Mount Osceola & East Peak NH
• 4-star hike
• 5.7 to 7.5 mile options
• Medium difficulty | Gain 2,067 to 2,838 feet
• Lincoln, NH | White Mountains
• Driving directions
Enjoying the outstanding views of Waterville Valley from Mt. Osceola's summit.
Completing the AMC Four Thousand Footer Club’s list of peaks is a rite of passage to many a New England hiker, and completing the entire list within a year is another more ambitious challenge. This eight mile hike offers some great White Mountain views while allowing you to strike two peaks of that list.
Mt Osceola Trail 4★5.7 mi, Out & back, Medium, Gain 2,067ft | The trail to Mount Osceola’s 4,340 foot summit delivers gradual elevation gain, which means this is not a thigh burner. Conditions are mostly rocky, with occasional granite caps that can get quite slippery in wet weather or when passing over mountain streams. Trees surround you all the way to the summit, so views are rare along your journey. However, the summit of Mount Osceola is thankfully bare and provides outstanding views of the entire Waterville Valley.
Trailspotting Map at AllTrails
Mt Osceola Trail,
Mt Osceola & East Peak Mt Osceola & East Peak 4★7.5 miles, Out & back, Medium, Gain 2,838ft | For those wanting to bag a second 4K peak, or just to extend their hike, the trail continues in a North Easterly direction for another 0.9 miles to Mount Osceola’s East Peak. This route includes a rock scramble down a 20-30 foot chimney which is moderate in difficulty, before tracing the ridgeline to the second summit. The trail provides more impressive views, although the summit does not.
Trailspotting Map at AllTrails
The trailhead is located on Tripoli Road, a well-maintained unpaved road off I-93 that is closed in winter months – usually between November and May. Although the parking lot is quite large, it often fills up quite quickly so an early start can be an advantage.
Mt. Osceola in the center with East Peak to the right.
Tangents:
• Trail Links: AMC 4K Link (#27,#41), Public Map at AllTrails
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The White Mountain National Forest
This trail is part of the 800,000 acres of White Mountain National Forest managed by the National Forest Service. For more information visit their website.
This trail is part of the 800,000 acres of White Mountain National Forest managed by the National Forest Service. For more information visit their website.