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The Desolation Trail runs from the Carrigain Notch Trail near the former Desolation Shelter site to the summit of Mount Carrigain, where there are outstanding views from the former fire tower. The upper third of this trail contains over half the elevation gain, and is among the steepest in the White Mountains, with climbing up rock slabs and on mossy rocks which may take nearly as long to descend as ascend. Old telephone wire used to be a tripping hazard, particularly on the descent, but most of it has been removed. The loop over Mount Carrigain using the Signal Ridge Trail, Desolation Trail, and Carrigain Notch Trail is thus much tougher than it looks on a map.
Distance: To summit of Mount Carrigain, about 1.9 miles one-way
Elevation gain: About 2500 feet on the ascent, minor on descent - allow extra time for steep rough trail
Maps:
USGS Mount Carrigain
AMC Franconia-Pemigewasset or Crawford Notch-Sandwich Range
Location: White Mountains Region
NH 2003-2004 map H-7
DeLorme NHA&G 44-G2/3 - Lincoln
Lincoln is located off I-93 exit 32
Lower End: Carrigain Notch Trail about .8 miles from Wilderness Trail, elevation about 2200 feet
Far End: Summit of Mount Carrigain, elevation about 4700 feet
Owner: White Mountain National Forest
Maintainer: AMC
Special regulations: Pemigewasset Wilderness
From the junction with the Carrigain Notch Trail, the Desolation Trail crosses a brook and continues on the old railroad grade through a muddy area with rotten log bridges. It soon turns sharp L to climb a short bank, then runs nearly level to the R before turning L uphill again. It follows an old woods road on the R side of the ridge before returning to the ridge and then beginning a long sidehill segment to the L of the ridge. At about 1.2 miles, the trail abruptly turns R uphill and begins a steep ascent over rock slabs. Higher up, the trail is mostly dirt mixed with roots and mossy rocks, and near the summit the grade lessens and the trail angles L. The trail reaches the base of the lookout tower at 1.9 miles, where the Signal Ridge Trail descends R into the Saco River watershed.
NA
Map Notes: The junction with the Carrigain Notch Trail is shown on the wrong side of the brook on both USGS and AMC maps
Mt Carrigain fire tower
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