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Trail Description - Mount Percival Trail

The Mount Percival Trail leads from NH Route 113 N of Squam Lake to the summit of Mount Percival, providing a moderate hike with lake and mountain views. It is often done as a loop with nearby Mount Morgan, note that the parking lot for Mount Morgan is larger and better graded but more likely to be full.

Slight ledge climbing is required on the last .1 miles up Mount Percival, so hikers who are not up for this should climb Mount Morgan only as the ledges there can be avoided.

Distance: About 1.9 miles one-way

Elevation gain: About 1500 feet, nominal on return

Hiking Time Estimator

Maps: USGS Squam Range
AMC Crawford Notch-Sandwich Range

Location: Lakes/White Mountains Regions
NH 2003-2004 map J-7
DeLorme NHA&G 39-G/F14 - Holderness/Campton
Holderness lies on Squam and Little Squam Lakes and can be reached by following US Route 3 from Exit 24 off I-93

Trailhead: NH Route 113 about 6.0 miles from US Route 3 in Holderness or about .4 miles N of the Mount Morgan trailhead, elevation about 780 feet
43.7919°N, 71.5446°W (WGS84)
The trailhead can be reached by following US Route 3 S from Exit 24 off I-93 about 4.6 miles to Holderness. Turn L on NH Route 113 and continue about 6.0 miles to trailhead on L.
There is a small parking lot at this trailhead, watch out for rocks.

Far End: Crawford-Ridgepole Trail near summit of Mount Percival, elevation about 2212 feet

Owner: private

Maintainer: Squam Lakes Association

Special regulations: No camping, fires, or motor vehicles

Description

The Mount Percival Trail starts as a woods road blocked by a chain. At .2 miles, a .4-mile connector leaves L to circle around to the Mount Morgan Trail, while the main trail crosses a small clearing and narrows beyond. The trail continues to ascend on an old road with an occasional bypass of an eroded or wet section, finally becoming a trail and ascending to a T-intersection at a cliff face at 1.8 miles.

• The R fork, signed "Cliffs", is the easier path. It angles R up a cliff, then zags back L to the top where there is a better view of Squam and Winnipesaukee than from the summit. The trail crosses a minor dip, then climbs ledges to the Crawford-Ridgepole Trail at 1.9 miles. The summit is a ledge just off the trail, with obstructed views.
  To go down this way, follow yellow blazes at the summit, and note that the trail soon reaches a dip and rises to a view.
• The L fork, signed "Caves", is the harder route. It circles L at the foot of the cliff, then suddenly goes through a small opening into a boulder cave. After a short cave passage, it exits through an even smaller opening and begins a rough traverse among cliffs. It finally reaches a cliff top with views of Squam and Winnipesaukee before continuing up ledges a short distance to the Crawford-Ridgepole Trail at 1.9 miles. The summit is a ledge just off the trail, with obstructed views.
  To go down this way (not recommended), follow cairns across ledges to the R from the summit.

The Crawford-Ridgepole leads L .8 miles to the Mount Morgan Trail, or R toward the Sandwich Notch Road.

Off Season

Unknown

Map Notes: Connector trail not shown on USGS map

Topozone.com live map

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