncomfortable with the steep drop-off at the Carter Ledges, they can take Piper trail all the way up to the Three Sisters trail and meet up with us at the Three Sisters summit.
Total Distance and Elevation Gain: 9.3 miles with approximately 2800 feet in cumulative elevation gain.
Total Time: 6-7.5 hours depending on breaks and the group's speed.
Harsh weather may postpone to another date or cancel, as appropriate.
What to Bring: Typical winter hiking gear: multi-layers of wicking (not cotton) hiking clothes, hiking boots (winter preferable), micro spikes, snowshoes potentially (will be recommended to bring or not before the hiking day), sunscreen, sunglasses, hand warmers, extra layers, etc.. Also bring along lunch, snacks and plenty of water (at least 2-L).
Carpooling: Contact other participants or the trip leader to arrange.
Directions to the trailhead
Get directionsFROM POINTS SOUTH CONVENIENT TO ROUTE 93: Take Route 93 to Exit 23. Take Route 104 East for 8.2 miles. Turn onto Route 3 and follow for 0.9 miles to the intersection with Route 25. Take Route 25 for 19 miles and then turn onto Route 113 East. Follow NH 113 for 2.9 miles. Just after the village of Tamworth, turn right onto Page Hill Road. Follow this for 3 miles to Route 16 in Chocorua (NOTE: If you stay on NH 113, you'll get to the same point.). Take Route 16 North for 6 miles to the Davies Campground and General Store (on your left just before Moulton Drive).
FROM POINTS SOUTH CONVENIENT TO ROUTE 16: From Portsmouth, NH, drive Route 16 North for roughly 70.8 miles to the Davies Campground and General Store (see above).
The trailhead parking area is accessed by a dirt road off NH Rt 16 behind Davies Campground and General Store, 6.1 miles south of the junction with the Kancamagus Hwy (Rt 112) in Conway. Look for a white Honda CRV.
Day fee for the parking lot (unless you have a sticker) is $5 cash. There are good "outhouse" bathrooms at the parking lot.
For GPS Users: 43.939451, -71.225266 (approximate address 2509 NH Route 16; Albany, NH – at the intersection of Moulton Drive).
Meeting Time: 8:00 AM.
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TraisNH.com
Snow, mainly before 4pm. High near 20. Wind chill values as low as -1. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
Mountain Forecast
Summit Forecast:
14 degrees down to 10 in the late afternoon
Wind chill 9 down to -11 in the late afternoon
https://www.newenglandtrailconditions.com/nh/viewreport.php?entryid=80340
Pumpernickel can you please confirm you are going to make the hike? thx
Other than the driving any impact should be minor. But the trail report I posted was from Wed said drifts etc, so snowshoes for sure.
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