FranklinSites.com Hiking Guide
Home

States
 Colorado
 Connecticut
 Maine
 Massachusetts
 New Hampshire
 New York
 Rhode Island
 Utah
 Vermont

 View All

Lists
 NE 4,000 Footers
 NE 100 Highest
 NH 4,000 Footers
 NH 100 Highest
 NH 52 With A View
 NH Belknap Range
 NH Ossipee 10

Links

Trail Conditions

Trip Log
 Sunrises
 Sunsets


About


The Bulge, Mt. Cabot, The Horn
Stark, NH, Kilkenny, NH

Trailheads, measurements, times, distances, and maps are all approximate and relative to the hike(s) as shown below.
Looking down the Unknown Pond Trail
Looking down the Unknown Pond Trail

Route: Unknown Pond Trail, Kilkenny Ridge Trail, (The Bulge), Kilkenny Ridge Trail, (Mt. Cabot), Kilkenny Ridge Trail, (The Bulge), Kilkenny Ridge Trail, spur trail, (The Horn), Kilkenny Ridge Trail, Unknown Pond Trail

Once again, the weather forecast was looking pretty poor. I decided to try a new (to me) trail - the northern branch of the Unknown Pond Trail.

Though there was a little bit of mud on the flats at the beginning of the Unknown Pond Trail (gee, I wonder why the trail would be muddy when hiking in the rain?), it was pretty good going once the trail started to ascend. Never overly steep, the trail had decent footing all the way to Unknown Pond.

As I neared the Horn, I could see the mist all around me starting to brighten. Thus, I skipped the Horn and continued to the Bulge and finally to Mt. Cabot.

After reaching the highpoint (perhaps 100 feet away from the summit sign), I headed over to the blowdown patch vista to get a quick view of mist.

Back on the Kilkenny Ridge Trail, I could see the mist starting to lift as I descended from the Bulge. Sure enough, as I reached a crowded Horn, I was treated to progressively better views. Initially just looking toward Berlin, the range of views eventually increased to the near-panoramic vista that is the Horn.

After having some lunch, I headed back down to Unknown Pond and the Unknown Pond Trail. Like the southern segment, the northern segment of the Unknown Pond Trail looks to be a potentially great place to visit during the fall foliage season.


Hike Ratings
Getting To Trailhead: Easy
Destination: The Bulge
Length: Moderate
Steepness: Difficult
Navigation: Easy
Views: Minimal
Crowds: Minimal
Destination: Mt. Cabot
Length: Moderate
Steepness: Difficult
Navigation: Easy
Views: Minimal (due to weather)
Crowds: Heavy
Destination: The Horn
Length: Moderate
Steepness: Very Difficult
Navigation: Easy
Views: Excellent
Crowds: Heavy


Hike Stats
Date Hiked: Friday, July 3, 2009
Hike Commenced: 9:18 AM
Parking Elevation: 1,755'
Destination: The Bulge
Ascent Commenced: 9:18 AM
Summit Reached: 11:17 AM
Time Elapsed: 01:59
Trailhead Elevation: 1,755'
Summit Elevation: 3,950'
Vertical Gain: 2,425'
Destination: Mt. Cabot
Ascent Commenced: 11:17 AM
Summit Reached: 11:44 AM
Time Elapsed: 00:27
Trailhead Elevation: 1,770'
Summit Elevation: 4,170'
Vertical Gain: 485'
Destination: The Bulge
Ascent Commenced: 11:48 AM
Summit Reached: 12:17 PM
Time Elapsed: 00:29
Trailhead Elevation: 4,170'
Summit Elevation: 3,950'
Vertical Gain: 265'
Destination: The Horn
Ascent Commenced: 12:17 PM
Summit Reached: 12:33 PM
Time Elapsed: 00:16
Trailhead Elevation: 3,950'
Summit Elevation: 3,905'
Vertical Gain: 255'
Hike Ended: 3:20 PM
Hike Time Elapsed: 06:02
Hike Distance: 10.6 miles
Hike Vertical Gain: 3,665'


The Unknown Pond Trail trailhead
The Unknown Pond Trail trailhead

A yellow pond lily on Unknown Pond
A yellow pond lily on Unknown Pond

The lack of views from the Bulge - Click to enlarge
The lack of views from the Bulge

The Kilkenny Ridge Trail to Mt. Cabot
The Kilkenny Ridge Trail to Mt. Cabot

Looking into the fog from near the summit of Mt. Cabot - Click to enlarge
Looking into the fog from near the summit of Mt. Cabot

The spur trail to the Horn
The spur trail to the Horn

The Pilot Range as seen from the Horn - Click to enlarge
The Pilot Range as seen from the Horn

Topographic map of The Bulge, Mt. Cabot, The Horn - Click to enlarge


Directions to trailhead: Take 110 West from Berlin to Stark. Take a left onto Mill Brook Road. The Unknown Pond Trail trailhead will eventually be on the left, just before the second one-lane bridge, with some room for roadside parking on either end of the bridge.

Back to The Bulge Profile
Back to Mt. Cabot Profile
Back to The Horn Profile




Copyright 2002-2021, All Rights Reserved.
www.FranklinSites.com