Hiking Mt Moosilauke and South Peak via Gorge Brook and Snapper Trails
Restless Meanderer contains commissionable links for some products in this post. If you make a purchase using one of these links, I may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. Read my disclaimer for more information.
Mt Moosilauke has an elevation of 4,802 ft and sits at number 10 of the NH 48 4,000 Footers List. This mountain is the western most peak of the NH48 and provides unique summit views compared to the other hikes on this list. There are smaller summits often hiked with Mt Moosilauke, but South Peak (with an elevation of 4,523 ft) is the most common spur to hit.
This post details hiking the Mt Moosilauke and South Peak loop. Later sections mention other mountains that can be hiked in the area and I share my experience with Flags on the 48.
Looking for new fuel for the trail? Check out my favorite hiking snacks!
Parking for Mt Moosilauke
Mt Moosilauke can be reached from trails coming from north, south, east, or west. These link up to provide various routes of length and difficulty. You can hike along the Appalachian Trail route and pass campgrounds or tie smaller trails together to hit lots of smaller peaks.
I have only hiked this mountain from the southeastern trailhead by Moosilauke Ravine Lodge. The parking area for this specific trailhead is on Ravine Lodge Road. Note that parking for hikers is actually before you reach the end of the road and the lodge itself.
There are limited spots at this parking area as they are all along the side of the road. I was meeting up with a group of hikers from one of the Facebook hiking groups I am in and we all parked and walked towards the end of the road to meet up. There was no large lot to get ready at, but there was a sign to meet under where the public could no longer drive and visitors could only continue on foot.
The road itself was gravelly but overall kept in good condition. I don’t remember having difficulty maneuvering Winnie (my Honda CR-V) down it. That said, be aware this road is not maintained during the winter!
Make sure you have all the gear you need to set yourself up for a GREAT day hike! Click the bold text for “my hiking must-haves” to find new favorites for the trail!
Gorge Brook Trail up Mt Moosilauke
Our group consisted of 10 hikers for the day and 2 dogs. Walking to the end of Ravine Lodge Road, which is about 1/4 mile, you can begin hiking on Gorge Brook Trail or Asquam-Ridge Trail. Asquam-Ridge Trail can be hiked if you stay to the right at the end of Ravine Road whereas Gorge Brook Trail is reached by staying to the left of the Ravine Lodge.
After passing by the lodge, remember to stay to the left. The trail to the right should be closed now, but that would have brought you over to Asquam-Ridge. You will cross the brook, take a sharp turn left and then at the next junction take a sharp turn right to continue on Gorge Brook. Going straight would put you on Hurricane Trail.
There are a handful of water crossings in the first third of the trail as you maneuver around Gorge Brook but they are easily passable or have man-made structures to help you cross. At just about a mile in you will reach one more trail junction. Stay to the right to climb Gorge Brook Trail. The other fork is Snapper Trail which you will descend on if you complete this loop.
For another 3/4 of a mile you will follow the brook as you make your way steadily upward. Gorge Brook Trail is about 3.8 miles long in total and takes you right to the summit of Mt Moosilauke. Overall you will gain a little under 2,400ft of elevation from trailhead to summit.
Gorge Brook Trail has a fairly gradual increase compared to many trails in the Whites. There are even some small switchbacks about 2/3 of the way up (about a mile or so after you veer away from the brook), but you are pretty consistently climbing the whole hike. Since the summit of Mt Moosilauke is so large and open, you can easily see it approaching as you near the end of Gorge Brook Trail.
Hiking Buddies NH 48
If you are looking for a great Facebook group to join to meet fellow hikers, I recommend Hiking Buddies NH 48. While it has been awhile since I hiked with them, when I first moved to New Hampshire, this group was a great resource to help me get outside. There are constantly individuals and groups planning hikes all throughout the Whites and beyond and it is so easy to find a hike to join!
I appreciated the positive energy I always found in the group and the openness to different hiking abilities. Those posting events are very clear about the pace they are looking to go and are open for whomever would like to join. It has been very neat since 2020 to watch the group grow (there is a Hiking Buddies Website now!) and venture outside of the White Mountains as well.
There are many great social events and fundraising events as well put on by the group. I hope to join more of their events this summer!
Mt Moosilauke Summit
Just under 4 miles into your hike, you will have climbed Gorge Brook Trail and reached the summit of Mt Moosilauke! There is a very neat grassy section along the ridge as you approach the top of the mountain which I absolutely loved.
The open area of the Mt Moosilauke summit is extensive. Many rock mounds provide plenty of room for hikers to rest and enjoy the views. This mountain has wonderful views of the White Mountains to the east and the Connecticut Valley to the west.
This peak has an exposed summit which means there are no trees at the very top of the mountain. Visitors have unobstructed views of the landscape beyond unless a cloud has settled over the summit. There was a great crowd on top of Mt Moosilauke when our group was up there and people were getting ready to celebrate Flags on the 48.
