Cherry Mt & Owlhead Peak, Carroll NH
• 3 & 4-star hikes
• 4 to 5 mile options
• Moderate | Gain 1,850 to 2,400 feet
• Carroll, NH | White Mountains
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Mount Cherry viewed from the Presidential Rail Trail.
Located in the northern White Mountains, Cherry Mountain has three prominent peaks, including Owlshead (3,257 ft), which is featured on the 52-With-A-View hiking challenge list, and Mount Martha (3,556 ft), named after the nation’s first First Lady and wife of George Washington. These peaks offer splendid views of the Presidential Mountains, allowing Martha to figuratively keep a watchful eye on her husband’s namesake, Mount Washington.
Beginning at the trailhead by Route 113, the 1,700 foot tall prominence of Cherry Mountain Trail plots a virtual straight line to the mountain's ridge without a switchback in sight. In neither direction does the trail feel steep or overly rocky, though depending on your fitness level your thighs may still have something to say about that.
The trail up the mountain is known to be muddy in April and May, and in summer becomes rather buggy due to a nearby creek running alongside. We also encountered a surprising number of bullfrogs basking in the trail's mottled sunlight, and we chose to think that they were all able to leap out of our way as we came stomping back down the mountain.
| ⬤ 4★ Martha & Owlshead Peaks
4.9 mi out-and-back, moderate, gain 2,400 ft GPX File · AllTrails · Directions GPX? |
| ⬤ 3★ Mount Martha
3.5 mi out-and-back, moderate, gain 1,850 ft GPX File · AllTrails · Directions |
| P Free parking |
Though Martha boasts the highest point on Cherry Mountain it can only muster partial views of the White Mountains. Continuing north along the ridgeline for 0.7 miles to Owlshead offers an easy going trail known as Martha's Mile, which rewards with excellent exposed views. To get the best of these you will need to negotiate a rock scramble to Owlshead's pointy summit, but we can vouch that the effort is worth it for the panoramic payoff.
There are at least two other trailheads around Cherry Mountain that lead to these same peaks, including the Owlshead Trail that is recommended by the Appalachian Mountain Club. Until we return to hike them in the future, we've included links to AllTrails pages for them at the bottom of this article.
This area creates no end of nomenclature issues by the way. Based on even the most modern maps, the tallest of the range of peaks on Cherry Mountain is marked at Mount Martha yet many sites only refer to this point as Cherry Mountain. Also, Owlshead peak should not be confused with the larger 4,035 foot Owl's Head further south in the White Mountains.
The best White Mountain views are on Owlshead.
Easy going on the ridgeline between peaks.
Partial views from Mount Martha.
Tangents:
• AllTrails Public: Cherry Mt (West), Owlshead Trail, Cherry Mt (South)
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NH 52 With A View
Trailspotting map and routes to reach the 52 New Hampshire peaks with the best views in the state!
Trailspotting map and routes to reach the 52 New Hampshire peaks with the best views in the state!
New England Summits
Explore mountain-top hikes around New England with Trailspotting.
Explore mountain-top hikes around New England with Trailspotting.
