Trail Shoes Nashua NH

Activities: Hiking, Snowshoeing

Info:
State: New Hampshire
Location: White Mountains National Forest
Length: One-Way: 13.5 miles
Trail type: Out and Back
Minimum Elevation: 800 feet
Maximum Elevation: 4610 feet
Elevation Change: 6000 feet
Best Season: May to September
Difficulty: More Difficult
Usage: Heavy

Description: The Carter-Moriah Trail is one of the major ridge trails of the White Mountains, traversing the Carter Range from Gorham Village to Carter Notch. Like most of the ridge trails, it is rocky with small ledges to scramble up and down and many minor knolls in addition to the major peaks. The south section from Carter Notch to just short of Mount Moriah is part of the Appalachian Trail and heavily used by backpackers as well as day hikers peakbagging the Carters and Mount Moriah. The section north of Mount Moriah is used relatively little although it was once part of the Appalachian Trail. The Carter-Moriah Trail travels south along an old logging road, climbing and leveling off then ascending again. This pattern is to be repeated many times. About a mile from the start, the trail becomes narrower and more overgrown with some areas worn down to rock. At 2 miles, there is a ledge offering a beautiful overlook. The trail passes Mt. Surprise (el. 2,194 feet). The trail has several elevation gains and losses before beginning a steady climb. A short spur path offers spectacular views from Mt. Moriah (el. 4,049 feet). Two trails descend from the summit of Mt. Moriah. One trail leads to the Kenduskeag Trail heading left. The other is the Carter-Moriah Trail veering right. At this point you may notice white blazes, signaling that you are overlapping the Appalachian Trail. The trail continues along ridges of Carter Mountain occasionally opening up to fantastic mountain views. After a very short distance, you will come to an intersection with Moriah Trail and Stony Brook Trail. Stony Brook Trail travels back to New Hampshire Route 16 while the Moriah Trail heads east. At 6.6 miles a spur trail descends to reach the Imp campsite. The next 5 miles is a difficult journey over a narrow, slick, rocky trail. The trail reaches Zeta Pass at 11.2 miles, Carter Dome at 12.6 miles (el. 4,832 feet) and Nineteen-Mile Brook Trail at 13.5 miles.

Activities: Hiking, Snowshoeing

Info:
State: New Hampshire
Location: White Mountains National Forest
Length: One-Way: 1.8 miles
Trail type: Out and Back
Elevation Change: 500 feet
Best Season: May to October
Difficulty: Moderate
Usage: Heavy

Description: The Great Gulf Trail is located between Great Gulf Link at the end of Dolly Copp Campground Road and Osgood Trail which leads to the summit of Mt. Madison (el. 5,366 feet). The trail is through a mixed forest typical of what is found at the lower elevations within the White Mountain National Forest. The trail follows a former logging road which parallels the West Branch and Peabody Creek for a short distance. The Great Gulf Trail can be combined with Great Gulf Link, Osgood Trail and the Daniel Webster-Scout Trails to create a 9.5 mile day hike from the Dolly Copp Campground. A side journey from Osgood Junction to the summit of Mount Madison is well worth the one mile round-trip.

Activities: Hiking

Info:
State: New Hampshire
Location: White Mountains National Forest
Length: Round Trip: 6.6 miles
Trail type: Loop
Minimum Elevation: 1270 feet
Maximum Elevation: 3270 feet
Elevation Change: 2000 feet
Best Season: May to October
Difficulty: Difficult
Usage: Heavy

