Mt. Tremont via Mt. Tremont Trail (White Mountain National Forest)

Mt. Tremont via Mt. Tremont Trail (White Mountain National Forest)

Distance: 5.64 miles
Elevation: 2,549 feet

Time: 3 hours, 40 minutes (3 hours, 22 minutes moving)
Hike Type: Out-and-back
Hiking Challenges: 52 With-a-View; Operation Alaska Benchmark Challenge

The Hike

Next up was Mt. Tremont after a beautiful drive through Crawford Notch. The parking area is a pull-off on the northbound side of US-302 on a high bank above the Saco River (which I was definitely thinking about going for a swim in afterwards). Unfortunately, I did not plan ahead and forgot a pair of extra socks (I originally planned to only hike Martha/Owl's Head, but that hike didn't even take me three hours and I like my rule of "longer on the trail than in the car"), so I had to be brave and wear dirty socks (which is HUGE for me). I knew this hike was going to be a doozy, especially with tired legs, but it was a beautiful day in the Whites!

The Mt. Tremont Trail is on the southbound side of US-302 and once in the woods, follows a trail to an old road grade with a few muddy spots and a small stream crossing. It soon comes to the Stony Brook which it follows for quite some time with numerous pretty cascades. The brook created an air conditioning effect when close, which was absolutely delightful (the water also looked beyond tempting...). 

The trail then veers away from the brook momentarily past an excellent boulder/rock/erratic before rejoining with some more lovely cascades. The trail itself varied between an easy sidewalk and an eroded mess, kind of similar to the Liberty Brook Trail on the way to the 4000-footer Owl's Head (not to be confused with the Owl's Head of Cherry Mountain from this morning!). 

There was an easy stream crossing and then the trail climbed up to a very high bank. I also noticed that the trail had a mixture of old blue and newer yellow blazes which was just inconsistent enough to make me feel completely gaslit. There was another small crossing and then the trail shot straight up again. 

There was a short walking break through a very confusing wet and flat section that went on for longer than I wanted (I knew there was A LOT of elevation left to climb...). The trail continued past an old, rusted, metal oil can and then the grade slowly intensified before dipping down to a final crossing.

After the final crossing the trail truly blasted off on a rough trail. It was at this time I realized I had done roughly half of the distance but only a third of the elevation... oh boy. I took a moment to thank the hiking gods for keeping the bugs at bay, caught up to a couple (but did not pass), took a quick break at  some small lady slippers, and then made it to the first of many, brutal switchbacks. 

These switchbacks really gave you everything! Erosion, gravelly dirt, wet dirt, mud, roots, wet roots, slabs, wet slabs, all of it! There were some moments of flatness between the turns, but it was basically brutal from here to the top. 

Around the 2 mile park I noticed there were more bugs out and about, but thankfully none were biting. I soon crossed paths with a descending hiker who said the summit was beautiful, but bugs were of the same quantity and quality (a pro and a con). Higher up, there were some peek-a-views toward a spur ridge of Mt. Tremont and the Presidentials. 

I caught up to the couple ahead of me a few times, but since we were generally hiking at the same pace I used their presence as an excuse to take a water and standing break. My notes for most of the switchbacks are inappropriate words cursing whoever designed them, but to summarize, it was a rough climb. I spooked a hiker on their descent and heard the sound of something falling down a cliff in the distance. At least the woods were beautiful?

Near the end of the misery the trail continues a climb that feels straight up to heaven itself. You'll know you're close once you can see your heart beating a foot away from your body and you can see the sky through the trees. Thankfully once you see the sky you're basically there! The trail leads up to the summit area and view which is absolutely beautiful. The couple that was ahead of me was a French Canadian couple that planted themselves directly on the summit marker...

The view was amazing of the Sandwich Range, the Kancamagus Highway, and Carrigain. The bugs were out but docile enough for a short sit-and-snack. I found three USGS markers - two arrows and the summit marker. I found a ledge away from the main summit since the couple was dead-center on the summit slab... I also had my first shirt-wringing-out of the year! I was VERY sweaty from that climb. It was now 73 degrees with no breeze. I didn't stay for too long because of bugs, but I was able to soak in the view for a few minutes.

The descent was... as expected. Slower than I wanted due to the harsh ruggedness of the upper terrain. I segmentedly passed a family I crossed paths with on my ascent - apparently the mom was having a hard time with the descent (understandably). The dad was maybe 0.25 miles ahead of her, and the kids (older teens) were about a mile ahead of him. I also crossed paths with a women on her ascent and her only words were "this is a DOOZY!" - I told her and her hiking partner that the view is worth it and the partner replied in a sad voice "great..." Not going to lie, I got a little laugh out of that one!

I saw a little snake and eventually heard water! The uphill immediately after the water crossing was cruel, but thankfully it didn't last for long. I made my way through the "flat lands" and eventually rejoined the Stony Brook, where the air conditioning was on in full blast! It was at least 10-15 degrees cooler when right next to the water than ~15 feet away. 

I passed a few more hikers and a couple dangerously walking around on mossy rocks along the brook bed, eventually hearing the sounds of civilization! More specifically, cars on US-302 and the scenic railroad. I officially had noodle arms but soon enough was back at my car! The air temperature was now 80 degrees and I was COOKED. I wanted to take a dip in the Saco, but there was no easy way down the steep bank, also meaning there was no easy way back up. I changed my clothes, blasted the AC, and started my long drive back to Boston - what a fantastic weekend!

Step-By-Step

- Park along US-302 across from trailhead on north side of the road.

- Hike up and down via Mt. Tremont Trial.

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

WMNF This yellow-blazed trail begins on the south side of US 302, 0.5 mi. west of the Sawyer Rock picnic area, 0.1 mi. west of the bridge over Stony Brook, and 1.1 mi. east of the jct. with Sawyer River Rd. (FR 34). Parking is roadside, best at a pull-off on the north side of the road just west of the trailhead. Parking is very limited or nonexistent in winter, depending on snowbanks. Limited parking may be available at the entrance to Fourth Iron Campground on US 302, 0.8 mi. northwest of the trailhead. The trail climbs, steeply at times, to the summit of Mt. Tremont, which affords impressive views, especially to the west over teh Sawyer Pond area.

        Leaving US 302, Mt. Tremont Trial soon reaches and follows the west side of Stony Brook, passing several cascades. At 0.7 mi., the trail runs briefly on a narrow, eroded section on th eledge of the brook bank, crosses a tributary, and then swings right and climbs for 0.3 mi. to the top of a ridge (watch for a sharp right turn up a steep bank shortly after crossing a seasonal brook). The trail then levels off, swings left and crosses an old logging road and passes through a rough, muddy section (follow blazes with care). It turns sharply right, crosses a small brook, and in about 0.1 mi. turns sharply right again and climbs. At 1.5 mi., the trail bears left and descends slightly to cross a major branch of Stony Brook (this crossing is marked with cairns). It then climbs the steep northeast side of Mt. Tremont, first at a moderate grade, passing from birch woods into conifers at 2.4 mi. The trail then ascends a steep, rough section with many switchbacks and one washed-out pitch (use caution) to the ridgetop, passes two side paths to an outlook on the right, and continues another 15 yd. to the ledgy summit.

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