Belknap County Highpoint Trip Report
Belknap Mtn (2,382 ft)
Date: June 21, 2008
Authors: SueAnn Miller and Frank Price
We report a newer trail that is not mentioned in previous reports and emphasize
the option of making this a loop hike.
Having traveled to Intervale, NH to pick up Frank's latest Limmers during the
final days of (motor) Biker Week, which is centered in Laconia, we were happy to
get to the trailhead and away from the busy highways. At the trailhead we found
that Belknap is one of several NH fire tower summits that offers multiple short
trails of varying length and steepness. Information on the cabin at the
trailhead explains an arrangement like ski trails - beginner, intermediate,
advanced - but the colors on this mountain are blue trail (0.9 mile), red trail
(0.8 mile) and green trail (0.7 mile). There is also a longer white trail but
that trailhead is elsewhere down the road.
Favoring loop hikes, we chose to ascend on the green trail and descend on the
red trail. Information at the trailhead warns that the green trail is steep and
advises not to use it as a route down. In June the open bedrock was dry and
made a nice, natural sidewalk the day we hiked but, if autumn leaves covered
those inclined and wet surfaces, the advice would be appropriate. The red trail
appears to be the newest and is the only one listed in Delorme, but the roots,
mud and small rocks were more obnoxious footing for the short walk down than the
dry slabs of the green trail would have been.
None of the trails are difficult, so pick two and enjoy.