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Trail Description - Belknap Mountain

Belknap Mountain is located south of Lake Winnipesaukee in Gilford and is the highest point in Belknap County. The upper part of the mountain contains many open ledges which offer views in various directions, and a fire tower on the summit features all-around views.

Fire Tower History

The summit can be reached from many trailheads including the Gunstock Recreation Area and a long ridge walk from Mount Major, but this page describes only those trails starting at the upper end of the Carriage Road on the west side. This steep switchback road is gated in winter and spring and also from 6 pm to 9 am every day with no overnight parking allowed; at those times, hikers may park in a small lot at the bottom and walk up the road or up one of the longer loop trails.

Distance: From .7 to 1.3 miles one-way

Elevation gain: About 800 feet

Hiking Time Estimator

Maps: USGS Laconia, West Alton
Trail map of Belknap Range, available at Gilford Public Library and elsewhere

Location: Lakes Region
NH 2005-2006 map L-7
DeLorme NHA&G 36-E4 - Gilford
Gilford is just E of Laconia on the south side of Lake Winnipesaukee

Trailhead: Parking lot on L at upper end of Carriage Road, elevation about 1650 feet
N 43.517, -71.379 W (WGS84)
From I-93 Exit 20 at Tilton, go N on US-3 approximately 6.4 miles to the ramp for the Laconia Bypass (on which US-3 continues). About 3.1 miles up the bypass, turn R at the exit for NH-11A (Gilford Avenue). Follow NH-11A about 2.1 miles and turn R on Belknap Mountain Road (blinking light). Follow Belknap Mountain Road making sharp R at 1.3 miles and turning L on Carriage Road at 2.3 miles from NH-11A.
Follow Carriage Road (rough pavement) past the last house to a gate at .3 miles, which is open approximately 9 am to 6 pm during warm-weather months. Continue up road which turns to gravel and becomes steep with switchbacks another 1.3 miles to parking area on L. Do not drive through second gate to fire lookout's garage where most trails start.

Far End: Summit of Belknap Mountain, elevation about 2382 feet

Owner: Belknap Mountain State Forest

Maintainer: unknown

Special regulations: No camping or fires

Description

From the upper parking lot, there are four hiking trails to Belknap Mountain:

• The Green Trail turns R shortly after passing the fire lookout's garage and follows a fairly direct route to the summit, occasionally crossing the ATV trail used to service the radio towers. As the shortest and most heavily-used trail, it is badly eroded. About .7 miles to summit.
• The Red Trail turns R about 100 feet after the Green Trail and provides a slightly longer route that some consider more scenic. About .8 miles to summit.
• The Blue Trail continues ahead on the old road after the Green and Red Trails leave it, climbing gradually then descending slightly to a 4-way junction near the Gunstock-Belknap col at .6 miles. The L trail (white) leads to the summit of Gunstock Mountain (about .5 miles) while straight ahead (orange) is a long route to the Gunstock base area. The Blue Trail turns R and climbs past some view ledges to the radio buildings and fire tower. About 1.1 miles to summit.
• The White Trail starts nearly .2 miles back down the road, but hikers are advised to park in the upper parking lot rather than to try to squeeze a space on the road shoulder. Walk back down the road across the first bridge to a sign L, then angle upwards on steep trail to a junction at about .4 miles where the Old Piper Trail to Piper Mountain continues ahead and the White Trail turns L. The White Trail makes a long switchback to the L and then back R to a clifftop viewpoint where the trail zags sharp L again; if you go out to the viewpoint make sure that you leave on the correct path. The trail climbs often on rock slabs to a junction with the yellow-blazed East Gilford Trail at 1.1 miles, then runs together with it across more slabs in woods to the summit. About 1.3 miles to summit.

Note the way you came up unless you wish to go down a different way.

Off Season

Road gated winter and spring, small parking lot at gate may be plowed

Map Notes: Green Trail shown without switchbacks, other trails not shown on USGS map

Terraserver live map

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