Mt Roberts & Faraway Mountain, NH
• 3 & 4-star hikes
• 2.4 to 9.7 mile options
• Medium difficulty | Gain 420 to 1,650 feet
• Moultonborough, NH | Lakes Region
• Driving Directions: Trailhead
Snowcapped Mount Washington visible from Mt Roberts' summit.
Trailspotting's NH Summits
Are you a peak bagger or looking for the best views? Trailspotting has a growing list of summit hikes.
Are you a peak bagger or looking for the best views? Trailspotting has a growing list of summit hikes.
Perched in the mountains east of Lake Winnpesauke, the century-old estate known as The Castle In The Clouds is home to 28 miles of hiking trails, including two prominent peaks of the volcanic ring dike that is the Ossipee Mountain range. We particularly enjoy the hike to Mount Roberts that meanders gently uphill on an easy going trail and rewards with excellent views across the lake and opposing mountains.
We also feature a shorter hike to a lake viewpoint on Mount Roberts' flank, and a long looping trail that continues on to the more remote Faraway Mountain and returns along a wide old service road that switchbacks its return to the trailhead.
Roberts & Faraway Loop,
Mt Roberts, 
Viewpoint. Mt Roberts Summit 4★5.4 mi, Out & Back, Medium, Gain 1,330 ft
Trailspotting Map at AllTrails
This route captures the best of the estate's trails and all of the views. The trail progresses only gradually uphill as it winds through a lightly scattered and deciduous forest with some rocks, but mostly easy going. About half way through the ascent the views open up tremendously to reveal frequent sweeping vistas beyond squat evergreen trees.
The trail continues up a mountain ridge to the somewhat flat summit, where on a clear day you can see Mount Washington some thirty five miles distant. We prefer this out-and-back route to the loop trail in part because you get to see the great lake views all over again on your return leg.
Views across Lake Winnipesaukee to Gunstock & Belknap peaks.
Mt Roberts & Faraway Mt 3★9.7 mi, Loop, Medium, Gain 1,650 ft
Trailspotting Map at AllTrails
Good for peak baggers, the taller summit of Faraway Mountain is only a further 1.8 miles and 300 feet of elevation gain from the top of Mount Roberts. The trail is much wider and looks something like a service road, though it appears to be much less travelled than the route to the top of Roberts. We observed bear tracks in a rare patch of mud, but knowing how extremely unlikely bear attacks are we strolled on by.
The top of Faraway Mountain is at the end of a short out and back. Don't expect much - there's some communications equipment up here, but no views. Returning on the full loop trail proved to be uneventful and mostly uninteresting, making us wish we'd gone back the way we came for more of those lake views.
Mt Roberts Viewpoint 3★2.4 mi, Out & Back, Medium, Gain 420 ft
Trailspotting Map at AllTrails
For those with a preference for a shorter hike, the Mount Roberts viewpoint at around 1,640 feet above sea level is a good target to aim for. The views do get better as you hike upward, in case you're considering a stretch goal.
White Mountain panorama from the top of Mount Roberts.
The best lake views are above the tree line before the Mt Roberts summit.
Probably one of the rockiest sections on the trail to Mt Roberts.
Tangents:
• Trail Links: Official
• Public Maps at AllTrails: Mt Roberts,
• Facebook Group: Comment on this article
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Lakes Region Conservation Trust
These trails are managed by the LRCT, a nonprofit and member supported land trust who is a leading protector of the region's natural heritage and open space.
These trails are managed by the LRCT, a nonprofit and member supported land trust who is a leading protector of the region's natural heritage and open space.
