|
from Away.com
Related Guides
Popular Cities in New Hampshire
|
PARKS
White Mountain National Forest -
Mt. Chocura Hiking Trails
Champney Brook Trail
Champney Brook
at a Glance
Location: The trail begins at the Champney Brook Parking Lot 10 miles west of Rte. 16 on the south side of the Kancamagus Highway.
Length: 3.8 miles
Estimated Time: 3 hours
Elevation Gain: 2000 feet
Summit Elevation: 3475 feet
Difficulty:
• To the Falls-Moderate
• From the Falls to the Summit-Difficult
|
The Champney Brook Trail begins at the Kancamagus Highway and ends on the Piper Trail in the flat
saddle between Mt. Chocorua and the Three Sisters. Along the way,
a loop path diverges left off the trail to Champney Falls and
Pitcher Falls. The best waterfall viewing occurs during
wet times of year.
The trailhead lies by the
information board in the Champney Brook parking area. After crossing the foot
bridge over Twin Brook, the trail will turn sharply to the right.
Follow the easy grade of an old logging road to Champney Brook.
At 1.4 miles, a loop trail will branch off on the left to scenic
Champney and Pitcher Falls. In .3 mile the loop will reconnect
with the Champney Brook Trail, which now becomes steeper. You will
reach the first set of switch backs at 2.4 miles. The Champney
Brook Cutoff Trail will lead to Middle Sister at 3.0 miles while
the Champney Brook Trail will reach a saddle and pass the Middle
Sister Trail on the left. Soon the Champney Trail will end at
the junction of the Piper Trail, which will lead you to the summit
in .6 mile.
Thinking of a loop hike? From
the summit, descend via the Beeline Trail to the Bolles Trail.
Turn right onto the Bolles Trail and return to the parking area
where you began. This is a 9.5 mile hike and is recommended for
strong hikers only. Please consult a trail map.
Liberty Trail via Paugus Mill Road
Liberty Trail
at a Glance
Location: It begins at the parking area just before the gate on Paugus Mill Road in Chocorua. Please respect private property on the way to the parking lot.
Length and Estimated Times:
• From the Paugus Mill Parking Area to the Hammond Trail: 2.7 miles, 2 hours
• To Jim Liberty Cabin: 3.3 miles, 2 hours and 40 minutes
• To the Brook Trail: 3.6 miles, 3 hours
• To Mt. Chocorua Summit (via Brook Trail): 3.9 miles, 3 hours and 20 minutes
Elevation Gain to Summit: 2500 feet
|
The Liberty Trail is very popular and is considered the easiest trail to reach the summit. Leaving the northeast side of the parking lot, the trail ascends at a steady,
moderate grade along an old bridle path. It crosses Durrell Brook at 1.1 miles, one third of the way to Jim Liberty Cabin.
The Hammond Trail enters from the right at 2.7 miles. The Liberty
Trail continues to Jim Liberty Cabin at 3.3 miles and meets the Brook Trail on a ledge at 3.6 miles. Continue on the Brook Trail another .2 mile to the summit of Mt. Chocorua.
(The Beeline enters 10 yards from the Liberty and Brook Trail
junction.) The summit of Mt. Chocorua is .2 mile farther via the
Brook Trail.
Brook Trail
Brook Trail
at a Glance
Length and Estimated Times:
• From the Paugus Mill Parking Area to the Claybank Brook Crossing: 2.5 miles,
1 hour and 40 minutes
• To the Liberty Trail: 3.4 miles, 2 hours
and 50 minutes
• To Mt. Chocorua Summit: 3.6 miles, 3 hours and 5 minutes
Elevation Gain to Summit: 2300 feet
|
The Brook Trail, with its steep
ledges, is more difficult than the Liberty Trail. It has excellent
views on the rocky ledges near the summit of Chocorua. The trail
can be hazardous in wet or icy conditions. The trail begins by
following a gravel road beyond the parking lot gate. The trail
leaves the gravel road on the right at .4 mile and follows the
south bank of Claybank Brook. The trail passes to the junction
with the Bickford Trail and continues to the first ledge at 3.0
miles, near where Beeline Trail enters on the left.
The trail climbs the steep, open ledges of the Farlow Ridge with
cairns and yellow paint marking the way. The Liberty Trail enters
from the right at 3.4 miles. The summit of Mt. Chocorua is .2
mile via the Brook Trail.
Note: The summit can be avoided during bad weather by following the
West Side Trail, which enters 25 yards beyond the Beeline Trail
and runs into the Piper Trail.
Piper Trail
Piper Trail
at a Glance
Location: Rte. 16, six miles south of Conway behind
the Piper Trail Cabins and Restaurant. This is private land and
there is a fee-area parking lot.
Length and Estimated Times:
• Nickerson Ledge Trail: 1.4 miles, 1 hour
• Chocorua River Crossing: 2.0 miles, 1 hour and 25 minutes
• Camp Penacook Spur Trail: 3.1 miles, 2 hours and 25 minutes
• Champney Brook Trail: 3.9 miles, 3 hours and 10 minutes
• Mt. Chocorua Summit: 4.5 miles, 3 hours and 35 minutes
Difficulty:Moderate to difficult
Elevation Gain to Summit: 2700 feet
Elevation Gain to Summit: 2300 feet
|
The Piper Trail is an attractive
trail that offers maximum walking on open ledges to the summit
of Mt. Chocorua.
It starts at an easy grade on
private land following an old logging road. The White Mountain
National Forest boundary comes at approximately .6 miles.
The Weetamoo Trail turns off to the left at .8 miles and the Nickerson
Ledge Trail turns off to the right at 1.4 miles. The Piper Trail
ascends moderately past a cleared outlook to Carter Ledge. It
then becomes steeper and changes into a series of switchbacks,
stone steps, and paving. The Camp Penacook Spur Trail at 3.1 miles
branches off to the left and ascends .2 miles to the shelter.
Open Ledges soon appear, giving great views to the north,
east and south. The Champney Brook Trail comes in on your right
at 3.9 miles and .2 miles further, the West Side Trail comes in
on your right. The Piper Trail continues following yellow paint
marks over open ledges to the summit.
Note:
It may be safer during bad weather to follow the West Side and
Brook trails to the summit.
CampingBoth Camp Penacook and Jim Liberty Cabin are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. No camping or fires are allowed anywhere else on the upper part of Mt. Chocorua except at these sites.
Jim Liberty Cabin facilities include nine bunk beds, pit
toilet, table, and a bench. A drinking water source is located
0.1 mile down on the right when facing the cabin. It
cannot be depended on during dry times of the year. There is
no longer a wood stove due to its impact on the cabin and on
the scenic and fragile environment. The use of camp stoves is
encouraged; fires are prohibited.
Camp Penacook facilities include a three-sided shelter,
tent platform, pit toilet, and a nearby water source. A cooking
grate and fire ring are provided for use. The three-sided shelter
and the tent platform each have a capacity of six to eight people.
Return to White Mountain Hiking
|
|
Related Northeast Trips
Related Trekking Trips
Road Trip Guides
National Park Guides
Hiking Guides
Today's Gear Guy
Gear Guides
[from Outside magazine]
|
advertisement
Sign up for our Travel Deals Newsletter
|
