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Piper Mountain
Gilford, NH
Trailheads, measurements, times, distances, and maps are all approximate and relative to the hike(s) as shown below.
Looking down the green blazed trail toward the Piper Mountain summit
Route: Piper Mountain Trail, green blazed trail
The Belknaps would once again be my loophole on an otherwise cloudy day. I had been meaning to hike Piper Mountain for months, however I could never justify the trip for it alone. Fortunately, I recently found a nice shortcut (11B) around Laconia, shaving time and traffic off the drive.
Starting at the parking lot just outside the gate, I followed the Carriage Road around the corner and over the bridge, then took the right onto the Piper Trail.
The trail starts off gently, somewhat paralleling the road, before ascending at a moderate pace out of the state forest. After that, the trail meanders a bit, crosses some sort of woods road, then ascends moderately again, before levelling out and hitting the ledges below the Piper ridge.
The trail ends at the north peak of Piper Mountain - taking a right, a green blazed trail leads at a fairly level pace to the highpoint. The views on the ridge, despite haze to the south, were still excellent (though not as good as from the Belknap Mountain fire tower).
Not a bad late fall hike - the upper 30s thawing action at the summit made it feel like spring.
| Hike Ratings |
|
Getting To Trailhead: |
Easy |
| Destination: |
Piper Mountain |
|
Length: |
Moderate |
|
Steepness: |
Moderate |
|
Navigation: |
Easy |
|
Views: |
Excellent |
|
Crowds: |
Minimal |
|
| Hike Stats |
|
Date Hiked: |
Sunday, November 25, 2007 |
| Hike Commenced: |
12:34 PM |
| Parking Elevation: |
1,030' |
| Destination: |
Piper Mountain |
| Ascent Commenced: |
12:36 PM |
| Summit Reached: |
1:16 PM |
| Time Elapsed: |
00:40 |
| Trailhead Elevation: |
1,010' |
| Summit Elevation: |
2,044' |
| Vertical Gain: |
1,064' |
|
|
| Hike Ended: |
2:17 PM |
| Hike Time Elapsed: |
01:43 |
| Hike Vertical Gain: |
1,164' |
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The Piper Mountain Trail trailhead on the Carriage Road
Looking at Lake Winnipesaukee from near the Piper Mountain summit
Directions to trailhead: From Route 11A East (from Route 3), take a right on Hoyt Road. Continue down this road as it becomes Belknap Mountain Road. Look for Carriage Road on your left. There is a small parking lot just before the gate. Trailhead is down the road a bit, on the right after a small bridge.
Back to Piper Mountain Profile
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