Flags on the 48
Flags on the 48 is a memorial hike each year on September 11th to honor those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. This effort pushes hikers and groups to place an American flag on each of the 48 4,000 footers in the White Mountains on that day. This is to remember those lives lost and share our support for those families and communities affected by the tragic events.
It was heartwarming to see everyone carrying the components of the flag to build on the summit. We were given mini flags to show our remembrance of the day and you could see flags above the tree line occasionally on the trail.
Certainly visit the Flags on the 48 website to learn more. The event is always open to more participants!
Carriage Road to South Peak
The Moosilauke Carriage Road heads southwest off the summit of Mt Moosilauke. The trail is very easy as you walk along the ridge towards South Peak. After 0.9 miles you will reach the junction with Glencliff Trail (coming from the west) and the South Peak Spur (to the south). The Carriage Road continues southeast.
The South Peak Spur is only 0.1 miles long and well worth it to climb and see the views from South Peak. The South Peak summit is also an open summit but is not nearly as large as Mt Moosilauke. It does feel like a more traditional mountain summit only because Mt Moosilauke’s is so open and spread out.
Looking through the clouds to the north, you can see a wonderful view of Mt Moosilauke. I always enjoy when the trail allows me to see the peak I have just come from or the peak I am hiking towards. This is especially rewarding if you are stuck on a cloud on Mt Moosilauke. South Peak is slightly lower in elevation so it may provide views where the bigger mountain does not.
I had finished the Adirondack 46 High Peaks the weekend before this hike which was a massive accomplishment for me. On South Peak, one of the group members heard me talking about it and she happened to have a 46er badge to share with me since of course I hadn’t gotten mine yet! I couldn’t believe how sweet that was of her.
Other hiking buddies in the group run social media pages for Summit Beer Society which I recommend checking out if that’s your thing! Lots of fun photos of folks getting outside with some great drinks. They even organize group hikes as well.
Snapper Trail down Mt Moosilauke
Leaving South Peak, you will hike down the Carriage Road for 1.2 more miles before reaching the trail junction with Snapper Trail. From there, Snapper Trail is only 0.9 miles long before it hooks up with the portion of Gorge Brook Trail that you started your hike on.
The end of the Carriage Road and Snapper Trail is fairly uneventful as the descent is so gradual. But of course this means it’s a great time to reflect on the amazing hike you just did and enjoy that feeling of accomplishment for the day.
Trail Stats
My Mount Moosilauke and South Peak Loop on AllTrails shows the following trail stats:
Mileage: 8.11mi
Elevation Gain: ~2,592ft
Date Hiked: September 11, 2021
Moving Time: 4h 48min
Parking:
Ravine Lodge Rd
or
43.99083, -71.81769
Other Recommendations in the Area
Hiking
There are quite a few other trails you can hike to reach the summit of Mt Moosilauke or nearby mountains. As always, I recommend purchasing a guide to the White Mountains with a White Mountains National Forest map set for your adventures. Mountains you may want to loop into your hike include Hurricane Mountain, Mount Blue, Mount Jim, or Mount Waternomee.
Additionally, the Appalachian Trail crosses directly over the Mt Moosilauke summit. The portion of the Carriage Road between South Peak and Mt Moosilauke is when you would be hiking on the AT in this loop. This means if you want to explore more of the local AT trail sections you can find lots of places to park and explore or set up a car spot to hike a length of it.
I personally have not hiked these other trails or peaks so I cannot give advice outside of what is in the guide. Other bloggers may have first-hand experience to share as well!
If you choose to hike Glencliff Trail to South Peak, you might notice there are other great trails in the Benton area as well. Blueberry Mountain is a fun, short hike on New Hampshire’s 52 with a View list that you might enjoy!
Exploring Lincoln and Woodstock
For those staying in or passing through the Lincoln/Woodstock area off of 93, I have a few more recommendations too! These towns are great for relaxing in after the hike or stopping at the night before to get an early start. Lots of great little shops, restaurants, and breweries in these towns at the heart of the western Whites.
This is by no means an all-inclusive list for the area but below are some of my favorite stops. I highly recommend taking time to explore the area! If you are into breweries I also recommend purchasing an NH Reel Craft Pass for deals at some of the breweries in the state (there is a wine pass too!).
Woodstock:
- Woodstock Inn & Brewery for lodging (some rooms are pet friendly!), great meals, and drinks
- Twins Barns Taproom for drinks, games, and music
- Coffee (or pie) from Woodstock Pie and Company
- Walk by Cascade Park
- The Clever Critter for pet treats and toys
- Fadden’s General Store for maple syrup and home goods
Lincoln:
- One Love Brewery
- Rhythm Cider and Seven Birches Winery (the mulled cider is to die for on a cold day)
- Lahout’s for outdoor gear and clothing
Thank you so much for reading this post about hiking Mt Moosilauke and South Peak! If you are interested in finding similar posts, you can read all my New Hampshire posts, visit my Hiking page, or see what posts I have up for the rest of the 48 4,000 footers! Comments are welcome below this post and questions can be sent via my Contact page!
