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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 S section from Carter Notch to (nearly) 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 N of Mount Moriah is used relatively little although it was once part of the Appalachian Trail.
The trail is described below in two sections, N and S of Mount Moriah.
Distance: From Gorham to Mount Moriah, about 4.5 miles one-way
From Carter Notch to Mount Moriah, about 9.0 miles one-way
Elevation gain (Southbound): From Gorham to Mount Moriah, about 3400 feet
To North Carter Trail, about 4900 feet
To Middle Carter Mountain, about 5200 feet
To South Carter Mountain, about 5400 feet
To Carter Dome, about 6500 feet
Elevation gain (Northbound): From Carter Notch to Carter Dome, about 1500 feet
To Zeta Pass, about 1600 feet
To South Carter Mountain, about 2200 feet
To Middle Carter Mountain, about 2400 feet
To North Carter Trail, about 2500 feet
To Mount Moriah, about 3600 feet
To Gorham, about 3800 feet
Maps:
USGS Berlin, Carter Dome
AMC Carter Range-Evans Notch
Location: White Mountains Region
NH 2003-2004 map F/G-8/9
DeLorme NHA&G 49-I9 to 45-B8 - Gorham/Shelburne/Beans Purchase
The trail is located S of Gorham
Trailhead: End of Bangor Street in Gorham, elevation about 800 feet
44.3824°N, 71.1695°W (WGS84)
This is a narrow street and parking at the end is limited to a couple of spaces on the opposite side from the houses. With a larger group, it might be better to park near the common in Gorham at the junction of US Route 2 E and NH Route 16 S.
Walk S on NH Route 16 for .1 miles, and just across the railroad tracks turn L on Washington Street and then R on Mill Street. Continue .1 miles and just before parking lot at ball field, turn L and cross suspension footbridge. Turn R on Bangor Street and follow it 100 yards to the end.
From I-93 exit 35 N of Franconia Notch, take US Route 3 N about 13 miles to NH Route 115. Turn R on NH Route 115 and follow it about 10 miles to its end at US Route 2. Turn R on US Route 2 and follow it 15 miles through Gorham (.5 miles past Gorham town common with railroad station), turn sharp R just beyond railroad tracks on Bangor Street and proceed .4 miles to the end. Park on the opposite side from the houses as signs allow.
Far End: Carter Notch, Nineteen-Mile Brook Trail between the two lakes, elevation about 3300 feet
Owner: private for about a mile from Gorham, remainder White Mountain National Forest
Maintainer: Appalachian Mountain Club
Special regulations: No camping within 1/4 mi. of Zeta Pass or Hut
North portion of trail, from Gorham to Mount Moriah:
From the sign at the trailhead, start off uphill on a woods road, which levels off then ascends again, to be repeated many times. The trail passes some cutover areas and crosses a woods road. About a mile from the start, the trail becomes narrower and more overgrown with some areas worn down to rock. Some open ledges with minimal views are reached about 2.0 miles in, with the summit of Mt. Surprise just beyond. There is a cleft between two rocks E of the trail, with the summit on the N rock.
The trail descends, then begins to climb over ledges with views of Gorham. Once back into the woods, there are no more views until the summit. The trail goes up and down over a couple more bumps with a couple of steep ledges, then becomes less steep but with even more small bumps. After 4.5 miles, a side path leaves R for the summit, a rock ledge with survey marker and views all around.
South portion of trail, from Carter Notch to Mount Moriah:
From the junction with the Nineteen-Mile Brook Trail, the Carter-Moriah Trail begins the steep ascent out of Carter Notch. After climbing about 800 feet in .4 miles, the trail reaches two ledges with views down, then a side path R leads slightly uphill 30 yards to a spectacular viewpoint. From here, both lakes in Carter Notch are visible, as well as the Wildcat Brook and Nineteen-Mile Brook valleys. The main trail becomes less steep and angles up L before returning to the distinct ridge. The summit of Carter Dome is reached at 1.2 miles, where there are remains of an old fire tower and obstructed views through the scrub. The Rainbow Trail leaves R at the summit, and the Carter-Moriah Trail descends to the junction with the Black Angel Trail at 1.6 miles. Shortly beyond is the first junction with the Carter Dome Trail, a short cut which can be used by those willing to skip the best view in the range and not committed to following white blazes.
