North & South Doublehead (White Mountain National Forest)
Distance: 4.19 miles
Elevation: 1,726 feet
Time: 2 hours, 54 minutes (2 hour, 33 minutes moving)
Elevation: 1,726 feet
Time: 2 hours, 54 minutes (2 hour, 33 minutes moving)
Hike Type: Loop w/ Spurs
Hiking Challenges: 52 With-a-View; Summit Beer Society
The Hike
My final drive for the day was an easy 25-minute drive to the Doublehead Ski Trail trailhead. I loved driving past Black Mountain in Jackson, which apparently is right next door to the Doubleheads, because it's on the Indy Pass and I plan to get good at skiing this winter! I hydrated hard on my drive, joined the one other car in the parking lot, and mourned having dry shoes. I was a little nervous about how I would fare with the steepness of this hike, but I could always turn around. Off I go on hike #3!
The Doublehead Ski Trail starts by crossing a lovely stream on a bridge (and taking a potty break at least 100 ft. away). The trail then follows a wide trail with a manageable amount of mud and still a lovely amount of mushrooms. There were bike tracks in the mud, which increased the further along I went. It reminded me of the trail up Mt. Shaw or Stannard Lookout (but nowhere near as awful as Stannard).
Gradually, the ski trail switches over from a gentle trail in the woods to a painful, endlessly steep trail. I did appreciate that since I know how to ski now, I could imagine how terrified I would be on this trail! Footing was always fine and there was almost always a clear footpath, even with tall vegetation. I found myself singing a line from my favorite musical, "Come From Away," when they sing "holy Jesus there's more!" The pain was soon rewarded, though, with a beautiful snowshoe hare chilling just a few feet off the trail, relatively unbothered. This was the third that I've seen in the wild, and the first that did aggressively hop away!
The trail continued its ridiculous climb, slowly leveling out near the top as the forest changes to mostly conifers. I got excited when I saw the forest protection zone sign, assuming I was close, but the trail still steeply climbed along. EVENTUALLY the trail terminated at the Doublehead Cabin, and I was so relieved. To the left of the cabin was a rock that had limited standing views, but impressively had an insane amount of dragonflies flying around!
A spur trail behind the cabin leads to a lovely outlook of mountains that I've never seen before, which was super fun! I'm so used to seeing the mountains I know.
The New Path bottoms out in the col in some beautiful woods and then begins a much more reasonable climb up South Doublehead, but with much larger spiders. The trail got a little more steep near the top, but never too bad. I skipped the main view at first to make my way to the true summit, and the extra bit of hiking was worth it. There were two knobs, both with cairns, both could potentially be the true summit, and both had nice views. The first of Mt. Kearsarge, the second of those mountains that I've never seen before.
Looking back at North Doublehead.
I worked my way back to the main view and took a lovely long break. I had a Downeast Double Blend cider, which was my #24th and final summit beverage for the Summit Beer Society patch! The dragonflies were abundant and I noticed my sunburn, but I enjoyed my time looking at the Wildcats and Carters, Mt. Carrigain, Black Mountain, and the Presis in the clouds.
The return to the col was nice and easy, and the trip down the Old Path was steep and slow. My god, this mountain has steep trails! My brain caught up to my body on this slow descent, and I was fully bonked by the end. Thankfully, I was able to pick up the pace once back on the Ski Trail, and soon enough I was back at my car, did my quick change, chugged some Nuun, and started my long drive home. #3 for the day, and 52 With-a-View #36 = complete!
Step-by-Step
- Start hike at Doublehead Ski Trail trailhead.
- Follow Doublehead Ski Trail from trailhead to summit of North Doublehead.
- Follow path to view behind Doublehead Cabin.
- Continue hike on New Path.
- At jct. in col, continue straight on New Path.
- At jct., continue left on summit spur.
- Hike to second cairn, enjoy view, turn around.
- At jct., continue right on New Path.
- On left, enjoy open slab view.
- Turn left back on New Path.
- At jct. in col, turn left onto Old Path.
- At terminus, continue left onto Doublehead Ski Trail.
"Doublehead Ski Trail" from White Mountain Guide, 31st Ed. (2022)
WMNF This trail ascends North Doublehead from a new trailhead parking area (plowed in witner) on Dundee Rd. from NH 16 at the Jackson covered bridge, follow NH 16A (Main St.) and at 0.5 mi. turn right onto Black Mountain Rd. (NH 16B). Go up a long hill, bear right on Black Mountain Rd. at 1.6 mi., continue past Black Mtn. Ski Area at 2.2 mi., turn right onto Dundee Rd. at 2.4 mi., and continue to the new parking area on the east (left) side of the road 3.0 mi. from NH 16. The WMNF Doublehead Cabin, on the summit, is kept locked, and reservations for its use must be made at recreation.gov or 877-444-6777.
From the parking area, a relocated section of trail - marked with blue blazes - ascends northeast on a newly cut route and joins the original route at 0.3 mi. (The original section of trail, which comes in on the left at this point, has been decommissioned; in reverse, turn left here.) At 0.6 mi., Doublehead Ski Trail bears slightly left where Old Path leaves right. The wide, grassy ski trail ascends north up the west slope of North Doublehead, then swings south and then southeast, climbing steadily on a zigzag route, and ends at Doublehead Cabin on the summit. The nearest water is alongside the trail about halfway down. Behind the cabin, to the right of the privy, a path leads 30 yd. to a good view east, overlooking Mountain Pond, the Baldface-Royce Range, and the hills and lakes of western Maine.
"Old Path" from White Mountain Guide, 31st Ed. (2022)
WMNF This trail ascends North Doublehead from Doublehead Ski Trail, 0.6 mi. from Dundee Rd. Old Path diverges right from Doublehead Ski Trail and passes a small brook on the left in 50 yd., rises at a moderate grade for about 0.1 mi., and then becomes steeper until it reaches the height-of-land in the col between the peaks at 0.6 mi. Here, New Path enters right from South Doublehead, and Old Path turns left and ascends moderately then more steeply, passing a side path that leads left slightly downhill about 100 yd. To a splendid view west to Mt. Carrigain, Moat Mtn., and the Sandwich Range. In a short distance, Old Path reaches the summit of North Doublehead, Doublehead Cabin (which is kept locked; reservations required), and Doublehead Ski Trail. Behind the cabin, to the right of the privy, a path leads 30 yd. to a good view east.
"New Path" from White Mountain Guide, 31st Ed. (2022)
WMNF This trail ascends South Doublehead (with the summit reached via a short spur path) and continue to the col between South and North Doublehead, where New Path meets Old Path. [...].
[...]. From here, New Path begins a steep climb through spruce forest to South Doublehead, approaching it from the southwest slope. The footing is poor in places, with loose rock and gravel. At 1.1 mi., the trail meets the ridge crest at a jct. between two knobs. To the right, a 0.1-mi. spur path leads over two knobs with open ledges and partly restrict but interesting views; the first knob (the true summit of South Doublehead), reached in 100 yd., has views south and west, and the second knob has views north and east. At the jct., New Path turns left and crosses a bump that is a few feet lower than the true summit; 65 yd. from the jct., just before the trail starts to descend, it bears right, and a spur path leads to the left about 30 yd. to a ledge with a superb vista extending from the Sandwich Range to Carter Notch. New Path then descends to meet Old Path in the col to the north.
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