Belknap Mountain via Carriage Road Trails (Belknap Range)
Hike Type: Lollipop Loopty Loop
Distance: 7.54 miles
Elevation: 2,339 feet
Time: 3 hours, 30 minutes
Hiking Challenges: Belknap Range Redliner, Belknap Range Grid
Hiking Challenges: Belknap Range Redliner, Belknap Range Grid
The Hike
Continuing on my adventures of April break, it was time to drive to Vermont! I decided to break up the drive by stopping in the Bleknaps for some redlining. I had a nice easy drive up at a reasonable hour (not what I affectionately call "balls o'clock"), and was at the trailhead a little after 7:30am! The lot itself was full (3 whole cars), but there is decent roadside parking. I was very nervous about having to christen the woods, but I am happy to report that my body stayed behaved for the entire hike. There were a couple of hikers a minute ahead of me, but thankfully I saw them head up Gunstock instead of the Carriage Road, so I had the road to myself!
[7:52am - Start of Hike on Carriage Road]
The Carriage Road, which was still gated for this hike, initially descends on pavement to cross a brook over a culvert - last time I was here the brook was mostly frozen, so it was fun to see it in its springtime glory! I crossed the Old Piper Trail trailhead and started a moderate-to-steep climb. There were a few piles of horse poop on this lower stretch of road, and the road itself followed some lovely cascades. There was occasional stonework that looked reminiscent of CCC work - the whole lower road was surprisingly scenic...
...until it got comically steep for a paved road. I'd take a steep trail over a steep road any day! This push was rough, but thankfully conditions got better afterwards. The steep incline led to a turn where the road began to switchback, crossing a brook on a bridge near the halway point. After this bridge, the road turned to dirt and continued to zigzag up the mountainside, crossing the brook numerous more times.
I was surprised again by the grade of this road - I couldn't believe that cars drive up this! I was thrilled to be hiking up instead, even if it hurt my calves. I noticed a few signs of winter in drainage ditches, but the road proper was completely snow, ice, and slush-free! I crossed paths with my first person partway up who had an off-leash dog that charged at me. Not even an ounce of concern from the owner... Ugh.
Soon enough I came upon the junction with the White Trail, which joined the road and gently led to the upper Carriage Road parking area, a gate with a spooky shed, and a trail kiosk in the parking lot.
[8:23am - Wayne's Way]
From the parking lot, the trail kiosk led to Wayne's Way - a short trail that led to a lovely overlook of a few distant hills, mountains, and lakes. I could see Ragged Mountain, which was fun! The path continued to the old spooky shed, which served as the trailhead for the green, red, and blue trails.
[8:28am - Red Trail]
From the trailhead, my adventure officially began! The three trails were aggressively signed in numerous ways, so it was clear which was which. I started my first climb on the Red Trail, which was comically well blazed and had some excellent stone work. I caught some tree views to Gunstock Mountain on the left as I climbed along the countless (but not relentless) stone steps.
Eventually, the Red Trail climbed to a denser forest, and I was thrilled to find minimal mud on the few stretches without rock work. The trail crossed a stream and descended slightly before climbing via switchbacks, which were ridiculously well signed. There was a partial view from a slab, but there wasn't much to see with the clouds and humidity in the air.
[8:56am - Belknap Mountain Summit]
I had created a narrative in my head that there was a second USGS disc I had missed the first time I was up here, but I couldn't find it (still might not exist - unclear. I found the actual summit marker disc, but I've seen photos of an arrow disc that says "GUNSTOCK," so I'm not sure if that photo was misplaced or if I need to look harder...).
[8:58am - Blue Trail]
I opted to skip the tower since there were people on it, so as soon as I hit the top I started my trip down the Blue Trail! Once I was descending, I passed the duo I originally saw in the parking lot, and then I noticed that rock with an "L" painted on it. I meant to research the plane crash in this area, but completely forgot until this point - oops!
The trail was a bit squishy with some slushy spots, but overall it was fine. There were nice tree views to Lake Winnipesaukee, and one tricky patch of ice. I made my way to the open meadow and the view of the summit knob of Gunstock, my tummy made some ALARMING sounds, and then I was at the junction with the Saddle Trail.
[9:13am - Junction with Saddle Trail]
The summit to this point was all repeat trail, now I was on new-to-me trail! The forest was now pretty open and the trail was descending with leafy footing. It was a bit confusing in this area, since the NH State Land boundary was also blazed in blue, but I was able to follow the trail without much of a problem. There were again many stone steps, and there was one stream crossing near the end. So far, I was thrilled with my decision to ascend Red and descend Blue, we'll see what Green has in store!
[9:27am - Green (Warden's) Trail]
I continued onto the Green/Warden's Trail and picked up the pace because I was being trailed by two women and their dogs. The trail felt like a classic firetower trail, which was a bit of a bummer. It was much wider than Red and generally eroded footing and a moderate grade. I did appreciate, however, how all three trails were all so different from each other.
The trail meandered on and off a power cut with slippery, ledgy footing. I caught a partial glimpse of Piper through the trees, and higher up there was a great view over to Ragged Mountain. I think the trail had been partially relocated over the years, since the sections that were not on the power cut felt relatively new. Eventually, the trail dipped into the woods and came to an icy, wet, mossy, slippery, glacial section that was pretty awful, but I imagine would be really pretty when dry.
