Mt. Agassiz (Bethlehem, NH)

Mt. Agassiz (Bethlehem, NH)

Hike Type: Out and Back

Distance: 1.66 miles

Elevation: 574 feet

My Time: 36 minutes

Book Time: 1 hour, 7 minutes

Parking: Small parking off of main road at trailhead.
Hiking Challenges: Operation Alaska Benchmark Challenge

The Hike 

I natuarlly woke up around 4:45am without an overly firm plan. I tried to fall back asleep, but once I realized I was simply awake, decided to start my day! I felt nostalgic waking up in Emma's house without her there, as she was usually on her way to patrol on these mornings. I decided I'd definely make my way over to Black Mountain to get a few runs in for their closing day. On the way, I've had my eye on Mt. Agassiz, so I'd start there, and then maybe get another hike in somewhere in the Randolph area? I heard on the Sounds Like a Search and Rescue Podcast that Mt. Crescent is supposed to be good - we'll see!

I had a nice and easy drive from Fairfax, VT to Bethlehem, NH (I always forget how cute the town of Bethlehem is). The parking area isn't super clear, but you pull onto a dirt road and there spots for two cars on the left, and then two more cars on the left just after, and that's really it. I got ready at the car, dodging a few flies ('tis the season), and realized that I had forgotten my camera! Bummer. That's kind of what I get for staying up until 1am, packing, and then leaving at 4am yesterday...

The weather was absolutely lovely. It was sunny and temps were in the mid 50s. The birds were singing and a gentle breeze blowing. A dream! I hiked up the road just a little ways and then ducked under a gate clearly labeling private property, but welcoming hikers. The hike climbed up this access road, which I learned used to be a carriage road, and later was traversed by the "Magic Mountain Express" - a train-shaped tractor "ride" that brought tourists to and from the top of the mountain. There is also a brief ski history here, which was fun to learn about, too. 

The road was partially paved and partially eroded and mostly steep. I passed an enormous raven perched on a tree, turned in a flat spot and passed som eeroded old culverts and a sign for "Cry Baby" (which I would later learn is a mountain biking trail a part of the Bethlehem Trails Association). There were tree views ahead to Mt. Agassiz and over to Mt. Cleveland, and I began to climb again after passing something that looked like an old oil tank. 

The gnats were out as I started to climb steeply again past an old, busted bench and more Cry Baby signs. It smelled like the mountains in summertime, which brought me a lot of joy.

There was a narrow view from a small power cut as the trail somehow felt steeper again? Thankfully, before I knew it I was seeing the communication tower through the trees and I was nearing the top! There were a bunch more mountain biking trails from the top. First, on the left was a communication tower and ahead was a neat-looking abandoned-looking stone building surrounding anohter communication tower.

I found some old bolts on the ground and disc labeled "Mt. Agassiz 3". Around the corner I was SHOCKED to see a truly spectacular view towards Franconia Notch. From left to right I could see the Twins (in a cloud), Garfield, Lafayette (in a cloud), the notch, Cannon, the Cannonballs, at least North Kinsman, and Moosilauke! There was a lone bench thanking the landowners in a mowed lawn. Around here I found another disc, labeled as "Mt. Agassiz No 4."

Near the building there was a lot of broken glass from broken windows in the building, so I carefully looked around some more. I made it back to the "Mt. Agassiz 3" disc and followed the arrow to a third disc, which was fun to see. I had to decide whether to hike it three times to make all three discs "count" or to save it for later - I opted to save it.

I thought about descending on Cry Baby just to mix things up, but it very much seemed like a proper mountain biking trail, so I left it to the mountain bikers. I had a super quick and easy descent back to the car. I wondered if the parking lot is plowed in winter, because this would be a nice snowshoe up (with televators). To cap this warm-up hike, I passed a red trilium! 

Back at the car, I decided I'd hit Mt. Crescent and the Carlton Notch Trail loop with the possibility of extending the hike to Mt. Randolph as well - we'll see!

Step-by-Step

- Start hike up road from parking area.

- Summit, and turn around to descend.

Photo Album