Castle in the Clouds Trails and Activities

The Castle in the Clouds trails network has a fantastic selection of day hikes for hikers of all abilities. From short loops around Shannon Pond to longer routes hitting multiple peaks, there are many options to explore. My first hike in New Hampshire was actually Mount Roberts and after completing it I was hooked!

Nestled in Moultonborough, NH, the Castle in the Clouds Conservation Area is about 5,300 acres and is part of the Lakes Region Conservation Trust (LRCT). This trust supports the ecosystems and communities of over 29,000 acres on 173 properties through various services and projects. I love how this non-profit is so focused on educating visitors and preserving each aspect of the land.

There is a lot of great information about the LRCT effort on the trust’s website and I recommend reading about the LRCT’s work.

With 30 miles of trails, you can return to the Castle in the Clouds trails again and again. The amazing offerings give visitors a variety of views and levels of difficulty. Keep reading this post to learn more about some of the trails you can hike and other things you can do in the Castle in the Clouds Conservation Area.

Getting to the Castle in the Clouds Trails

The main parking to hike nearly all of the Castle in the Clouds trails is inside the conservation area itself. Off of NH RT 171, about 4 miles southeast of Moultonborough, you will see a sign welcoming you to the conservation area. The road isn’t too populated in this area so it should be easy to spot.

These trails can get extremely crowded in the summer so plan accordingly! Wedding season may also affect availability. Luckily, hikers, snowshoers, and cross-country skiers can still access the trails during wintertime and enjoy the area but the castle is not open at that time.

Mountains You Can Hike via Castle in the Clouds Trails

There are 5 recognized summits at Castle in the Clouds that you can hike to the top of. Mount Roberts, Mount Shaw, Black Snout, Turtleback Mountain, and Bald Knob all come with their own challenges and rewards.

Additionally, you can drive up Lee Mountain or by park and walk up the paved road. You may be interested in this if you are visiting the Castle in the Clouds and doing a historic tour. Read more about activities like this under the More Activities at Castle in the Clouds heading of this post. 

If you are interested, you can purchase a waterproof trail map for the Castle in the Clouds and Red Hill Conservation Areas.

Roberts (2,582ft) and Faraway (2,782ft)

Mount Roberts and Faraway Mountain sit in the northwest corner of the conservation area. While Roberts is the major recognized peak, you still have the chance to hike by Faraway on the trail.

On its own, Mount Roberts is a fun, quick out-and-back hike totaling around 5 miles. As I mentioned, this was actually my first hike in New Hampshire and it wasn’t intimidating at all! There are so many memories associated with this hike for me that it always puts a smile on my face. 

The Mount Roberts Trail is moderate for most hikers. For peakbaggers, this mountain sits on the NH 52 With a View list as well! It’s a wonderful hike that will certainly drive you to explore the other Castle in the Clouds trails.

Similar to most summits in the Castle in the Clouds Conservation Area, there are multiple routes you can choose to reach your destination. Roberts can be tacked onto the beginning or end of a loop that hits Faraway Mountain as well. 

The Cold Spring Trail and Lower Bridle Path meet up with Faraway Mountain Trail and are just two options for hitting this mountain. I recommend reading and/or purchasing a Castle in the Clouds Trail Map before you go to understand the network. There are a lot of short trails and cutoffs so you don’t want to accidentally take a wrong turn or extend your hike unexpectedly.

My Mount Roberts Trail Activity from July 2, 2020 claims an out-and-back to Mount Roberts was almost 5 miles, about 1,300 ft of elevation gain, and took around 3.5 hours.

Shaw (2,990ft), Black Snout (2,803ft), and Turtleback (2,200ft)

The trio of Mount Shaw, Black Snout, and Turtleback Mountain make for an extremely fun day hike on the Castle in the Clouds trails. These three sit at the eastern side of the conservation area and are very easy to hike together. Turtleback is closest to the parking lot and could be hiked on its own. However, if you are walking out to Shaw or Black Snout I highly recommend popping over to the other!

Mount Shaw is on the NH 52 With a View list so you know it will be worth the trek! It says a lot about the conservation area to have two mountains from this list in its trail network. The trails to explore this trio (including Upper Bridle Path, Oak Ridge Cutoff, Black Snout Trail, and Turtleback Mountain Trail) were a blast to explore as a morning hike. Arriving early, I had the trails to myself until I neared the end. There’s nothing like a solo summit on a Friday morning to put you in a fantastic mood! 

My Shaw, Black Snout, and Turtleback Trail Activity from July 14, 2022 claims the loop I completed was around 12.5 miles with elevation gain of 2,200 ft and took a little less than 5 hours.

