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Mount Major, Alton Bay


Highlights:

Cliffs, Scenic view of Lake Winnipesaukee
Near:Alton Bay, NH
Scenery:
Distance:3.8 miles round trip
Elevation Gain:1124 ft
Hike Time:2.5 hours
Difficulty:Moderate
Trail Condition:Well maintained trail
HikeType:Loop


Summary: We took the left most trail to the summit. It provides a short and direct route but has some challenging cliffs to ascend or navigate around. This mountain sees plenty of traffic so the trail is easy to find and there are many side routes around obstacles.

The trail splits in several places and confuses some people but generally the main trail is obvious and the splits converge. Just follow the blue blazes and arrows.

Take time to notice the lovely boulders alongside the trail.

This is a challenging but good hike for children and novices.

Trailhead: Parking lot is on the left hand side or Route 11 just 4.2 miles north of the town of Alton Bay. There is a sign on route 11.

Trailhead is on the back right side of the parking lot if you are facing the mountain. There is a small trail on the left back side of the parking lot but this is not the trail for Mt Major. (Lat:43.50396 Lon:-71.29729)

Trail Guides for Mount Major, Alton Bay:
100 Classic Hikes of the Northeast
by Jared Gange (Huntinton Graphics)

Best Seasons: Year-Round
User Groups: Hikers, Dogs,
Ranger Contact: Unknown
Localhikes Reporter: This hike was submitted by Jon Willard, who has posted  54 other hikes on this site. To visit this reporters web site, click here.
Trail Reviews  Page 1 of 5   Submit your own review
Reviewed by Viewer on 9/30/2009
Just the right amount of exercise. Lots of dogs and the view was wonderful. I think this will be a yearly hike for me.

Reviewed by Laurie on 9/18/2009
I did this hike in 2 hours following the blue trail up and down. As other reviews state, the views are indeed beautiful. I found there were very few areas where it was just easy walking...still a good workout and well worth the effort.

Reviewed by Debbie on 8/31/2009
Did this hike (me 53, boyfriend 61). We took the orange trail up and the yellow/blue back. The orange was quite a challenge at the end near the top but so well worth it! The view was SPECTACULAR...one that is hard to beat. Plan some time at the summit because it is stunning. We are already planning this hike again next year at blueberry time as there are an abundance of bushes along the trails near the top. There are many hikers on all the trails, which is actually fun because everyone is very friendly!

Reviewed by steve on 8/30/2009
aug 28,2009 hiked with brother 70 and 73 of age.took blue trail up found it very difficult (for our age)stunning view. took blue/yellow trail down. a lot easier but longer. plan to do again in oct when leaves change.this time take camera

Reviewed by Linda on 7/29/2009
7/29/09 Went today with my three kids 10,7,7. It was their first mountain hike ever so there was a lot of stops and frustration because they were very impatient to reach the top. The hike was challenging to us novices but the day was spectacular. Lots of shade, lots of blueberries, friendly people...not too many and well marked trails. The view is wonderful and when we were finally done all three were very glad they did it. We went up blue trail and down orange as suggested. Plan to do it again in the fall.

Reviewed by Lacey on 7/12/2009
A little hard for a beginner like me but all worth it once you reach the top. Very beutiful

Reviewed by Michael on 5/25/2009
Hiked this popular trail today, Memorial Day May 25, 2009, and it was beautiful. My family took the blue trail up and opted for the ledge ascent. On the decent we took the orange trail. The kids, ages 11, 13, 14, 17, 18 had no trouble, but my wife and I felt the knees giving out on the way down. There were many people on the trail as the weather was perfect for hiking. Take your camera for great pictures.

Reviewed by Chris on 5/13/2009
Hey for your Trailhead section: both trails are the mt major trails, there are actually three. The trail on the right is the blue trail which intersects with the yellow trail about a mile in. And the trail one the left is the red/orange trail which is 1.75 miles to the peak.


Notice: Traveling in the backcountry can be hazardous. You are responsible for informing yourself about these hazards and taking necessary precautions. Information on this web site comes from volunteer reporters and may contain errors or omissions. A current guidebook and proper equipment are essential for safe enjoyment of the hikes posted on this site.
Keys: New Hampshire Hiking, New Hampshire Trails, New Hampshire Hikes, Belknap County Hiking, Belknap County Trails, Belknap County Hikes

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