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This Rollins Trail leads from Rollins State Park in Wilmot to the summit of Mount Kearsarge, a bare rock cone with a fire tower. (If you were looking for the Rollins Trail on Mount Whiteface, click here.) There are also S and E views from the parking area but most of the trail is viewless. The Rollins Trail is wide with a moderate gradient but is rocky and eroded, while the upper part of the Lincoln Trail can be used instead by those who wish to climb a cliff and walk over ledges. Hikers should ignore a faint unmarked older path which climbs directly to the summit from the parking lot crossing the Rollins Trail near the top.
Although Mount Kearsarge is less than 3000 feet tall, it is the highest point in Merrimack County and one of the few peaks in New Hampshire with 2000 foot prominence (rise above connecting ridge).
Historians still do not agree whether the Civil War vessel USS Kearsarge was named for this peak or another peak in Carroll County. The original toll road was privately built in 1873 but fell into disrepair. The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests purchased land on the mountain including the upper picnic area in 1918, and transferred it to the state for the establishment of a state park in 1950. It was named for former Governor Frank W. Rollins, a founder of SPNHF. The tall communications tower was built in spite of a conservation easement included in the transfer. The lower entrance was briefly but accurately known as Toll Gate State Park until the parks were merged.
Distance: Trailhead to summit, about .5 miles one-way
Elevation gain: About 400 feet, nominal on return
Maps:
USGS Andover
SRKG (Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway) Trail Guide Trail 11 map
(online version)
Mount Kearsarge hiking trail map
(online version)
Location: Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee Region
NH 2004-2005 map M-5
DeLorme NHA&G 34-J7 - Warner
Warner is at exit 9 on I-89
Trailhead: Rollins State Park upper parking lot, elevation about 2590 feet
N 43.3787, -71.8584 W (WGS84)
A state park fee is required to enter the park during the official season of roughly May to October, longer on weekends
From I-89 exit 9, go E 1.3 miles on NH Route 103 to downtown Warner and turn L on Kearsarge Mountain Road. Drive about 5.0 miles to park entrance and toll gate and then about 3.5 miles to upper parking and picnic area at end of road.
Far End: Summit of Mount Kearsarge, elevation about 2930 feet
Owner: Rollins State Park
Maintainer: Rollins State Park
Special regulations: No fires or camping
From the parking lot and picnic area, the Rollins Trail makes a sweeping switchback to a sheltered area near the summit where it is joined by the Lincoln Trail which carries the Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway Trail. The trail now ascends the rock cone and passes a marker at the Warner/Wilmot town line before ending at the fire tower. The Winslow Trail goes straight ahead to Winslow State Park, connecting to the Barlow Trail which is a link in the Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway Trail.
Plowed parking at toll gate, road and trail snowmobiled.
Map Notes: The USGS map does not show this trail, which is truly amazing considering its age and width
Mount Kearsarge hiking trail map online version
SRKG (Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway) Trail Guide Trail 11 map (online version)
Kearsarge fire tower [2/04]
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