Mount Kearsarge, Wilmot NH
• 5-star hikes
• 1 to 9 mile options
• Easy & Moderate | Gain 300 to 2,120 feet
• Wilmot, NH | Sunapee Region
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Mt Kearsarge's exposed summit, standing 2,000 feet proud.
Don’t ask us why, but New Hampshire boasts two mountains named Kearsarge - separated by roughly sixty miles. This one, the more southerly peak, is commonly known as Mount Kearsarge, while the other resides in the White Mountains and goes by Kearsarge North. Confusingly, that northern summit is also sometimes called Mount Kearsarge - just to keep hikers on their toes.
Bring your best hiking boots—traction matters on this trail - and pack a few layers for the exposed summit. The views may be breathtaking, but so is the wind-chill. At the top, you’ll find a fire tower originally built in 1913. In recent years, it’s bulked up with a growing array of communications equipment, giving it a more industrial silhouette.
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4★ Winslow Trail
GPX File · AllTrails · Directions* GPX? |
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4★ Winslow & Barlow Loop
GPX File · AllTrails · Directions* |
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5★ Rollins & (Part) Lincoln Trails
GPX File · AllTrails · Directions* |
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5★ Lincoln Trail
GPX File · AllTrails · Directions** |
| $ *State Park fee
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The easiest way to reach the summit is via Rollins State Park on the mountain’s southern side. From the parking area, the Rollins Trail offers a straightforward half-mile climb to the top. If you’re up for a bit more challenge, you can loop in the rockier Lincoln Trail from the same starting point—without adding extra distance. For those seeking longer or more demanding routes, we detail several options below.
⬤ Winslow Trail
Steeper and rockier than the Barlow Trail, but the shortest way up and down Mount Kearsarge from the Winslow State Park trailhead. Read more about this in the Winslow & Barlow Trails description below.
Views from the rocky last half mile on the Lincoln Trail.
⬤ Winslow & Barlow Loop
By the numbers the Winslow-Barlow route up the north-face of Kearsarge appears to be a quick and easy jaunt up the mountain, but looks can be deceiving. A counterclockwise course beginning with the Winslow Trail is the easiest approach, but budget plenty of time to tackle all the rocky steps along your route and have patience on the wet and sometimes slippery stone surfaces. Coming down Barlow is a longer trek, but less steep. Also the Barlow trail features several secluded outlook points which are great ways to enjoy the views if the weather on top of the mountain is too much.
Some suggest this as a good family hike, but smaller children might struggle with the big rocky steps as you progress a thousand feet to the summit. We rank this hike as medium difficulty but in some conditions it could be considered hard, mainly depending on your expectations. The Winslow & Barlow Loop begins and ends at Winslow State Park which has a large parking lot that can fill up quickly on busier days.
More panoramic views from the summit.
⬤ Rollins & (Part) Lincoln Trails
If the rocky terrain of the Winslow Trail seems a bit much and you still want to enjoy the spectacular views from the top of Mount Kearsarge, then this trail is likely for you. Most tackle this loop clockwise beginning on the Lincoln Trail which features some great Westerly views. However, at the beginning of this route there is a significant rockfall section to scramble over. Kids may love it, but if it seems a little much for you, then you'll find an out-and-back route up Rollins Trail to be much easier.
Be aware that the trailhead and large parking lot is located in Rollins State Park which is closed during winter and early spring. When closed you can park your car by the park entrance and walk up the road, but if you're thinking about doing that you'd be better served on the long Lincoln Trail from the bottom of the mountain.
⬤ Lincoln Trail
This quiet, longer trail begins at the base of the mountain at the end of a short dirt road with plenty of parking. After following a forest road for a mile, the trail turns left and heads deep into the woods where all you can hear are the sounds of distant creeks and the rapping of a woodpecker. Elevation gain is moderate on this longer trail and the ground underfoot is mostly soft, with fewer rocks and roots than the other trails. We have no idea why AllTrails rates this route as hard, except as a reflection of the trail's length. This is by far our favorite way up Mount Kearsarge if you're willing to put in the miles.
The more picturesque of the creeks on the full Lincoln Trail.
⬤ SRK Section 11
One of the three major peaks on the 76 mile Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway trail combines the Barlow and Lincoln Trails to make a 5.9 mile section that includes the summit of Mount Kearsarge. This is not shown on our embedded map by default for reasons of clarity, but you can show it by clicking 'Expand Map'. If you want to include the Overlook Spur half-way up the Lincoln Trail then add an extra 0.6 miles.
MAP PACK: NH 52 With A View Our free Map Pack gives you New Hampshires' most scenic peaks (including Mount Kearsarge) in a single smartphone download. Complete with offline route navigation and our trail reviews.
MAP PACK: NH Fire Towers Complete the NH State Fire Tower Challenge or go even further and tackle them all with our Map Pack. Download this free smartphone map with trail reviews and route navigation that even works when you're offline.
Tangents:
• Official: Winslow State Park, Rollins State Park
• AllTrails Public: Winslow, Winslow-Barlow, Lincoln-Rollins, Full Lincoln
• Facebook Group: Comment, Follow Us
NH 52 With A View
Routes to reach the 52 New Hampshire peaks with supreme views.
Routes to reach the 52 New Hampshire peaks with supreme views.
New Hampshire Fire Towers
Discover our map of fire towers and the trails to find them.
Discover our map of fire towers and the trails to find them.
