Belknap Mountain Hike

Spring is in the air!!! You could tell because this was the largest turnout we’ve had since the beginning of the year. Everyone was excited to bask in the sunshine!!!

Belknap Mountain rises 600 feet above the bald pate of Mount Major. For this hike to Belknap Mountain, we parked alongside of the road before the gate, and hiked up the Carriage Road. The Carriage Road was snow free the entire way. There were a number of beautiful cascades to view on the ascent. At the upper parking lot we walked to the brown garage that was a continuation of the Carriage Road. We took a path between two large stones to get an enjoyable preview of the views we would get from the top. It was a beautiful overlook of Laconia and Lake Winnisquam! We then returned to the brown garage to the various summit trails.

Our group followed the Green Trail up which is steep and shared much of the course with utility lines. The upper ledges on the Green Trail were very icy so we put on our MicroSpikes. It was a  blast to experience how well MicroSpikes provided traction on the ice! The trail was clearly marked and a steady climb up.

Belknap summit itself is wooded. Once at the top we climbed up the firetower to get the magnificent 360-degree views! From snow-capped Mt. Washington to Mount Kearsage, virtually all of central New Hampshire is gloriously visible. We only ran into 2 hikers on the hike up; and we had the summit all to ourselves. We took a break for lunch and enjoyed the sunshine.

We left taking the Red Trail down that provided a woodsier path with a gradual descent. The upper part was very icy but we stayed off the trail and hiked in the woods. It was a bit longer and had a woodsy feel.  

Seriously, people. Belknap Mountain is the most underrated mountain in New Hampshire. The views are epic, with a variety of trails for *everyone* to enjoy. Beautiful cascades. Excellent fire tower. Sunny summit. And truthfully, *not that hard to get to.* It is only 1 ½ hours north of Boston. GOers love this mountain - it's just soooooo fun!!! And OMG, we HAD THE SUMMIT ALL TO OURSELVES.

Awesome day, blue skies, fantastic views and great company!!! 

This moderate hike and invigorating climb will bring us to magnificent views of Lake Winnipesaukee. On a clear day, the Ossipee Mountain Range rises from the shores of Winnipesauke and Mount Washington can be spotted in the distance. Belknap Mountain has a firetower. 

It's a 4 mile loop with 1,400 feet of elevation gain. A lot of bang for our buck!

We'll start at the bottom of the Carriage Road [gate is closed] and hike up it for 1.2 miles that may still be used by snowmobiles this time of year and at the end pick up the Green Trail for 0.8 mile to reach the Belknap Mountain firetower [2,382'] where we'll have lunch. We'll trace our steps to pick up the Red Trail for the descent and then down the Carriage Road. 

What to wear/bring:  MicroSpikes are required but we may need snowshoes if there has been a recent snowstorm. We may not need snowshoes at the start so you should be prepared to strap your snowshoes onto your pack using bungy cords. Wear warm clothing suitable for the weather...no cotton or blue jeans. You should also have insulated winter boots suitable for the season.  Bring along plenty of water (at least 2 liters), lunch, snacks and anything else you may require for a day hike.