Hike Type: Out-and-Back
Distance: 6.61 miles
Elevation: 2,057 feet
My Time: 3 hours, 24 minutes (3 hours, 3 minutes moving)
Book Time: 4 hours, 20 minutes
Parking: I parked at my AirBnb and walked, but there is ample parking at the main ski resort.
Hiking Challenges: N/A
The Hike
Final morning of vacation! My alarm went off at 5:45am, I had a quick breakfast of a protein bar, packed just two waters, and then I walked right out the front door of the condo I was staying in to start my hike!
[6:09am - Start of Hike on Mountainside Road]
It was a humid 60 degree morning and both Burnt Mountain and Sugarloaf appeared to be in the clouds - we'll see how it goes! Mountainside Road went over a ski run and then began to turn uphill, later crossing another ski trail (maybe a cross-country ski trail?). I enjoyed seeing all of the different styles of homes at Sugarloaf!
[6:20am - Bigelow Mountain Road]
[6:22am - Burnt Mountain Hiking Trail/Flume]
I turned left onto Bigelow Mountain Road, which had no indication that a hiking trail was on the other side, except for one mountain biking sign. I entered the woods on a gravel road with signs for Flume 5k, Flume 10K (no idea what those mean), and "Class 1 E-Bikes Only." There were two small signs for the Burnt Mountain Hiking Trail, one of which was hidden in a tree. The path crossed a bridge over a scenic brook and then the Burnt Mountain Hiking Trail formally began on the right on a footpath.
[6:24am - Burnt Mountain Hiking Trail]
I followed the blue-blazed trail into the woods with the brook on my right and a grassy... road/trail/path on the left through some trees. I almost missed a turn in a blowdown area, and caught a face full of spider webs and whispered "we're so back" to myself sarcastically.
I crossed the stream twice and passed a lady sitting on a rock with her dog - she said she bailed on the hike due to the humidity (which was fair). This area was super pretty.
After the stream I hiked past a signed paper birch and worked my way over and around an occasional blowdown before turning and rising more moderately above the stream.
[6:41am - Burnt Mountain Hiking Trail/Grassy Trail]
I hiked through some ski or bike trail that was super grassy for a moment before reentering woods - a sign read "terrain beyond this sign for experts only, travel in groups of 3 or more, no easy way down, no hazzard marking, no grooming, obey ski area boundary, do not enter after 1:00," which made me think it's the run out of a glade or something?
I rejoined the stream, which had more rocks than water at this point, and said hello to a frog (1:1 human:frog ratio so far!).
[6:47am - Burnt Mountain Hiking Trail/Grassy Road]
There was a wet eroded section I had to contend with that led to the next crossing, which was a larger road/trail/path that was equally as grassy. It looked pretty flat to be a ski trail, but pretty grown in to be a bike trail? A mystery! The Burnt Mountain Hiking Trail left the stream here. I was absolutely pouring out sweat, but this was objectively the easiest hike of my trip so far. My body was shockingly feeling good, too!
[6:58am - Burnt Mountain Hiking Trail/Golden Road]
[7:02am - Burnt Mountain Hiking Trail/Kennebec Glade]
The Burnt Mountain Hiking Trail joined the Golden Road ski trail, which I think led to the Burnt Mountain Cat Skiing area (only because there was a sign pointing that way). I followed the Golden Road through the Kenebec Glade, which had beautiful birches sticking above the ferns. There was kind of a breeze, but it was really just pushing moisture around. There were also some tree views over to Sugarloaf, which remained in a cloud.
I passed some orange ski markers and continued to hike through a gladed area, which was an easier hike than before. There were some small moose prints as the trail turned back into a footpath and steepened again, hiking over one wet, slippery slab on the way.
There were increasing tree views and I stopped to wring my shirt out in a more open gladed area where the breeze was blowing stronger. After a while, I started to notice ski area boundary ropes and started to get excited! The trail began to open up and views over to Sugarloaf and back to the Abraham complex began to show.
The trail became slabbier and more open, and I caught my first view to the summit of Burnt, which looked further than I wanted it to... The trail became a bit confusing to follow at times, but there was always a cairn or rope to guide me. The moderate climbing felt easier here, but likely because I was stopping every few feet to stare at the views - it was really beautiful!
