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The Piper Mountain Trail runs from near the base of the Carriage Road on Belknap Mountain to the N summit of Piper Mountain, located south of Lake Winnipesaukee in Gilford. The upper part of the mountain contains many open ledges with blueberries in season.
Note that the Old Piper Trail provides a shorter approach when the Carriage Road is open.
Distance: About 1.0 miles one-way
Elevation gain: About 1000 feet
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: Carriage Road just beyond first bridge after gate, elevation about 1000 feet
N 43.517, -71.389 W (WGS84) (parking)
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. There is a small parking area on the L just before the gate and another on the R just beyond the trailhead.
Far End: North summit of Piper Mountain, elevation about 2030 feet
Owner: Belknap Mountain State Forest and private
Maintainer: unknown
Special regulations: No camping or fires
Go R off the Carriage Road at the trail sign just beyond the first bridge after the gate and follow an old woods road parallel to the road. After crossing a brook, the trail diverges from the road and passes through an area that has been recently logged. Eventually the woods road peters out and the trail climbs over rock slabs to the N summit of Piper Mountain, where there are rock chairs and blueberries in season. The Old Piper Trail comes in from the L here. The higher S summit of Piper Mountain (2044') can be reached by turning R on the poorly-marked Whiteface connector trail which ambles .2 miles along the ridge to the double summit.
To locate this trail for descent, go to the highest point of the N summit by the stone chairs and look for a cairn with a red blaze on top.
Road gated winter and spring, small parking lot at gate may be plowed
Map Notes: Not shown on USGS map
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