Bald Knob Trail: A Beginner Winter Hiker’s Honest Review
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Bald Knob Trail is in the Castle in the Clouds Conservation Area in Moultonborough, New Hampshire. This area is part of the Lakes Region Conservation Trust trail network. Central New Hampshire offers so many adventures and hiking opportunities and Bald Knob Trail is not one you want to miss!
Hiking Bald Knob out and back via the Bald Knob Cutoff Trail and ending with the Bald Knob Trail is a little over 4 miles total. I hiked this trail in the winter and zig-zagged a little bit to find the best route in my spikes and snowshoes which is why my recording (if you view it) is closer to 4.5 miles.
This little peak is a wonderful winter hike, especially for beginners. I dipped my toes back into snowshoeing on this hike. This was also my first time hiking in some true winter weather (and why winter hiking may or may not be for me in the future)!
Keep reading to learn more about hiking Bald Knob in Castle in the Clouds:
- Parking and Trailhead Options
- Near Shannon Pond
- Off NH-171
- Further South on NH-171
- Bald Knob Trail via Conservation Area Hiker Parking
- Bald Knob Trail via NH Route 171 Parking
- Bald Knob Cutoff
- Enjoy the Overlook
- Switching to Snowshoes
- Finishing on Bald Knob Trail
- Takeaways
- Leaning Towards the Warmer Weather…
- Final Thoughts
Word of Caution!
To anyone that likes to use the AllTrails app and is looking at the map in the app rather than an actual map from the Conservation Trust, Turtleback Mountain is incorrectly labeled as Bald Knob. Meaning, where you see “Bald Knob” written on the map, that is not actually Bald Knob Trail, that is the summit of Turtleback Mountain.
Bald Knob is south of Turtleback Mountain and closer to NH Route 171 (NH-171), also known as Old Mountain Road. This is important to note because the summit of Turtleback is about 1,291 ft whereas Bald Knob is closer to 1,801 ft so it does have some more elevation.
Parking and Trailhead Options for Bald Knob Trail
Bald Knob Trail specifically can be reached multiple ways. The different paths you can take to reach the summit all offer something unique. I have only hiked one of the routes directly to the summit of Bald Knob but I have explored many of the other trails mentioned during my trips to Castle in the Clouds.
That said, let me know if you have questions and I will do my best to help!
Option 1: Parking within the Conservation Area near Shannon Pond
There are primary hiker lots within the Castle in the Clouds Conservation Area that allow visitors to explore the majority of the area’s trail network. The large lots off the main road into the conservation area allow you to reach Mount Roberts, Mount Shaw, and Turtleback Mountain among others. The pros to parking within the conservation area itself include access to the restrooms, a snack stand in warmer months, and of course you are free to explore the rest of the property when you are done hiking.
This parking area can be very busy during nice weather but there are also a ton of spots. Since many events are held at Castle in the Clouds (like weddings), they are prepared for crowds coming and going. Even if you are not parked at the exact lot you expected to be, they are all a fairly short walk from the various trailheads.
If you park near Shannon Pond, there are a couple ways you can go to reach Bald Knob Trail. And passing this pond is always a welcoming sight to any hiker because it is beautiful and often has wildlife.
The trails from this parking lot will be further discussed in the next section, but a couple you can start at include the Brook Walk and Pond Trail.
Option 2: Parking on NH Route 171 (NH-171)
There is a large open lot on the south side of NH-171 about 2 miles before the entrance to the conservation area called Shannon Brook Trailhead Parking. This means if you are heading north towards Castle in the Clouds, you will turn left into the parking lot before reaching the conservation area entrance on Ossipee Park Road. I would estimate this lot could hold at least two dozen cars but the morning I arrived there was maybe one other person.
Parking at this lot on NH-171 is arguably the more popular way for visitors to reach Bald Knob Trail and summit the peak since the route is shorter. When parking within the conservation area itself, there are many other trails and mountains to explore. It seems more tedious to be going out of your way to get to Bald Knob when parking near Shannon Pond.
Of course everyone has different goals when heading out hiking for the day though! And for anyone trying to redline the trails at Castle in the Clouds, both routes will likely be done eventually.
The trailhead to hike Bald Knob via the Bald Knob Cutoff Trail is directly across NH-171 from this parking lot. There is a gate you must pass to walk on Shannon Brook Trail before reaching the cutoff trail. The path is very easy to follow.
