Trip/Event Location: Laconia, NHUS
Trip Leader(s): Gandalf , JDNnh
Max # People: 15
Trip Guiding / Event Fee: No, I will not be asking participants for money
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Mount Major (1,786ft) is one of New Hampshire's most hiked mountains! It is part of the Belknap Range in the Lakes Region. Just south of the White Mountains and Lake Winnipesaukee, it offers
Head north on U.S. Highway 3 toward Laconia and turn right on the limited access US 3 and NH 11 bypass. At the end of the bypass, continue east on Route 11 past Ellacoya State beach and the waterfront resorts in Gilford. After about 10.6 miles, look for a right turn into the trailhead parking area marked by a conspicuous state highway sign. From the opposite direction, the entrance to the trailhead is about 4 miles west of Alton Bay. We are driving a blue Toyota Tacoma truck.
Good friends and spectacular winter scenery made for a great day!
We picked Mount Major in Alton, NH, which is right down the road from Ellacoya State Park. Although Mount Major is not located in a State Park, it is part of the Mount Major State Forest, one of the many properties administered by the Department of Resources and Economic Development and managed by the NH Division of Forests and Lands. It’s a smaller mountain [1786 ft.] but has great views from the top and is conveniently located in central New Hampshire.
We met at the trailhead. There was bare ground at the start but we had Microspikes in our packs in case we encountered icy trails further up.
We headed up the Boulder Loop Trail that starts on the left-hand corner of the parking lot. It was blazed with orange markers. The route presented us with gentle inclines most of the way as we enjoyed brooks and giant boulders.
After tackling the steep section, we were rewarded with several large, open, rocky areas at the top. In addition to the magnificent views of Lake Winnipesauke, and the surrounding areas, we also came upon the remains of an old stone hut that was built in the early 1900’s to provide shelter for hikers. The views from Mount Major are amazing, especially since it’s only about an hour from the parking lot to the summit!
After about fifteen minutes enjoying the views from the summit, we went down the Brook Trail [which coincides with the Mt. Major trail for the last 0.7 mile.] We started to encounter ice that we could easily navigate around. The trail at times felt like it was a brook so we had to walk along either side. True to its namesake, we were following a brook for the descent with some beautiful cascades.
This was a very enjoyable hike! Sun trying to appear at times with temps in the low 40s.
Outdoor Fitness Level: Very Strenuous
Outdoor Fitness Level: Moderate
Outdoor Fitness Level: Moderate to Strenuous