[7:39am - Burnt Mountain Hiking Trail/Survey Stake]
I eventually hit a survey stake and hiked under another rope, alternating between open slabs and scratchy car-wash trees. It began to feel similar to the "choose your own adventure" stretches of the trails up Monadnock.
There were a couple cairns with a piece of ski patrol bamboo sticking out of the top, most likely for the winter folks, and there were little white flowers everywhere (three-toothed cinquefoil). It was stunning up here! I had a tough time staying on-trail, but I didn't really care as long as I was rock hopping.
[7:51am - Burnt Mountain Summit]
It was WINDY up top, but I was thrilled to be at the summit! Maybe 25mph winds? I lost my anemometer... again... The views were nothing short of stunning. There were clouds over Sugarloaf and Crocker and Abraham was recently uncovered. I later noticed Spaulding was also in the clouds. There was a patrol sled and a few herd paths, likely for winter trails. If there weren't any clouds I think I'd be able to see Saddleback and some of the northern Whites - I'll have to come back!
I missed my camera :(.
I had a delightful sit-and-stare up here. I had a canned vodka lemonade for funsies and endless pistachios. The grasses whipping in the wind reminded me of Mt. Moosilauke. Every now and then the top of Sugarloaf would appear, too. I kept finding myself turning back to stare at Abraham, which might be my new hyperfixation (I am feeling a need to hike it again from the other side now...). This was truly a perfect spot to conclude my hiking trip! I didn't want to leave, but I remembered if I started heading down soon I could get Taco Bell on the way home...
[8:13am - Burnt Mountain Hiking Trail]
[8:23am - Burnt Mountain Hiking Trail/Survey Stake]
Starting my hike down, I couldn't stop but think about how badly I want to ski here! I started my hike down the slabs and rock looking in every which direction like a herd of flamingos. I could rapidly feel the temperature warming up as I approached the scrub and a bunch of birds sung me back into the woods. I was sad to be back in the trees, but what a beautiful view it was!
[8:36am - Burnt Mountain Hiking Trail/Golden Road]
[8:49am - Burnt Mountain Hiking Trail/Kennebec Glade]
[8:53am - Burnt Mountain Hiking Trail/Golden Road]
Okay so I realized the signage was weird coming up becuase this is a ski mountain. I soon entered the Golden Road again and the leftover orange ski signs were letters marking the different glades (I think). I passed signs C and D, then H, and then I tripped on a root, tore a hole in my shoe (my other shoe also had a hole, so they matched now), and smashed my shin into a rock - nice!. Afterwards, I saw M, Q, R, and S, and reentered the large glade, which I believe is the Kennebec Glade, and then the Golden Road turned away from the Burnt Mountain Hiking Trail at the Cat Skiing sign. It was much more fun to descend this way!
[9:02am - Burnt Mountain Hiking Trail/Grassy Road]
[9:05am - Burnt Mountain Hiking Trail/Grassy Trail]
I could hear some machinery down low as I hiked past the Grassy Road and Grassy Trail (affectionately named). I begrudgingly dealt with the blowdowns lower down as the streams came into ear shot, and then my human:frog radio got destroyed when I passed 20-ish British teen girls just before crossing the stream.
I splashed my face in the stream, which was life changing, and soon made it back onto Bigelow Mountain Road.
[9:19am - Bigelow Mountain Road]
[9:22am - Mountainside Road]
It was super sunny out now as I followed Bigelow Mountain Road to Mountainside Road. Skies were much clearer than yesterday, and I enjoyed a view from the road to South Horn. What a beautiful hike!
[9:33am - End of Hike]
Back at the condo, I packed everything up, showered, and started my long drive home. Don't worry, I did get my Taco Bell, too!
Step-by-Step
- Start Hike on Mountainside Road from Sugartree Condos (only if staying there).
- At jct., turn left onto Bigelow Mountain Road.
- At terminus, continue onto Burnt Mountain Hiking Trail.
- After bridge, turn right into woods on Burnt Mountain Hiking Trail, now a footpath.
- Follow Burnt Mountain Hiking Trail to summit, then retrace steps.
