HIKING TRAILS

There are many places for visitors to hike while vacationing in New Hampshire. We'll attempt to highlight some of the more popular public access trails nearby that award hikers with magnificent views of the Lakes Region.

Lockes Hill Trails  Located in Gilford on Route 11, 1/4 mile from BPM
Inside the parking area there is a trail guide that maps out the trail. The trail is a loop that can be accessed from the "Quarry Trail" to the left of the trail guide, and the "Lakeview Trail" to the right. The "Quarry Trail" is moderate to steep and should take hikers approximately 45 minutes to reach the top. The beginning of the accent is very easy with good footing - a nice walk in the woods. The accent becomes somewhat steeper as you approach the top, but still not strenuous. Views from the trail overlook the Laconia Airport and as you reach the top of the loop there are several offshoot trails to view Winnipesaukee and other lakes in the region. The descent on the "Lakeview Trail" is much steeper but less rocky than the "Quarry Trail" . The trails are located in the "Kimball Wildlife Forest" which is also home to the historic "Kimball Castle". There are 15 trail markers along the route, each describing the different wildlife and habitats of the forest. It is an excellent wildlife experience for the whole family.

Mount Major  Located on Route 11 in Alton, approximately 6 miles east of  BPM
The popular trail begins on what is seemingly a logging road and ascends moderately for approximately 0.7 miles. The trail
continues on a sharp turn to the left and is marked with an arrow and the word "GO" formed by rocks. There is a path going straight to be ignored. Continue following the trail more steeply over a partly rock covered path which will lead to another fork. The blue blazes point you to the left which will bring you to the first set of ledges and outlook. Beyond the ledges is open trail until you reach the next set of ledges and the second outlook. The summit is not far ahead and can be accessed by either climbing the ledges or walking around them on small paths thru the woods. The summit provides excellent views of Winnipesaukee and surrounding lakes, waterways and other peaks.

Belknap Mountain  Located in Gilford on Carriage Rd. off Belknap Mountain Rd., approx. 5 miles from BPM
This mountain is a favorite of the locals, and a treasure for tourists and photographers. You can drive to the base of the trails where there's a landing that provides a breathtaking view of the area from one side of the mountain. As you start the trail, you can choose from three hikes. (Round-trip hikes take approximately 1 to 3 hours.) The easiest and shortest hike is a straight path to the top of the mountain. The trail has a consistent grade and is covered mostly by a rock bed that's got lots of grooves and smooth slopes--perfect terrain for beginners and family hikes. The second hike takes a slightly round-about way to the top of the mountain, and includes a combination of dirt trails and rock ledges. The third trail is the most challenging, winding through wooded areas and rock ledges with steeper grades. You can follow this trail to the top of Belknap Mountain, or take a fork that leads toward Gunstock Mountain. Whether you're looking for a nice nature walk or something slightly more challenging, the best part of the mountain awaits you at the top. There's a watch tower that boasts several levels--all providing you with the most panoramic view in the area. On a clear day you can see over 100 miles in each direction! (A tip from a local: this is a great spot for a picnic.) The lookout tower is staffed in the summer months by local friendly volunteers. Wear sneakers and bring a camera!

Mount Percival/Mount Morgan  Located in Holderness off route 113, 1/2 hour drive from BPM
Both the Mt. Morgan and Mt. Percival trails can be accessed from the west side of route 113. Morgan is 0.5 miles northeast from the road leading to the Rockywold and Deephaven camps, Percival is 0.8 miles. You can do both by ascending Mt. Percival crossing over "Crawford-Ridgepole Trail" and descending Mt. Morgan. Anyone wanting to reach both summits would be advised to do it in this manner. Best to park at the Mt. Morgan head and walk 0.3 miles to the head of Mt. Percival. The ascent is moderate. A series of alternating steep to level climbing allows a rapid gain in altitude. Just below the summit at approximately 1.5 miles the trail splits. Left will take you thru caves while right takes you over the cliffs to the summit. Views from the summit are superb. Several area lakes and  surrounding mountain ranges are visible. Clear views of Tenney and Gunstock Mountains are available. The "Crawford-Ridgepole Trail" will take you to the Mt. Morgan summit where views are not as panoramic as Percival. The descent from Mt. Morgan is approximately 2 miles. The descent is steep and rocky. The total hike takes approximately 4 hours.

Red Hill Trail  Located in Center Harbor on Sibley Road, 1/2 hour drive from BPM
At the junction of Rt 25 & 25B in Center Harbor head northwest on Bean Road for 1.4 miles. Turn right on to Sibley Road (sign for fire warden). Follow for 1.1 miles and turn left where parking is ahead near the gate. Pass the gate and follow the old jeep road for 1/2 mile where the trail swings left and narrows. This is a nice day hike of approximately 1.7 miles with excellent views from the fire tower. A large portion of the trail is loose rock making the descent a little tricky. The trail is well marked and maintained.

Here is a link with additional hiking info.

 Many thanks to JAX Management, Inc. for providing lots of reference material for this page.