The Carter-Moriah Trail now descends slightly with one steep rock gully before crossing a muddy spot and climbing gradually to Mount Hight at 2.0 miles. Many people consider this the nicest summit of the Carter Range, with views in all directions. Caution: a herd path continues ahead NE down a rocky ridge, but this is not the trail! While the trail towards Carter Dome (AT Southbound) descends gradually SW towards Carter Dome, the trail towards Zeta Pass (AT Northbound) actually runs W across ledges towards Mount Washington before descending steeply down a rock gully to the NW. After more steep descent, it then turns L to rejoin the Carter Dome Trail at 2.5 miles. The trails run together a long .1 miles to their final split near Zeta Pass. This flattish area with springs attracted an excessive number of campers, so camping is no longer permitted within 1/4 miles of the trail junction. The area has been revegetated and the trails somewhat relocated from their previous locations. The nearest suitable legal camping is probably on a shoulder of Middle Carter just outside the exclusion zone.
After the Carter Dome Trail leaves L to descend toward NH Route 16, the Carter-Moriah Trail soon descends slightly to a wet area. It ascends on plank bridges, then angles gradually up to the L on mostly dirt and spruce needles. Climb over a shoulder and then circle the first of the twin bumps of South Carter to a sign on the second at 3.3 miles. There is a cairn on a higher ledge in the woods to the L. The next section of trail is more rocky with ledges to go up and down, and bogs with plank bridges between. The sign for Middle Carter is reached at 4.5 miles, with a view into the Wild River area from the higher edge of the trail just before. More ledges are passed on the descent, then the trail circles L of a knob with elevation 3584. Only those who aspire to join the Trailwrights 72 club should bother to batter their way through thick scrub to the double summit. Another descent leads to the junction with the North Carter Trail at 5.1 miles.
Continuing, a brief climb of .3 miles leads to the summit of fin-like North Carter, then there is a steep descent off the summit followed by a more moderate descent passing E of Imp Mountain. At 7.0 miles, a side path leads .2 miles to Imp Shelter, where an AMC caretaker spends the summer and collects use fees; the cutoff below the shelter to Stony Brook Trail has been abandoned. The Carter-Moriah Trail continues to descend until it reaches a col and the junction with the Stony Brook Trail to the L and the Moriah Brook Trail to the R just beyond at 7.5 miles.
From the col, the Carter-Moriah Trail begins to ascend near the ridge, passing several ledges with views particularly into the Wild River area. (The trail was relocated in the 1970's from it's previous sidehill location.) After over a mile, the ridge flattens out and an open area is reached where the slightly-higher summit is visible some distance ahead. The trail then drops into a narrow col and reaches a junction with the Kenduskeag Trail at 9.0 miles, which the Appalachian Trail follows to the R.
For Mount Moriah, follow the blue blazes L a short distance on the level and then up a 20-foot cliff. (A bypass trail more to the R has been closed and brushed in.) After another small cliff and a short level section, the Carter-Moriah Trail descends straight ahead and a side path leaves R for the summit, a rock ledge with survey marker and views all around.
Parking on the narrow street at the N end is not recommended in winter. Park elsewhere and walk over.
Hut open off-season on a self-service basis by reservation only, bring your own sleeping bags and food.
The trail from hut to Carter Dome can get so icy that even those with crampons take to the woods.
Snowdrifts several feet deep are common in winter near Carter Dome and Middle Carter.
Map Notes: The trail actually passes over the N twin summit of South Carter and does not pass over the summit of Mount Moriah. The abandoned trail locations near Zeta Pass and between the Stony Brook Trail and Mount Moriah are shown on the USGS map instead of the current ones. The connector between Stony Brook Trail and Imp Shelter has been closed.
Topozone.com live map - N of Mt Moriah
Topozone.com live map - S of Mt Moriah
Sometimes you step directly from cliff to plank bridge
View into Wild River valley from Middle Carter
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