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There are several summits in New Hampshire called Owls Head or similar names, of which the tallest is in the Lincoln Woods region of the Pemigewasset Wilderness. The 4025-foot highest point on the USGS map is usually referred to as Owls Head by peakbaggers, while the USGS applies the name to a knoll of about 3660-foot elevation on the S ridge. The actual feature from which the name was probably taken is a cliff even lower down the SE end with its top at about 3060 feet elevation, very distinctive when seen from the S end of Black Pond. When seen from the surrounding ring of peaks, the mountain appears as a long flattish ridge. In any case, it is one of the most remote and least-visited 4000-footers, one of a select few not visible from a public highway.
The official summit itself is wooded, although views of Mount Washington and the Bonds can be had by peering between trees to the E. The upper part of the mountain is softwoods which are not particularly thick by White Mountain standards, while the lower part is mostly birch, so a variety of bushwhack routes are feasible. Although the Lincoln Woods Trail/Wilderness Trail can be fast walking, this is a long hike by any route and an early start and plenty of spare flashlight batteries are recommended.
The AMC 4000 Footer Club marked a bump on the ridge as the official summit but in 1960 Miriam Underhill's party discovered a higher point farther N, as described in her book Give Me The Hills which served as the summit for the next 40 years. Increasing use of GPS technology in the new century indicated that the 4025 bump was actually .2 miles farther N and a few feet higher, so many hikers now travel the extra distance to this new summit. The Forest Service has a policy of removing unofficial signs in Wilderness areas, so you may find no sign on either bump or whatever some hiker put up since the last ranger visit on whichever summit they chose.
With the conversion of many of the old railroad grades in the East Branch area to hiking trails, the popular approach is now from the Lincoln Woods Visitor Information Center off NH Route 112. The trail route is about 9 miles each way, and begins with an easy walk up the old railroad grade on the Lincoln Woods Trail/Wilderness Trail to just beyond a bridge crossing Franconia Brook. What used to be more easy railroad walking on the Franconia Brook Trail is now harder because of flooding by beavers and limited maintenance due to Wilderness policy. Then the Lincoln Brook Trail often follows old woods roads, but is rougher and steeper and has 4 major brook crossings which can be troublesome to say the least. The last mile is now a herd path ["OHS" on the map below] up the Owls Head Slide path, which climbs several hundred feet steeply up the SW slide before following a lightly-cleared path to the summit. This is probably the fastest route from a highway in the summer, but off-season hikers often use shorter bushwhack routes with fewer brook crossings. In winter you can then follow your tracks back out, while in spring or fall you can return by the trail, figuring that falling in a brook now may be annoying but won't cost you the summit.
One popular variation ["A" on the map below] follows the Black Pond Trail to Black Pond, from which there is a good view of the S end of Owls Head. Someone has felled trees across the extension of the trail here so the bushwhack starts. You may find surveyor's tape along this route left by bushwhackers unsure of their ability, but it may not be wise to follow such dubious markings. Climb a short distance N over a low ridge, then head NNW trying to stay at about the same elevation. With luck, you will hit the Lincoln Brook Trail at its crossing of Lincoln Brook, saving yourself a mile each way and the two largest brook crossings. If you hit the brook first (possibly in an area of gravel overflow channels), just follow the bank upstream to the trail crossing. If you are slightly high, you may find an overgrown woods road which descends a steep bank to the trail just upstream of the crossing.
Another variation ["B" on the map below] follows the trail to Franconia Falls up the W side of Franconia Brook. There is a sign where the trail officially ends but the woods road it has been following continues, although with fallen trees and bushes growing in. When the road peters out, simply walk parallel to the large stream to the crossing of the Lincoln Brook Trail, there are a number of herd paths so actual bushwhacking may be minimal. The stream often divides into several channels, so you won't notice where you leave Franconia Brook and follow its western branch (Lincoln Brook) instead. This will also save you a mile each way and the two largest brook crossings. A day-use permit is required to linger in the falls area.
The shortest route ["C" on the map below] actually climbs up the E side of the mountain, saving a full two miles each way over the all-trail route. (You substitute 1.5 miles of bushwhack for 1 mile of herd path up the slide plus 2.5 miles of trail.) Take the Franconia Brook Trail past the junction with the Lincoln Brook Trail to just beyond the crossing of Hellgate Brook, roughly 2.6 miles from the Wilderness Trail. Bushwhack across Franconia Brook and stay N of the brook coming down from Owls Head. If you don't find a trail where you hit the ridge crest, you are probably N of the summit and need to head S to find it. This route halves the number of brook crossings and substitutes a steep bushwhack for the open slide. Those who like to ski part way will find the Franconia Brook Trail easier to ski than the Lincoln Brook Trail, although snowshoes will probably be needed for the bushwhack up.
Routes to Owls Head
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