Red Hill Fire Tower, Squam Lake NH

• 5-star hike
• 3 mile loop
• Easy difficulty | Gain 1,350 feet
• Moultonborough, NH | Lakes Region
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a tall, metal fire lookout tower on rocky terrain with sparse vegetation. The sky is clear and blue, indicating fair weather.

This fire tower looks out over 5-star lake views.

Of all the fire towers in New Hampshire, there's a strong argument to be made that most spectacular views can be found on the one anchored to the 2,031 foot summit of Red Hill near Moultonborough. Positioned between Winnipesaukee and Squam lakes, the hill and fire tower looks out across a fifteen mile expanse of water and lakes, all the way to the distant prominences of Gunstock and Belknap mountains.

Providing you're comfortable with a substantial climb, the two trails that lead to the fire tower involve only easy terrain. We prefer to ascend the Cabin Trail on a counter-clockwise looping route, on which you'll pass the cellar-hole remnants of late 18th century settlements and an abandoned cabin in the woods. Descending Red Hill Trail involves a wider path with a modest gradient, with fewer points of interest - though we did spot a barred owl flying alongside us through the trees on our recent daytime trip. Also, Red Hill Trail is marginally shorter than the Cabin Trail, if you're looking for the shortest possible out-and-back route.
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5★ Red Hill Fire Tower Loop 3.4 mi loop, easy, gain 1,350 ft
AllTrails · GPX File · Directions

Tree clearance on top of Red Hill provides the stunning lake vistas to the south and there are plenty of spots from which to admire the views, including a picnic table with bench seating. You can also get a different perspective on the scenery if you climb the first three flights of steps of the well-maintained fire tower. The last flight of stairs leads to the cabin that sits atop the steel structure, though this usually locked and unavailable to the public.

The trailhead is located on a short dirt road and the parking area is fairly large. If the parking lot looks to be full, take note that the second and largest parking area is mostly hidden from view and positioned closest to the start of the trail.

One of around thirty standing fire towers in the state, the Red Hill 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. Would you like to locate and visit more of the Fire Towers of New England? Check out the link to Trailspotting's article at the bottom of the page, which also leads to more trail reviews and maps like this.

The image shows a person walking on a dirt trail in a forested area. They are wearing a yellow long-sleeved shirt and dark pants. There is a signpost on the right side of the trail that reads “RED HILL TRAIL”. The sunlight filtering through the trees suggests it’s daytime.

Easy trail, provided you're comfortable with the climb.

The image shows a panoramic view of a vast lake with numerous islands scattered throughout. The foreground is dominated by green forest, and the background features rolling hills and low mountains under a clear blue sky.

Photographs struggle to do justice to the views .

The image shows an old, abandoned wooden cabin in a forest. The cabin has a gabled roof with missing shingles and weathered wood siding. The front door is open or missing, revealing a dark interior. Vegetation is overgrowing around the structure, indicating it has been left unattended for a long time.

Abandoned trailside cabin in the woods.

The image shows side-by-side photographs. On the left, there’s a close-up of an owl camouflaged among tree trunks, blending seamlessly with the bark patterns. On the right, there’s a white flower with yellow centers, possibly from the Asteraceae family, set against green foliage.

We spotted a Barred Owl searching for a midday snack.

Tangents:
• Lakes Region Conservation Trust: Red Hill
• State of New Hampshire: Fire Tower Quest
• Public Maps at AllTrails: Red Hill Fire Tower Loop
• Facebook Group: Like or Comment on this article

Trailspotting Nearby
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