Bald Knob (1,801ft)

Bald Knob is another great peak to hit at the southeastern corner of the Castle in the Clouds conservation area. Depending on what route you take, this moderate hike can be as short as 4 miles. By parking on the far side of RT 171 and hiking Shannon Brook Trail then Bald Knob Cutoff Trail, you’ll reach the summit in no time. 

If you’d rather park within the conservation area by Shannon Pond, you can still take the Cutoff Trail (via the Brook Walk or Shannon Brook Trail), or you can explore other Castle in the Clouds trails and hike Turtleback Mountain Trail over to Bald Knob Trail to reach the summit. You can turn it into a loop by hiking down the Cutoff Trail as well!

For more details on hiking Bald Knob, check out my post Bald Knob Trail: A Beginner Winter Hiker’s Honest Review. Since hiking via the Cutoff Trail is short, much of the information is applicable any the season you hike it. I still have to return on a sunny day to see the views from the top!

My Bald Knob Trail Activity from February 5, 2021 claims an out-and-back to Bald Knob via the Cut-off Trail was 4.36 miles, had an elevation gain of 1,145 ft, and took around 2.5 hours.

Other Castle in the Clouds Trails to Check Out

Many hikers may not want to hike a mountain on their visit to the Castle in the Clouds trails either. Don’t worry, there are plenty of options to explore and enjoy the wildlife for those that want a shorter adventure!

The LRCT Castle in the Clouds webpage has clear, helpful information detailing the individual trails in the conservation area. I highly recommend clicking the link to their page! I am sharing only a few of the 16 trails that you can have access to. 

***The above link is also important as it lists the current trail closures!***

Oak Ridge Interpretive Trail

The Oak Ridge Interpretive Trail is similar to discovery trails you might see in other parks and forests. At a little under 2 miles, this hike is very family friendly. Here, kids (and adults!) can learn about the environment around them and the history of the conservation area.

Hiker Achievements for Castle in the Clouds Trails

The Lee Settlement Quest is a fun, interactive trail adventure! Participants will spend about 1.5 hours using various clues and a map to find a hidden box, as detailed online. The clues are fun rhymes that will take you over about 1.5 miles of trails.

The details for these 2 achievements can be found on the LRCT Castle in the Clouds webpage. From this page you can also apply for your patch and download the Lee Settlement Quest.

More Activities at Castle in the Clouds

If you have explored the Castle in the Clouds trails and are looking for other activities to enjoy, be sure to check out what else the conservation area has to offer!. 

Tours include the Lucknow Mansion, the basement of the castle, and self-guided tours through the current showing in the exhibit gallery.

For those spending the day, you may want to get food at the restaurant and explore the gift shop.

The Castle in the Clouds has a full Calendar of Events to appeal to all types of visitors. These include guided hikes, music nights, educational programs, art and yoga workshops, and kid friendly events amongst others. You can become a member as well and attend special members only events on the grounds.

Lastly, as their website states, the Castle in the Clouds can also be booked for weddings and other private events.

Things to Do Near Castle in the Clouds

If you’d like to explore the Castle in the Clouds trails but are curious what else there is to do nearby, here are some other hikes to check out and nearby towns to explore.

Nearby Hikes

-Mount Israel (another on the NH 52 With a View list) is less than 30 minutes from the Castle in the Clouds Conservation Area. This hike is about 4 miles and can take around 2.5 hours depending on your hiking ability. I had a fantastic time hiking it and have more details and photos in my post Mount Israel: Spring Hiking Wentworth Trail.

-Red Hill Fire Tower is 20 minutes from the Castle in the Clouds trails in the Red Hill Conservation Area. Red Hill is on the same trail map as Castle in the Clouds so it’s worth purchasing the map for both! One of the NH Fire Towers, Red Hill has a few trails that climb to its summit and the fire tower provides stunning views of Lake Winnipesaukee.

Nearby Towns

-Moultonborough is a 15 minute drive. In this small town you can rent kayaks or paddleboards, play mini golf, and visit The Loon Center.

-If you are coming from the south, you may pass through Ossipee or Wolfeboro before reaching Castle in the Clouds. Each town is about 30 minutes away and has their own mix of history and charm. In Ossipee you can golf, visit a meadery, and walk under a covered bridge. In Wolfeboro there are a few museums, a couple breweries (Lone Wolfe and Burnt Timber Tavern are on the NH Views and Brews list), and get out onto Lake Winnipesaukee.

I hope you are able to fully explore and enjoy the Castle in the Clouds trails. There are so many outstanding options with impressive views for all hikers. The conservation area hosts many wonderful events giving local community members and visitors from afar many reasons to return to this beautiful area of New Hampshire. If you have any questions, I’m always willing to do my best to answer so please don’t hesitate to Contact Me.