Big Ball Mountain (Ossipee Range)

Big Ball Mountain (Ossipee Range)

Hike Type: Out-and-Back

Distance: 4.08 miles

Elevation: 1,401 feet

Time: 2 hours, 7 minutes (1 hour, 47 minutes)
Hiking Challenges: Ossipee 10

The Hike 

After a scenic drive from Bayle Mountain (Ossipee Mountain Road was stunning), I was now at the Mt. Shaw Trail trailhead! The parking area was a smaller lot with an awkward shape. I ended up parking next to a large camper van, and maneuvering myself to be out of the way was a little stressful (also because the guy in the van was watching - thankfully he thanked me for a good parking job afterward). It was 68 degrees at this trailhead, and after making small chit-chat with the folks in the van, I was off!

The Mt. Shaw Trail starts on a grassy logging road which soon enters the woods. There were a few other intersecting roads, but the Mt. Shaw Trail always followed the best-defined. I hopped over some bear cub poop right before the trail truly entered the woods. 

Just off-trail there was a beautiful waterfall, and a bit further up trail, there were more! Since the Southern New Hampshire Trail Guide doesn't have these trails, I was delightfully surprised!

Just after the second cascade, the now red-blazed Mt. Shaw Trail continues straight while the green-red-green-blazed Italian Trail diverges right, on another old road. The grade immediately steepens and the grade immediately worsens... it was well blazed, though! Especially in the few junctions with other woods roads.

Around the 0.75 mile mark there were hundreds of little red mushrooms and a wood frog! The grade continued to be steady and moderate and the air was now dreadfully stale.

At 0.95 miles the trail left the road grade at a cairn and clear blazing. The many spider webs that were, yet again hitting me in the face, told me that I was the first one up here, too! 

The trail entered a slabby area around 1.35 miles before going back into the woods, out onto another slabby area with a little view, and then back into the woods again for a nice walking break. At this point, the steepest parts were in the past.

Further down, the trail began to get narrower and messier, but always easy to follow, and led to a terminus at the Banana Trail, mostly blazed in blue. 

The Banana Trail gentle rose to a false south summit of Big Ball Mountain, which had some nice views. Before descending into the col between the false and true summit, there was a great view of Black Snout.

The trail steeply dipped into a coniferous forest and then rose again up to the true summit, which had fantastic views! I thought I could see Roberts, Faraway, and Black Snout, but it turns out I was looking at Turtleback Mountain, the trailless Middle Mountain, and Black Snout. In the other direction, I could see the Belknaps with Lake Winnipesaukee. The views were hazy but beautiful. I was delightfully still all alone, and truly would have stayed for a nap if I had sunscreen on! I did have a nice break, though. It was now 73 degrees.

The return trip was quick and easy, curiously with some red balzes higher up (instead of blue). A "friendly" dog did run up to me, barking, as the own asked me if she was on the summit. It was just another "sign" moment... On the plus side, the spider webs were all gone! Soon enough I was back at the trailhead and on my return trip back to Boston. I just need two more Ossipee Mountains for my patch!

Step-By-Step

- Park at Mt. Shaw Trail trailhead.

- Start hike on Mt. Shaw Trail (unblazed at first, follow logging road).

- Continue to follow most-used logging road.

- At junction, turn right onto Italian Trail (green/red blazes).

- At terminus, turn left onto Banana Trail (blue blazes, sometimes red on return).

- Summit Big Ball Mountain.

- At summit, turn around and retrace steps.

Photo Album