In the winter a lot of snowshoers and snowmobilers have traveled Shannon Brook Trail as well. When I was hiking it was completely packed down which helped me avoid slipping. With fresh snow on top it was a simple, beautiful walk to begin my hike.
Option 3: Further south on NH-171
About 1 mile before the Shannon Brook Trailhead parking lot, there is another trail on the north side of the road that can be hiked to reach Bald Knob Trail. I only noticed this when reading the map and am unfamiliar with the trail itself or with parking. Additional info can be found by purchasing the trail map and referencing this AllTrails recording.
It appears as though this trail is about 2 miles in total but is very steep.
Bald Knob Trail via Main Hiker Parking in Castle in the Clouds
As mentioned above, parking within the conservation area itself lends to endless routes to climb Bald Knob and a slew of other mountains near Castle in the Clouds. This conservation area is such a fun spot to explore because you can link trails together to do different paths every time and create a day hike as long or as short as you’d like. There are lots of different viewpoints and trail types that help you feel like there is always the option to experience something new.
To reach Bald Knob Trail and ultimately Bald Knob summit, there are a few options for trails you can link together. Get a Castle in the Clouds Conservation Area trail map for a visual of these routes:
- Pond Trail (<0.1mi), Lower Bridle Path (~0.75mi), Turtleback Mountain Trail (~0.75mi), Bald Knob Trail to summit (~0.70mi) // Total: ~2.3mi one-way
- Pond Trail (<0.1mi), Turtleback Mountain Trail (~1.75mi), Bald Knob Trail to summit (~0.70mi) // Total: ~2.55mi one-way
- Pond Trail (<0.1mi), Shannon Brook Trail (~0.66mi), Bald Knob Cutoff (~0.95mi), Bald Knob Trail to summit (~0.33mi) // Total: ~2.04mi one-way
- Brook Walk (~0.75mi), Shannon Brook Trail (~0.2mi), Bald Knob Cutoff (~0.95mi), Bald Knob Trail to summit (~0.33mi) // Total: ~2.23mi one-way
These trails are generally considered easy to moderate. The switchbacks on the Turtleback Mountain trail help with the elevation. Also note parts of the Turtleback Mountain Trail are a little overgrown but still passable.
Bald Knob Trail via NH Route 171 Parking
To hike Bald Knob from the parking lot on NH-171, begin by crossing NH-171 and starting on Shannon Brook Trail behind the gate. This puts you at the southernmost point of the Castle in the Clouds Conservation Area. Shannon Brook Trail is cleared like a road and is very easy to walk up.
This trail was extremely packed down in the winter so I was able to begin my hike with only my hiking boots. The morning snow falling down around me looked like it was out of a movie and the woods were beautiful. The hiking trail followed a pattern of flat path, some incline, flat again, and gradual incline again.
Bald Knob Cutoff Trail
After about 0.75 miles, the Bald Knob Cutoff Trail appears to your right. It heads up the hill into the woods. No longer an open, packed down trail, the Bald Knob Cutoff Trail has more of the expected roots and rocks that come with hiking in New Hampshire.
Bald Knob Cutoff Trail is just under a mile long, somewhere between 0.9 and 0.95 miles. Beginning this trail is where I needed to pause to put on microspikes due to the ice covering the dirt and rocks. I have Hillsound ones I really enjoy because the Velcro straps ensure they stay on my boots.
This part of the hike is the steepest of the day and you have to be careful to avoid any open rock with your microspikes on. The trail is not technically challenging, but in the winter it can be especially difficult to follow the path, especially if no one else has hiked that day. And with only a light dusting of snow, it can be frustrating to differentiate between what areas have ice and which do not.
Enjoy the Overlook
Keep an eye on the trail markers and follow them from tree to tree. I was zig-zagging a little here to find the best path and avoid areas that were too rocky for my spikes. After just over half a mile on this trail there is a great viewpoint over Lake Winnipesaukee to rest at.
The trees clear out and there is a large open rock to walk out onto. On a gray, snowy day, the lake almost feels out of place but it is a welcome view on the climb. This is the most open section of the Bald Knob Cutoff Trail.
Passing this viewpoint, you go up and down another bump in the trail over the next quarter mile. For the last 0.3mi of the Cutoff Trail you will be walking on a very gradual incline before reaching a junction with the Bald Knob Trail. In this last stretch of the Bald Knob Cutoff Trail I also had to switch to snowshoes since the snow was falling more heavily at this point.