Description: The Imp Trail starts off by paralleling Imp Brook through a woods of beautiful old hemlock. It then crosses the brook before ascending the ridges of Carter Mountain where it reaches the Imp Face. The trail reaches North Carter Trail at 3 miles then descends in a southwesterly direction to return to SR 16 just 0.3 miles south of the trailhead. The Imp Trail makes a 6.6 mile loop to the east of New Hampshire Route 16 and north of Pinkham Notch. This trail can be hiked in several ways; as an up-and-back trip to an interesting viewpoint (4.4 miles round-trip with 1900 feet of elevation gain), a loop (6.6 miles with 2100 feet of elevation gain) or as an access to the Carter-Moriah Trail. The trail is moderately graded but travels over some rough terrain. From the north trailhead, the Imp Trail starts climbing at a moderate grade and crosses a powerline soon after starting. After crossing Imp Brook after 0.7 miles, it ascends steadily, making a long traverse before turning right to regain the ridge. After a steady climb, it veers right to the top of a cliff with excellent views to the south and west. This is about 2.2 miles from the highway. The profile on the cliff face seen from Dolly Copp Road is called The Imp or Imp Face. The trail ascends for a short distance and then makes a sudden short descent to another viewpoint with lesser views but more exposure. The trail passes just south of the highpoint and makes a sidehill traverse with small changes in elevation and crosses several small brooks. At 3.1 miles, it makes a short descent to the junction with the North Carter Trail which leads to the Carter-Moriah Trail on the ridge. The Imp Trail continues downhill briefly then heads on a sidehill generally descending and again crossing more brooks. At about 4.8 miles, the Imp Trail reaches a ridge above Cowboy Brook and then begins descending. The Imp Trail continues to turn right and the grade levels somewhat. At about 5.3 miles it crosses a grassy woods road which leads left 0.2 miles to the AMC Camp Dodge Volunteer Center. The trail crosses a minor ridge then turns right and downhill crossing several of the brooks that were previously crossed higher up. It ends at the south trailhead on New Hampshire Route 16 after 6.3 miles. Head right on the road for 0.3 miles back to the north trailhead. Alternate Loops: Ascending South and Middle Carter via the Nineteen-Mile Brook and Carter Dome Trails and descend via the North Carter and Imp Trails is about 10.7 miles with about 3500 feet of elevation gain, but you are 1.3 miles from your starting point. Ascending South and Middle Carter via the Nineteen-Mile Brook and Carter Dome Trails is about 11.4 miles with about 3600 feet of elevation gain, but you return to the same point. To ascend Middle and South Carter via the North Carter and Imp Trails and return via the other leg of the Imp Trail is about 12.3 miles with about 4200 feet of elevation gain. You are only 0.3 miles from your starting point and about half of the return trip is new scenery.

Activities: Hiking, Snowshoeing

Info:
State: New Hampshire
Location: White Mountains National Forest
Length: Round Trip: 3.1 miles
Trail type: Loop
Elevation Change: 900 feet
Best Season: May to October
Difficulty: Easy
Usage: Heavy

Description: The Boulder Loop Trail is an interpretive trail with numbered signs along the path. Brochures may be obtained from the Saco Ranger District office in Conway or at the trailhead. The Boulder Loop Trail is located off the Kancamagus Highway near the Covered Bridge Campground. The 3 mile long trail passes through broad-leafed and evergreen forests to reach its highest point at the Ledges, 1,000 ft. above the Passaconaway Valley. The trail has 18 marked stops, in part, highlighting the effects and results of glaciers. Follow the yellow blazes marking this trail.

Activities: Hiking

Info:
State: New Hampshire
Location: White Mountains National Forest
Length: One-Way: 3.5 miles
Trail type: Out and Back
Minimum Elevation: 934 feet
Maximum Elevation: 3127 feet
Elevation Change: 2200 feet
Best Season: May to October
Difficulty: Moderate
Usage: Heavy
Parking: White Mountains National Forest Fee Site.

Description: The Stony Brook Trail leads from New Hampshire Route 16 near Gorham to the Carter-Moriah Trail between Mount Moriah and North Carter. It is mostly easy walking and probably the most popular day hike of Mount Moriah, although there is significant elevation gain due to the low starting elevation. Most of the trail is enjoy with a gradual ascent until it approaches the terminus. From the parking lot, the Stony Brook Trail immediately crosses a bridge over Stony Brook and continues up the far side, crossing another stream over a small gorge. The trail follows an old woods road then suddenly turns right and crosses Stony Brook again, this time without a bridge. The trail climbs to reach another woods road at 0.8 miles and turns left. The trail continues up this road which becomes steeper and fainter. At 2.3 miles, there is another brook crossing and the trail ascends to the col between Mount Moriah and North Carter at 3.5 miles, where it ends at the Carter-Moriah Trail. The junction with the Moriah Brook Trail is just to the left. The summit of Mount Moriah is 1.5 miles to the left on the Carter-Moriah Trail.