Hiking Mt Kearsarge in Central New Hampshire

Mount Kearsarge is a 2,937 foot mountain located in the towns of Wilmot and Warner, New Hampshire.  Our ascent to the summit starts at the Winslow State Park parking lot at the northwest slope of Mt. Kearsarge.

Mount Kearsarge has multiple trails and a bare rockbound summit with an observation fire tower and a cell phone tower.

From the summit on a clear day lies a spectacular view of the White Mountains and Mt. Cardigan in the north, the Green Mountains and Mt. Sunapee in the west and the Monadnock Region and the Merrimack Valley in the south.  The summit with its towers are a distinctive landmark and is easily seen from its surrounding communities.

We chose to summit from Winslow State Park with the option of two trails.  The Winslow Trail, marked with red blazes, begins at the park’s parking area.  Winslow Trail climbs for 1.1 miles (1,100 vertical feet) through the forest and over bare granite ledge to the 2,937-foot summit.

The Barlow Trail, marked with yellow blazes, also leaves from the same parking area at Winslow Park and provides a longer, but more gradual ascent to the summit. Several vistas along the 1.7 mile trail afford views of the Andover area, Ragged Mountain, and Mount Cardigan.

We decided to ascend via the longer Barlow Trail and to descend using the much steeper but shorter Winslow Trail.  The wet spring run-off and mossy rocks made today's Winslow Trail very slippery.

Early June is the black fly season, and they were plentiful on the day of our trek.

Enjoy this beautiful outdoor recreation of New Hampshire – never say, “I wished I had taken my family to climb Mt Kearsarge."

For a map and more information on Mt Kearsarge go to https://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/winslow-state-park.aspx and 
https://www.nhstateparks.org/getmedia/1fb58d3d-a22c-4066-8aa1-db931ec63f2d/Mount-Kearsarge-Hiking-Map.pdf

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"Everyone must do something.  I believe I will go outdoors with family and friends"

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