Hedgehog Mountain Winter Hike

Hedgehog Mountain (2,532 ft)

Elevation Gain: 1,400 ft

Trails: UNH

Distance: 4.7 miles roundtrip

Duration: 4 hours (includes stops for breaks along the trail, at the east ledge and at the summit)

Difficulty: Moderate

Another “NH 52 with a View”! And views gay-lore! Such a beautiful trail with a moderate ascent and stunning views that rewarded us today! Phil and Kevin met us at the parking lot. The skies were mostly cloudy with a high ceiling, but the sun did occasionally make an appearance.

After everyone arrived we started around 10:45AM. The trail was broken but soft so Jon, Phil and I used snowshoes. Kevin opted for MicroSpikes and was fine overall; but he did posthole a few times.

We hiked this loop trail clockwise. The trail grade was fairly gradual and constant for the first 2 miles, then it narrowed and emerged onto the east ledges. We stopped for a lunch here for about 20 minutes enjoying the stunning views south and east, with an impressive view of nearby Mt. Passaconaway! Phil’s quads were bothering him all day and knowing there was still a bit more to climb, he decided it was best for him to turn around. After our ledge lunch we started up to the summit.

I am always impressed with the many ledges as we approached the summit. Nearby ledges on the summit provided views in most directions. After the summit, we took a short spur trail on the left to an outlook with views to the west. Right before we descended, we saw an awesome view of snow-capped Mt. Washington!

On the descent, there were a couple of steep pitches where we enjoyed a bit of butt sliding.

Jon and I were eager to go on this hike since the last hike we planned I had to cancel because I came down with the flu. It felt great to get out and hike with Phil and Kevin as well. It felt great to be outdoors, hiking in snow, and surrounded by good company and the beautiful New Hampshire White Mountains!

Mike and Jon

Views/lunch from East Ledges, main summit, Allen's Ledge and deep snow covered spruce forests in between!

Hoping this will a butt surfing hike - pray for some snow! The hike is moderate but the butt surfing is easy!  

We will take the UNH loop to Hedgehog Mtn. [2,532'] which offers fine views from several viewpoints. The first section of the trail, an old railroad grade, has the broad stateliness of a promenade, and is an excellent warm-up for the hike. A 2 miles, we'll have lunch at the sun-washed East Ledges, spread out before us, with views south and southeast. Reaching the summit at 2.9 miles we'll have a closer view of the mountains we saw at East Ledges, as well as the eastern slope of Tripyramid...a bit past the summit we can even see Mount Washington. On the descent we'll check out Allen's Ledge, where we'll see the Presidential Range, the Carrigain Range, North and South Twins, Franconia Ridge, Mount Willey and the Bonds! 

Distance:      4.8 miles

Elevation Gain: 1450 feet

What to wear/bring: Wear warm clothing suitable for the hike in layers...no cotton or blue jeans.  Wear a warm hat and gloves and bring hand warmers as a precaution. Bring along plenty of water (at least 2 liters), lunch, snacks and anything else you may require for a day hike. Make sure your pack is big enough to place your jacket and excess clothing into it as you warm up. For footwear, have winter insulated boots and MicroSpikes in case we encounter icy trails. We may need snowshoes if we had a snowstorm just prior to the hike…we’ll let you know a few days before. Contact us if you have any questions. 

Afterwards:  Everyone is welcome to join us back at our house in Waterville Valley to relax by our fireplace [BYOB and bring snacks] followed by one of Jon's delicious dinners. We ask $10 per person to help pay for our food costs. Showers are available so bring a change of clothing to make your visit with us more comfortable.

Lodging Option: Bunk beds are available at our house [with Wi Fi] near Waterville Valley Friday and/or Saturday night. It's $25 for each night plus $10 for dinner on Saturday night. Coffee/bagels each morning and linen/blankets/towels are provided. Space is limited so email ASAP to reserve a bunk!