Imp Face (White Mountain National Forest)

Imp Face (White Mountain National Forest)

Distance: 4.78 miles
Elevation: 1,848 feet
Time: 2 hours, 57 minutes (2 hours, 30 minutes moving)

Hike Type: Out-and-Back

Hiking Challenges: 52 With-a-View

The Hike

The drive from Pine Mountain to the Imp Trail trailhead was no more than 10 minutes, with my largest obstacle being the trucks on NH-16 wanting to run me over for going 5 over the speed limit (too slow, apparently). Parking is right alongside NH-16 and I did NOT find a place to answer nature's call. Thankfully, I was able to send it to voicemail and it doesn't seem like a 911, yet. I noticed most of the fog had burned off by this point and I was definitely feeling sleepy, but I did my chores and got to work!

The Imp Trail starts in some nice woods with small gains and leads to an interesting 4-way power cut with extremely limited views upward. After the power cut the trail enters a truly beautiful section of woods filled with fungi and soft pine needles blanketing the ground. Later, it parallels a lovely stream up on a ridge. Truly, just lovely! My only complaint about the forest was how many spider webs there (still) were! There was another car at the trailhead, so I had hoped that hiker took the brunt of the beating... guess not!

The trail becomes more rugged and soon crosses the stream with an easy rock hop around some lovely cascades. The red squirrels were still mad that I was in their woods (I told them to calm down), and then the trail becomes steeper. Paired with my sweating, the humidity had my camera lens fully fogged up and my clothes fully soaked through, but thankfully the first steeper section is forgiven with a more level section through a deciduous forest where I briefly saw a bunny!

Continuing on, the trail began to climb again where the footing was either fantastic or horrendous with very little in between. Shockingly, I unexpectedly had cell service and received a rather irritating work-related text, and I was just so greatful to be in the woods where I couldn't be bothered by it if I tried. As the climb continued it became less pleasant - I wrote the woods "grueling, muddy, wet, slippery climb." Upon further reflection, I was definitely still in the mindset of the easy climb up Pine Mountain, and did not appropriately prepare for a harder hike. 

The trail came up to the edge of the mountain and followed the side, still ascending moderately, where I could make out the ridge of the Carters through the trees. The climb CONTINUED (which felt like forever) as I passed the hiker who I shared the parking lot with - a man of few words. After turning away from the mountain's side the trail follows a contour line and opens up at the light at the end of the tunnel!

The views from the Imp Face ledges were amazing and completely worth the dreadful climb up. The Carters were immediately on the left, leading to the Wildcats, Pinkham Notch, and then the partially cloud-covered Presidentails on the right. With some creative footing, I could even make out Pine Mountain at the foot of Mt. Madison deep on the right. The clouds that were up on the Presis were beautiful, big cotton clouds with crystal clear views underneath. 

I stopped for a long break (where I got a nice sunburn... whoops) to enjoy some food and the beautiful views. A little grey bird stopped by to bounce around (and probably ask for some food) as I was deep in a trance of peace while listening to the water of the Imp Brook draining from North Carter.

I was heavily debating if I was actually going to do my final hike for the day, and eventually decided that I'll wait until I'm closer to the car to make the final call. I got everything packed up from the ledges, got back in the woods, and slipped within 5 minutes on one of the nasty rocks - whoops! I passed a few people on my trip down, one of which asked if they were close, I said "you're not too far away," and she so sincerely said "thank. you." The different areas of forest had different pockets of dense humidity, but other areas were lovely. I was beyond delighted to be back in the lovely fungi forest after crossing the brook, and eventually landed back at my car, where I decided I would try for the last hike of the day - the Doubleheads! #2 of the day and #35 of the 52 With-a-View = Done!

Step-by-Step

    - Hike out and back via the Imp Trail.

"Imp Trail" from White Mountain Guide, 31st Ed. (2022)

WMNF This yellow-blazed trail makes a loop over the cliff that bears the Imp Face, providing fine views of the Presidential Range. The ends of the loop are 0.3 mi. apart on NH 16, with the north end 2.6 mi. north of Mt. Washington Auto Rd. and 5.4 mi. south of US 2 in Gorham. Roadside parking is available at both trailheads (plowed in winter).

        The north branch of Imp Trail crosses a narrow power-line cut and heads east up the south side of the Imp Brook valley, through a pleasant stand of hemlocks, and then crosses the brook at 0.8 mi. (difficult in high water). The trail angles north up to a ridge and follows its crest, nearly level for some distance; then it angles more steeply up the north side of the ridge and continues nearly ot the bottom of a ravine northeast of the Imp Face cliff. Here, Imp Trail turns right and then climbs steeply, swinging to the left to reach the Imp Face viewpoint at 2.2 mi. 

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Photo Album