Hikes With A View In The Wolfeboro Area?

jkjoshuatree · 05-24-2014, 07:30 AM

Hi all,

I'm heading up to Wolfeboro today with my girlfriend (she's never been there) and we were thinking of doing a hike tomorrow. Ideally, I'd like it to be one I haven't done either.

I've done Mt. Major several times (not the best weather for the view anyway), Rattlesnake in Holderness, Abenaki Tower (not really a hike but…), and a few others that I can't think of at the moment.

Can anyone recommend a good hike (1-2 hours total) in the Wolfeboro area with a view of the lake?

Thank you in advance!!!

phoenix · 05-24-2014, 07:42 AM

Many hikes in castle in clouds of different lengths

DickR · 05-24-2014, 09:58 AM

If you want something with a view of Lake Winnipesaukee, your options are pretty much limited to the Belknaps to the southwest, the Ossipees to the east, and the Squam range to the north. You've done Major in the Belknaps, but there are other climbs over that way that aren't as arduous as, say, a 4000 footer up in the White Mountains. Mt. Belknap comes to mind, as it has a fire tower on top with a great view in all directions. One trail up is from the Gunstock parking area. You can do a search on details of trail length, etc. Several weeks ago I was with a group that went down the range from Gunstock to Major, but that's almost 11 miles. Mt. Belknap seems like a good recommendation for a single peak over that way.

In the Ossipees, there is Mt Shaw, with a good view to the north and east, and just before the top there is a side trail to the top of what's called Black Snout (there is at least one other "Black Snout" elsewhere in the mountains), with good views south and west overlooking the lake. The trail from Rte 171, near Sodom Rd, is 3.6 miles up to the top of Shaw, although the last 1.1 mile is very easy going, something you could ride a bike up. Just to the north, starting from the parking area below the Castle in the Clouds at the end of Ossipee Park Rd, is a trail up Mt. Roberts, with views along the way and from the top.

In the Squam range, you of course have West Rattlesnake, an easy walk as you know. But you also have Morgan, Percival, and others, which peak out around 2000 ft, more or less, and are good hikes.

Dave M · 05-24-2014, 11:11 AM

You may want to try Red Hill. May be able to go up the fire tower. Nice views.

Dave M

camp guy · 05-24-2014, 12:49 PM

Maybe, if your girlfriend is somewhat inexperienced in climbing/hiking, and you are moire experienced, it might be a nice idea to pick something like Mt Major which is not difficult, but does give good views. You would be much more experienced and able to offer some real assistance if the need arose, otherwise, just enjoy the climb.

If this type of outdoor activity appeals to her, then you can step up your game to something more challenging.

CateP · 05-24-2014, 02:45 PM

Bald Knob--Trail head is at the town line of Moultonboro on Rt 109a. Short, steep hike with incredible view. You can also access Bald Knob from Castle in the Clouds along a ridge carriage trail. Longer hike, but easier. Impress her with a lunch at the Carriage House.

Heaven · 05-24-2014, 04:29 PM

I'd second Red Hill in Moultonboro and you get the fire tower at the top (although it is held up with 3 guy-wires and a prayer : ).
Or from the Castle bottling plant parking area, Mount Roberts which has several overlooks the first of which is really fine for a not-to-long hike. Some say that you can see Mt Washington from the top but it's always been cloudy for me.

phoenix · 05-24-2014, 06:11 PM

many of the hikes mentioned here can be accessed from the castle in clouds parking area. Near the little fish pond there is a map of all the hikes. there is also a hike somewhat flat of old cellar holes from 200 years ago. Unfortunately Zeus the largest horse in the world( allegedly ) died this winter as he was a specimen to see

mcdude · 05-25-2014, 08:44 AM

Check out Copple Crown. Follow 109 out of Wolfeboro and out past Lake Wentworth....follow link for more directions
http://www.brookfieldnh.org/Pages/Br...own%20Hike.pdf

jkjoshuatree · 05-26-2014, 02:03 PM

We decided to park in the Castle in the Clouds lot and ended up doing the Bald Knob trail.

Great stuff!!!

Thank you!!!

05-24-2014, 07:30 AM	#1
jkjoshuatree Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bear Island Posts: 642 Thanks: 349 Thanked 145 Times in 77 Posts	Hikes With A View In The Wolfeboro Area? Hi all, I'm heading up to Wolfeboro today with my girlfriend (she's never been there) and we were thinking of doing a hike tomorrow. Ideally, I'd like it to be one I haven't done either. I've done Mt. Major several times (not the best weather for the view anyway), Rattlesnake in Holderness, Abenaki Tower (not really a hike but…), and a few others that I can't think of at the moment. Can anyone recommend a good hike (1-2 hours total) in the Wolfeboro area with a view of the lake? Thank you in advance!!! __________________ Dream out loud.

