Trailspotting California, New England, New Hampshire and More

Gunstock & Belknap Mt Loop, NH

• 4-star hike
• 5 mile loop
• Moderate | Gain 1,800 feet
• Gilford, NH | Lakes Region
. NH Fire Towers

The image shows a scenic view from a rocky outcrop on a mountain or hill. There is a person lying on the rocks in the foreground, wearing outdoor clothing and a cap, looking out towards the landscape. The background features a forested area with evergreen trees and a distant view of rolling hills under a partly cloudy sky. There are also several rock cairns (piles of stones) visible on the rocky surface.

Enjoying sweeping panoramas from near the summit of Piper Mountain.

A worthy five mile hike to bag three different mountain peaks, plus a fire tower and some great panoramic views over the Lake Region. If you're hiking during the mountain's ski operations like we did, you'll even find a pub on top of Gunstock Mountain! There is also a shorter route to Belknap Fire Tower that's available in summer and fall seasons - see the link in the 'Trailspotting Nearby' section at the foot of the page.

We prefer to begin our hike of this looping trail in a clockwise direction, bearing left off the forest road and heading uphill towards Gunstock Mountain. Tackling the first and steepest twelve hundred feet of elevation first is a big advantage, though thankfully even the steepest of trails on this route isn't really much of a thigh-burner. Watch out that you don't take the false trail to the right of the overlook before the summit that will lead you to a dead end - remember to backtrack to the overlook junction and bear left as you continue to the top of Gunstock. These western slopes of Gunstock are heavily wooded and don't interact at all with the ski resort.

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⬤ 4★ Gunstock Belknap Piper Loop 5.0 mi loop, moderate, gain 1800 ft
GPX File · AllTrails · Directions GPX?

P Free parking

From here, weave in a Southeasterly direction from Brook Trail to Saddle Trail to Blue Trail until you find yourself on top of Belknap Mountain. At 2,380 feet this is the highest of the three peaks on this route.

There's been a fire tower on this mountain since 1913, though it's been replaced or rebuilt several times and lifted an additional ten feet in 1979. It was most recently refurbished in 2023 when its structure was repaired and repainted, and the cabin was replaced. If you're lucky and the trapdoor to the cabin is unlocked, you can admire the Lake Winnipesauke views from within, but there are still plenty of great scenes from the underside of the locked cabin.

One of over twenty standing fire towers in the state, the Belknap Fire Tower is included in the New Hampshire Fire Tower Quest. Visit just five of these towers and receive a complimentary Tower Quest patch and water bottle decal. Check out the Trailspotting Fire Tower link at the foot of this page for more information and a map to all fire towers in New England.

The image shows a ski lift with several chairs suspended by cables, carrying people over a snowy landscape. The background features a scenic view of snow-covered mountains, forests, and a partially frozen lake. The ski lift is supported by a green pole with a yellow base.

Chairlift at the summit of Gunstock Mt. There's even a pub up here!

A short distance away from the Belknap Fire Tower on an informal, moderate trail, are the remains of a small airplane crash. Two people were tragically killed in 1972 when a small plane crashed into the side of the mountain. More information is available at this flightsafety.org link. The informal trail to reach it is located just off the Blue Trail and is a 0.3 mile out-and-back spur with 160 feet of elevation gain on the return leg.

Head downhill on the White Trail, enjoying the views towards Manning Lake on the way. After descending around 500 feet pick up the Old Piper Trail for your last ascent of the day - the 200 feet to Piper Mountain. The views from here are great, and you don't have to take the additional short out-and-back journey to stand on the summit proper unless you're looking for bragging rights. Returning to the trailhead on the Piper Mountain Trail is all downhill from here.

The image shows a person walking on a snow-covered trail in a forest. The trail is surrounded by trees, some of which have orange markers on them. The scene suggests a winter or early spring hike, with patches of snow still present on the ground. The forest appears dense with a mix of deciduous and evergreen trees, and the sunlight is filtering through the branches, creating a serene and natural atmosphere.

Though much of the route is wooded, summit and overlook views are terrific.

A tall fire lookout tower rises above a densely forested area, constructed with a sturdy metal framework. A small, enclosed cabin sits at the top of the tower, accessible by a narrow staircase that winds upward. Several taut guy wires anchor the structure, with one prominently tethered to a large rock in the foreground. Surrounding the tower are a variety of leafy trees and underbrush. The sky overhead is overcast, casting a muted, diffused light across the scene.

Belknap fire tower was refurbished in 2023.

The image shows a scenic view from a high vantage point, likely from a lookout tower or similar structure. The foreground includes metal beams with some graffiti etched into them. Beyond the beams, there is a dense forest of evergreen trees, and in the distance, there are large bodies of water, possibly lakes, with some ice or snow visible on them. The background features a range of mountains under a clear blue sky.

Fire tower views.

A corroded aircraft engine and torn fuselage section lie amid mossy rocks and thick forest undergrowth, suggesting a long-abandoned crash site. The engine’s exposed cylinders and rusted components point to an older model, now partially overtaken by nature. Scattered debris blends into the forest floor, with tree trunks and leafy growth encroaching on the wreckage.

Remnants of a tragic 1972 airplane accident.

Tangents:
• AllTrails Public: Piper Belknap Gunstock Loop
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Trailspotting Nearby
5★ Mount Major (3-7 mi) · 3★ Lockes Hill (1-2 mi) · 4★ Lake Winnisquam & WOW Rail Trails (4 mi) · Show Map

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