Summary

The open ledges of Owl's Head is home to perhaps the best view anywhere of the entire Presidential Range!

Cherry Mountain [3573'] and Owl's Head [3258'] are just 0.8 mile apart on a stand-alone ridge. From the summit of Cherry [also known as Mt. Martha], there is a good view of the Presidentials from one spot, and a superb panorama of the western White Mountains from another, with over two dozen 4,000-footers visible in one glance!

We first hike 1.9 miles up the Cherry Mtn. Trail to Mt. Martha and soak in the views. Then we take Martha's Mile, which is really only 0.8 miles long, to the knobby peak of Owl's Head with great views of the Presidentials. We will return the way we came, going over Mt. Martha again.

Total distance: 5.4 miles
Book Hiking Time: 5 Hours
Vertical Rise: 1,500 ft.

Winter Hiking Clothing/Gear Tips and Recommendations

Winter conditions will be in effect so this moderate hike is ideal for anyone on their first winter hike. Winter travel offers unique challenges to any hiker and we can provide tips and answer any of your questions during the hike. We are here to help you!

For winter hiking, you are basically wearing the same clothing/gear you did in summer except you need to have additional layers to keep your core body warm, dress in synthetic layers [no cotton], wool hat, and gloves [we highly recommend buying the chemical hand warmers for your gloves]. The only piece of gear you will have to buy is MicroSpikes [Kahtoola is a popular brand], which are essentially cleats that you attach to your boots to prevent falls from black ice encountered on the trail.  

One of the biggest mistakes beginner winter hikers do is overdress. You don’t need a heavy winter jacket since you will be heating up naturally during the hike. Wear thin, insulated layers so you can easily regulate your temperature. If you overdress, you will start sweating and actually make yourself get colder. Assess if your summer daypack is big enough to put your clothes in as you warm up and if not, then that is probably another investment you’ll have to make for this trip.

Winter hiking boots is something you may want to invest in later on, since it helps keep your feet warm, dry and comfortable. Snowshoes will not be needed for this hike, and we rarely use them in general, but are definitely needed to break trail if we recently had any significant snowfall.

We’ll have lunch on the summit of Owl’s Head. Carry at least 2 liters of water [use hot water and place your water bottle in a thick wool sock], lunch and snacks. A small thermos of hot liquids is a welcome treat at the summit!

After the Hike: We can gather together at the Mad River Lodge [our Waterville Valley house] around the fireplace for food and drink. Bring a change of clothes and you can take a shower to clean-up. Bring your own beverages and if you like, snacks to share. If you would like to stay for one of Jon's gourmet dinners, we ask you reimburse us $10 for our food costs. 

Lodging Option: Bunk beds are available at our house near Waterville Valley, NH for Friday and Saturday night at $25 per night. Coffee/bagels each morning and linen/blankets/towels are provided. We have limited space in the fridge to store your beverages/food so it's best to bring a small cooler. Space is limited so email me ASAP to reserve a bunk!

Directions To Trailhead Parking Lot

It's approximately 152 miles from Boston and 2 hours and 45 minutes.

Take I-93 North, then U.S. 3 to Twin Mountain. From the traffic lights at the junction of U.S. Highways 3 and 302 in Twin Mountain, drive 2.0 miles north on US 3 and then turn right onto New Hampshire Route 115. Continue north on Route 115 for 1.9 miles. A gravel parking lot is located on the right directly across the highway from the intersection with Lennon Road.