05-24-2014, 07:42 AM	#2
phoenix Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: phoenix and moultonboro Posts: 1,520 Thanks: 58 Thanked 266 Times in 187 Posts	Many hikes in castle in clouds of different lengths __________________ it's tough to make predictions specially about the future

05-24-2014, 12:49 PM	#5
camp guy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: formerly Winter Harbor, still Wolfeboro Posts: 1,135 Thanks: 284 Thanked 480 Times in 271 Posts	Hikes with a view in the Wolfeboro area Maybe, if your girlfriend is somewhat inexperienced in climbing/hiking, and you are moire experienced, it might be a nice idea to pick something like Mt Major which is not difficult, but does give good views. You would be much more experienced and able to offer some real assistance if the need arose, otherwise, just enjoy the climb. If this type of outdoor activity appeals to her, then you can step up your game to something more challenging.

05-24-2014, 02:45 PM	#6
CateP Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Wolfeboro Posts: 868 Thanks: 584 Thanked 540 Times in 210 Posts	Bald Knob Bald Knob--Trail head is at the town line of Moultonboro on Rt 109a. Short, steep hike with incredible view. You can also access Bald Knob from Castle in the Clouds along a ridge carriage trail. Longer hike, but easier. Impress her with a lunch at the Carriage House.

05-24-2014, 06:11 PM	#8
phoenix Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: phoenix and moultonboro Posts: 1,520 Thanks: 58 Thanked 266 Times in 187 Posts	many of the hikes mentioned here can be accessed from the castle in clouds parking area. Near the little fish pond there is a map of all the hikes. there is also a hike somewhat flat of old cellar holes from 200 years ago. Unfortunately Zeus the largest horse in the world( allegedly ) died this winter as he was a specimen to see __________________ it's tough to make predictions specially about the future

The Following User Says Thank You to phoenix For This Useful Post:
jkjoshuatree (05-24-2014)

05-24-2014, 09:58 AM	#3
DickR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 735 Thanks: 4 Thanked 254 Times in 166 Posts	If you want something with a view of Lake Winnipesaukee, your options are pretty much limited to the Belknaps to the southwest, the Ossipees to the east, and the Squam range to the north. You've done Major in the Belknaps, but there are other climbs over that way that aren't as arduous as, say, a 4000 footer up in the White Mountains. Mt. Belknap comes to mind, as it has a fire tower on top with a great view in all directions. One trail up is from the Gunstock parking area. You can do a search on details of trail length, etc. Several weeks ago I was with a group that went down the range from Gunstock to Major, but that's almost 11 miles. Mt. Belknap seems like a good recommendation for a single peak over that way. In the Ossipees, there is Mt Shaw, with a good view to the north and east, and just before the top there is a side trail to the top of what's called Black Snout (there is at least one other "Black Snout" elsewhere in the mountains), with good views south and west overlooking the lake. The trail from Rte 171, near Sodom Rd, is 3.6 miles up to the top of Shaw, although the last 1.1 mile is very easy going, something you could ride a bike up. Just to the north, starting from the parking area below the Castle in the Clouds at the end of Ossipee Park Rd, is a trail up Mt. Roberts, with views along the way and from the top. In the Squam range, you of course have West Rattlesnake, an easy walk as you know. But you also have Morgan, Percival, and others, which peak out around 2000 ft, more or less, and are good hikes.

05-24-2014, 11:11 AM	#4
Dave M Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 395 Thanks: 4 Thanked 26 Times in 24 Posts	You may want to try Red Hill. May be able to go up the fire tower. Nice views. Dave M

05-24-2014, 04:29 PM	#7
Heaven Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 516 Thanks: 126 Thanked 94 Times in 66 Posts	I'd second Red Hill in Moultonboro and you get the fire tower at the top (although it is held up with 3 guy-wires and a prayer : ). Or from the Castle bottling plant parking area, Mount Roberts which has several overlooks the first of which is really fine for a not-to-long hike. Some say that you can see Mt Washington from the top but it's always been cloudy for me.

The Following User Says Thank You to phoenix For This Useful Post:
The Eagle (05-25-2014)

05-25-2014, 08:44 AM	#9
mcdude Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Rock Haven Lake - West Newfield, ME Posts: 5,361 Thanks: 374 Thanked 1,044 Times in 490 Posts	Check out Copple Crown. Follow 109 out of Wolfeboro and out past Lake Wentworth....follow link for more directions http://www.brookfieldnh.org/Pages/Br...own%20Hike.pdf __________________

05-26-2014, 02:03 PM	#10
jkjoshuatree Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bear Island Posts: 642 Thanks: 349 Thanked 145 Times in 77 Posts	Thank You All!! We decided to park in the Castle in the Clouds lot and ended up doing the Bald Knob trail. Great stuff!!! Thank you!!! __________________ Dream out loud.