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The Mount Tecumseh Trail leads from the Mount Tecumseh ski area in Waterville Valley over the summit of Mount Tecumseh to Tripoli Road. Mount Tecumseh is one of the easiest 4000-footers to hike up, and unless you bushwhack you will use at least part of this trail to get there. Most hikers go up and back from the ski area.
Tecumseh was a Shawnee chief from what is now Ohio who was killed fighting on the British side in the War of 1812. He had no connection to the White Mountains, but misappropriation of Native American names was not uncommon in the 19th Century.
Distance: To summit from ski area, about 2.4 miles one-way
To summit from Tripoli Road, about 3.2 miles one-way
Elevation gain: To summit from ski area, about 2300 feet, then 100 feet on return
To summit from Tripoli Road, about 2400 feet, then 200 feet on return
Maps:
USGS Waterville Valley
AMC Crawford Notch-Sandwich Range or Moosilauke-Kinsman
Location: White Mountains Region
NH 2004-2005 map I-7
DeLorme NHA&G 40-A1 to 43-K14 - Waterville Valley/Livermore
Waterville Valley is reached via NH Route 49 from Exit 28 of I-93, or (summer and early fall only) via the scenic partly gravel Tripoli Road from Exit 31 of I-93.
East Trailhead:
Mount Tecumseh ski area, across loop road from N end of Parking Lot 1, elevation about 1820 feet
N 43.9669, -71.5265 W (WGS84)
From Exit 28 of I-93, take NH Route 49 NE about 10 miles. At the entrance to the Waterville Valley complex, turn L on the Mount Tecumseh ski area access road, angle L at 1.2 miles, continue another 0.9 miles to trail sign on R, park in nearest available space.
West Trailhead: Tripoli Road 1.2 miles W of Thornton Gap, elevation about 1860 feet
N 43.992, -71.579 W (WGS84)
WMNF fee site
From Exit 32 of I-93, take Tripoli Road E about 5.5 miles to trailhead on R
Owner: White Mountain National Forest
Maintainer: White Mountain National Forest
Special regulations: No fires or camping near highway
From the parking area, the Mount Tecumseh Trail immediately crosses a minor brook then ascends near the side of Tecumseh Brook, crossing it at .3 miles. The trail now angles up on a woods road, then suddenly descends to the brook and goes downhill slightly to cross it at 1.1 miles. The trail then climbs steeply to the former route of the trail which came up the ski slopes; a view can be obtained by walking a short distance L to the edge of the ski trail.
The trail angles up away from the ski slope before turning up steeply to the ridge. The Sosman Trail joins L at 2.0 miles and both trails run together along the ridge for less than .1 miles before the Sosman Trail leaves L again. The Mount Tecumseh Trail descends slightly to the R and climbs back, circles the summit cone and then climbs W and then S to the summit at 2.4 miles. There are limited views from a ledge near the summit cairn.
There are three trails down from the summit:
Continuing toward Tripoli Road, the Mount Tecumseh Trail descends moderately a quarter-mile to a col, then climbs to the NW shoulder at 3.0 miles. This bump once appeared on the list of the Hundred Highest Peaks of New England before newer maps showed the col to be of insufficient depth. After passing over two more bumps on the shoulder, the trail drops to another col with a once-3000-footer at 4.2 miles, then descends moderately, crosses a brook, and climbs to a parking lot at the Tripoli Road just above its former location at 5.6 miles.
Ski area parking plowed in winter of course, but unless you arrive early you may have to park in a farther lot and walk over.
Tripoli Road not plowed, gated just E of I-93 and at foot of Livermore Road in snow and mud season. (There are also other gates E and W of the parking area.) Usually the road is open longer from the I-93 end, call the Pemigewasset Ranger District at 603-536-1315 for information. Waterville Valley grooms the E end of the Tripoli Road as a connector in their fee network, with a fee and use restrictions.
Map Notes: The USGS map shows the old route of the trail near the ski area and near Tripoli Road.
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