Autumn on Mount Major
Mount Major in New Hampshire on Lake Winnipesaukee is known for the view at the top and it does not disappoint. This easy 3.8 mi hike to the top of a 1,785 ft mountain is worth the trip no matter your skill level. The hike itself has as easy gradual incline at the beginning and picks up a little more toward the top but I would never consider it steep.
A few friends and I decided to check it out during the fall 2017 to see some foliage. While there was not a large variety of foliage along the hike when closer to the tree line there was more color. At this point some of my friends decided to play in the trees.
Once you reach the summit the view in one direction is mountains with beautiful fall foliage and the other direction is the lake. When continuing on the looped trail it can be a little confusing to find where it continues, you do have to go past the old lookout spot and find the trail on the other side.
Mount Major
NH, USA
1,785 ft mountain
3.8 mi loop hike
1,148 ft elevation gain
dog friendly
9/29: Mount Cannon
Sunday September 29th Rachel, Natalie, and I headed out from Boston to Franconia Notch State Park. We were running a bit late and didn't get up there until the afternoon. We parked in the same lot as when we did the Mt. Lafayette loop and crossed under the high way using the tunnel. We decided we still wanted to complete the Mt. Cannon loop which a map at the information center said was 4.7 miles round trip.
We used the Lafayette campground entrance to Hi-Cannon Trail to head up the mountain.
It may seem incredulous to suggest this, and I welcome the opinion of others who have experienced both, but because we ascended the mountain so quickly (most of the uphill part of the trail was 2.2 miles) this trail felt steeper, rockier, and more full of root stairs cases than the trails up Lafayette!
This next part is probably my favorite... we found this gorgeous tree! It's roots had grown up out of the ground creating almost a cave and the tree had grow at an angle into the woods before growing up. The part of the path around it was also wider than usual and flat. It was a great place to stop and play.
As we approached the tree line we had to climb this staircase to continue on the trail. Boy were we glad we were going up and not down!
Along the way we found several place to step off the trail and view the mountains around us and lake below. Natalie made me really nervous when she first walked out on one but we played it safe and didn't go far.
Lonesome lake below us looked like it was sparkling as it reflected the sunlight.
It so interesting to watch the terrain change along the path. This one part was particularly dense with trees, but mostly broken low branches with no leaves and evergreens, and the entire forest floor covered in moss.
The last 0.5 miles to the summit began on Kinsman Ridge with beautiful views of the surrounding mountains, including the peaks we summited last time - Little Mount Haystack, Mount Lincoln, and Mount Lafayette. At this elevation we bundled up a little more.
We stopped at the tramway for lunch and then headed up to the observation deck for a splendid view of the surrounding mountains on all sides. On the deck we were happy for our extra layers, it was a bit windy and much cooler than it was at lower elevations.
For our descent we Lonesome Lake Trail. This trail was just as rocky, if not rockier than Hi-Cannon Trail. We spend most of the time using both our legs and hands to climb down.
Eventually we came to Lonesome Lake and had a bit of a break walking on plank trails along the lake edge.
Seen above is our view from Lonesome Lake of Little Mt Haystack, Mt Lincoln, and Mt Lafayette our hike last time we were in the White Mountains.
And I'm still chasing chipmunks...
