Mount Kearsarge, Wilmot NH
• 5-star hikes
• 1 to 9 mile options
• Easy & Moderate | Gain 300 to 2,120 feet
• Wilmot, NH | Sunapee Region
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Mt Kearsarge's exposed summit, standing 2,000 feet proud.
Don't ask us why, but New Hampshire is home to two mountains named Kearsarge separated by a distance of sixty miles. This is the more Southerly of the two and commonly known as Mount Kearsarge, whereas the other is located in the White Mountains and known as Kearsarge North but still sometimes also referred to as Mount Kearsarge to keep you on your toes.
Atop the summit sits a fire tower that was erected in 1913 but has piled on the pounds in recent years since becoming adorned by an increasing amount of communications equipment. One of over twenty standing fire towers in the state, the Mount Kearsarge Fire Tower is included in the New Hampshire Fire Tower Quest. Visit just five of these towers and receive a complimentary Tower Quest patch and water bottle decal. Check out the Trailspotting Fire Tower link at the foot of this page for more information and a map to all fire towers in New England.
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4★ Winslow Trail
AllTrails · GPX File · Directions GPX? |
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4★ Winslow & Barlow Loop
AllTrails · GPX File · Directions |
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5★ Rollins & (Part) Lincoln Trails
AllTrails · GPX File · Directions |
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5★ Lincoln Trail
AllTrails · GPX File · Directions |
Bring your best hiking boots to this trail as traction is important and remember to pack a few layers for the exposed summit. The views may be impressive, but so is the wind-chill. The easiest route to the summit is to drive up to Rollins State Park on the South side of the mountain and take the half-mile Rollins Trail to the summit. From the same location you can also include the more rocky Lincoln Trail to make a loop trail with no additional distance. Other more difficult and longer routes are available and we detail all these below.
Views from the rocky last half mile on the Lincoln Trail.
⬤ Winslow Trail
Steeper and rockier than the Barlow Trail, but the shortest way up and down Mount Kearsarge from the Winslow State Park trailhead. Read more about this in the Winslow & Barlow Trails description below.
⬤ Winslow & Barlow Loop
By the numbers the Winslow-Barlow route up the north-face of Kearsarge appears to be a quick and easy jaunt up the mountain, but looks can be deceiving. A counterclockwise course beginning with the Winslow Trail is the easiest approach, but budget plenty of time to tackle all the rocky steps along your route and have patience on the wet and sometimes slippery stone surfaces. Coming down Barlow is a longer trek, but less steep. Also the Barlow trail features several secluded outlook points which are great ways to enjoy the views if the weather on top of the mountain is too much.
Some suggest this as a good family hike, but smaller children might struggle with the big rocky steps as you progress a thousand feet to the summit. We rank this hike as medium difficulty but in some conditions it could be considered hard, mainly depending on your expectations. The Winslow & Barlow Loop begins and ends at Winslow State Park which has a large parking lot that can fill up quickly on busier days.
More panoramic views from the summit.
⬤ Rollins & (Part) Lincoln Trails
If the rocky terrain of the Winslow Trail seems a bit much and you still want to enjoy the spectacular views from the top of Mount Kearsarge, then this trail is likely for you. Most tackle this loop clockwise beginning on the Lincoln Trail which features some great Westerly views. However, at the beginning of this route there is a significant rockfall section to scramble over. Kids may love it, but if it seems a little much for you, then you'll find an out-and-back route up Rollins Trail to be much easier.
Be aware that the trailhead and large parking lot is located in Rollins State Park which is closed during winter and early spring. When closed you can park your car by the park entrance and walk up the road, but if you're thinking about doing that you'd be better served on the long Lincoln Trail from the bottom of the mountain.
⬤ Lincoln Trail
This quiet, longer trail begins at the base of the mountain at the end of a short dirt road with plenty of parking. After following a forest road for a mile, the trail turns left and heads deep into the woods where all you can hear are the sounds of distant creeks and the rapping of a woodpecker. Elevation gain is moderate on this longer trail and the ground underfoot is mostly soft, with fewer rocks and roots than the other trails. We have no idea why AllTrails rates this route as hard, except as a reflection of the trail's length. This is by far our favorite way up Mount Kearsarge if you're willing to put in the miles.
The more picturesque of the creeks on the full Lincoln Trail.
⬤ SRK Section 11
One of the three major peaks on the 76 mile Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway trail combines the Barlow and Lincoln Trails to make a 5.9 mile section that includes the summit of Mount Kearsarge. This is not shown on our embedded map by default for reasons of clarity, but you can show it by clicking 'Expand Map'. If you want to include the Overlook Spur half-way up the Lincoln Trail then add an extra 0.6 miles.
Mount Kearsarge is featured as part of the New Hampshire 52 With A View hiking list, which showcases peaks with some the best scenic views in the state. The link at the foot of this article takes you to Trailspotting's map of the peaks on the full list and shows all of the trails on which to reach them. Follow us as we explore all the peaks on this list and publish trail reviews featuring descriptions, photography and downloadable maps.
Tangents:
• Official: Winslow State Park, Rollins State Park
• Public Maps at AllTrails: Winslow, Winslow-Barlow, Lincoln-Rollins, Full Lincoln
• Facebook Group: Comment, Follow Us
NH 52 With A View
Routes to reach the 52 New Hampshire peaks with supreme views.
Routes to reach the 52 New Hampshire peaks with supreme views.
New Hampshire Fire Towers
Discover our map of fire towers and the trails to find them.
Discover our map of fire towers and the trails to find them.