Switching to Snowshoes
I borrowed a friend’s Sherpa snowshoes and poles for this hike. I hadn’t used real snowshoes in years and while they had a nice hinging feature under the foot to allow you to walk more naturally, I still felt clumsy and uncomfortable in them. Snowshoes are probably the main reason why winter hiking is not my favorite activity…
However, when fluffy snow is covering the trail, snowshoes are a necessity. Both to protect yourself and the trail. I still tripped in a couple spots as I got used to wearing the snowshoes, but they certainly helped me reach the summit that day.
Finishing on Bald Knob Trail
Upon reaching the junction with the Bald Knob Trail, turn right and finish the last 0.33 miles on the Bald Knob Trail to the summit. Any trail difficulty on the cutoff is made up for by ending on Bald Knob Trail. The smoothness (though not necessarily flatness) is a breath of fresh air to end your hike.
It can be mentally exhausting to watch out for roots and rocks under the snow for most of the way up a peak. With snowshoes on to walk over fresh snow on the Bald Knob Trail though, you don’t have to worry for this last third of a mile. Take a breath and take your time to the summit.
At the end of Bald Knob Trail there is a summit sign with the 1,801ft elevation marked on it. The summit is fairly open and would make a great spot for snacking and enjoying the view. However, when clouds are covering a gray sky there isn’t too much to see, which happened to be my case the day I hiked Bald Knob.
I only spent a few minutes at the summit to snap a couple pictures before heading back down. It was extremely rewarding for me to finish hiking Bald Knob this day. Read my Takeaways section below to learn a little more about my winter hiking experience.
Trail Stats:
Mileage: 4.4mi
Elevation Gain: ~1,145ft
Date Hiked: February 5, 2021
Moving Time: 2h 25min
Parking:
NH Route 171
or
43.71865, -71.31927
Takeaways
I am very much a beginner winter hiker which is something I have shared on my other blog posts (see Mt Pierce, Mt Pemigewasset, or my winter hiking tag). Hiking Bald Knob was my first winter solo hike and first hike needing snowshoes ever that I can remember. All to say that I do think Bald Knob is a great beginner’s winter hike since it is short and well-marked.
The trails have some incline, roots and rocks, but they are not difficult nor technically challenging for the whole hike. The beginning on Shannon Brook Trail and the end on Bald Knob Trail are smooth and easy to walk on. I have not completed this trail in a warmer season without snow or ice so I cannot speak to what the Bald Knob Cutoff Trail may be like without those conditions.
I hadn’t used snowshoes in years and had been under the impression that I did not like them. While it was a unique experience for me to try my friend’s Sherpa snowshoes and I was pleasantly surprised with their design, I still felt awkward wearing them. I don’t enjoy the time spent switching out footwear and the constant tripping over my own feet I was experiencing.
Leaning Towards the Warmer Weather…
While all that could be improved with practice, it doesn’t change the fact that I don’t love being outside and alone when it’s gray and dumping snow. I knew I had the hiking ability to finish the trail. However, fresh snow made me a little nervous and I wasn’t staying as warm as I would have liked.
I wasn’t worried for my safety, but realized again that I may just prefer to be a warm weather hiker. This realization that I wasn’t actually enjoying my hike hit me once I reached the Bald Knob Trail. At that point I was so close to the summit I knew I wanted to finish though.
Reaching the top I was very proud of myself for pushing through. I enjoy challenging myself and trying new things and this was certainly the case for my Bald Knob hike. While I did want to be under a blanket with hot chocolate, I was impressed with myself for completing my first solo winter hike.
Final Thoughts
This did drive me to get better mittens afterwards- Columba Snow Diva ones which I am obsessed with! Also, I am now more conscious of the weather for the day. I think I’ll stick to sunny days above 30 for my winter hiking excursions haha.
These thoughts are my honest opinion as a beginner winter hiker. I want others to be prepared for different conditions and be aware of their limitations. While great to try new things, just because you feel like you should like or want to do something doesn’t mean you have to!
That’s all though! I love Castle in the Clouds hiking trails and would love to return to hike Bald Knob Trail in summer! I’d be interested in redlining the trails in the area and continuing to explore the Lakes Region.
Please let me know if you have any thoughts below. Or feel free to Contact Me with your own opinions on the Bald Knob Trail or winter hiking.
