White Mountain National Forest

The Benton Trail starts at 1700 feet from the trailhead parkinglot. This 3.5-mile trail ascends the northwest flank of Mt. Moosilaukeat a steady, moderate grade, ending at the 4802-foot summit.The Benton Trail descends from the road and parallelsnearby Tunnel Brook Trail for 0.1 mile before crossing it. The trail ascendsat a moderate grade through a luxuriant, mixed coniferous northernhardwood forest. At 1.2 miles, a sign points to the Linla TunnelRavine vista from open ledges to the left. Water is availableat 2.2 miles. The trail continues to ascend Mt. Moosilauke fromthe north, passing through a thick spruce-fir forest. The last0.3 mile is above treeline, where cairns mark the path to the Mt.Moosilauke Summit.

The Benton Trail takes the hiker through all four life zonesin the White Mountains: northern hardwood, transition, sprucefir, and alpine tundra. The Stone foundation found on the summitof Mt. Moosilauke is what remains of the old Tip Top House builtin 1880 and destroyed by fire in 1942. Below the summit to the southeastis the foundation of the old Dartmouth Outing Club emergency cabin.From an easterly view, the forest appears terraced on the Mt.Waternomee and Blue Ridge slopes. This is the result of logging early this century.

CAUTION: Crossing Tunnel Brook is difficult in high water. The last 0.3 mile of the Benton Trail and Mt. Moosilauke Summit are above timberline, where storms quickly increase in severity. If weather is bad, TURN BACK!

Access: From Easton, take NH 112 west to the Junctionof NH 118. Go left for 0.4 mile and take a right on Noxon Road.From Rte. 3 north, takes left on NH 112 west in North Woodstock.At 1.9 miles west of the National Forest Wildwood Campground,take a left on Noxon Road. After 0.5 mile, the road turns to dirtand crosses a bridge at 1.2 miles. Take a left on Tunnel BrookRoad (FR 7). The Benton trailhead is 1.4 miles on the left.

Return to White Mountain Hiking