Eventually, the trail began to calm down and cross some more glaciers in a forest that smelled like a delicious bottle of gin and eventually arrived near the summit plateau. There were some old cabins just off-trail, maybe this used to be a camping area? Or maybe just a part of the warden complex. A mystery!
[9:51am - Belknap Mountain Summit]
The final stretch of trail was narrow and snowy which made for some interesting footing but soon opened up at the tower! I somehow crossed paths with the same duo from the parking lot, which was the same duo I passed up here almost an hour ago? I guess they were also doing multiple laps. I climbed up the narrow-stepped tower, enjoyed some views, and then kept it moving!
[9:55am - White/East Gilford Trails]
I continued to follow the power cut along the White/East Gilford Trails, which enter some beautiful forests. The trail leaves the flat power cut as the power cut nears some communication towers (where I noticed the duo that was trailing behind me on the Warden's Trail, which was confusing). After some gentle descending, the White Trail turns right while the East Gilford Trail continues to descend on slabs on a beautiful, open area.
[9:59am - East Gilford Trail]
This stretch of trail was lovely! It alternated between open, dry slabs with nice views and mossy woods. I was feeling a little nervous about descending on a trail called "Boulder Trail," but so far conditions had been pretty sweet, minus some ice up high. This turn marked a long stretch of trail where I was completely by myself, which was also a delight.
[10:08am - Boulder Trail]
The Boulder Trail turn was well-signed and immedaitely became less-traveled and more rugged, passing a comical stone throne at the beginning. This trail had three-ish distinct, steep slab sections (only the lowest of which was wet and tricky), each with a fantastic view of the interior Belknaps. I heard the thump-thump-thmp-thmp-tp-tp-tp sound of a grouse smacking it wings on the ground (I believe some mating dance type thing) and I could hear wood frogs making their silly croaks and peepers making their high calls from either a vernal pool down low or Round Pond, unsure of which.
After the third section of slabs, the Boulder Trail arrives at the namesake boulders. They were medium-challenging to navigate around and descend on, but I think they would have actually been very fun to climb up! After a first ridiculous section, the trail flattened for a moment and then continued the steep, bouldery descent, but slightly less brutal in the later half.
[10:27am - Piper-Round Pond Link]
The second bouldery descent led me to my last longer segment for the day - the Piper-Round Pond Link! It was leafy and quiet in these woods, and the trail sign was delightfully unique. It was nice to hike on relatively flat land, even if the trailbed wasn't super clear and footing super leafy. There was one wet spot that wasn't to difficult to bypass. The trail later turned and climbed to enter into Lakes Region Conservation Trust land.
Further down, I enjoyed the obstructed tree views towards Round Pond and Swett Mountain, and then I saw people! They nearly scared the life out of me, as I had gotten used to my solice. The trail follows a section of sidehill walking, which angered my ankle, and then entered a more open area with tree views over to Piper and its various ledges. Up and down I continued along the trail as I began to get hungrier and hungrier. The trail descended to a tricky to follow section, ascended past a boulder field, and then continued a more moderate to steep ascent to the Piper-Belknap col, where my stomach was NOT feeling good. I was also tired at this point, so my footing was more clumsy.
[10:54am - Old Piper Trail]
[10:55am - White Trail]
For a brief moment, I was in familiar territory on the Old Piper Trail, and then continued onto the White Trail for my last bit of new trail for the day. The footing was still pretty bony but MUCH better than the Piper-Round Pond Link. The air smelled like a cloud, and soon enough I was back on the Carriage Road!
[11:00am - Carriage Road]
My brain turned off for most of the Carriage Road walk. I did notice that the bridges along the road were all marked with "E-2 POSTING," I wondered what that meant? (EDIT: Okay I found this quote online: "The E-2 designation is to exclude all combination and single unit certified vehicles from crossing a specific bridge." - there is more information that I don't fully understand here). Eventually, I arrived back at the pavement, crossed paths with two folks heading uphill, and just when I was really starting to feel the effects of boredom settle in, I saw the Piper Trail! Two folks were just ahead of me, but thankfully the final rude uphill slowed me so we never had to interact.
[11:21am - End of Hike]
Back at the car, it was now 67 degrees out and hinting at rain. This was a great hike! I'm glad I chose to hike the Carriage Road instead of drive it, even if it was boring. Ascending on Red and Green were absolutely the right choices, and my only small regret was descending on the Boulder Trail, but even that wasn't so bad. Time to continue my drive up to Vermont for Easter Sunday!
Step-by-Step
- Park at Lower Carriage Road.
- Start hike on Carriage Road.
- At parking lot, hike to kiosk and hike Wayne's Way to viewpoint.
- Follow spur to trailhead.
- Follow Red Trail to Belknap Mountain.
- From summit, turn left onto Blue Trail.
- Follow Blue Trail to trailhead.
- At trailhead, turn onto Green (Warden's) Trail.
- From summit, continue onto White Trail/East Gilford Trail.
- At split, continue onto East Gilford Trail.
- At jct., turn right onto Boulder Trail.
- At terminus, turn right onto Piper-Round Pond Link.
- At terminus, continue onto Old Piper Trail.
- At jct., continue left onto White Trail.
- At terminus, turn left onto Carraige Road, return to car.
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