Mt Roberts & Faraway Mountain, NH
• 3 & 4-star hikes
• 2 to 10 mile options
• Moderate | Gain 420 to 1,650 feet
• Moultonborough, NH | Lakes Region
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Snowcapped Mount Washington visible from Mt Roberts' summit.
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.
| ⬤ 3★ Mt Roberts Viewpoint
GPX File · AllTrails · Directions GPX? |
| ⬤ 4★ Mt Roberts Summit
GPX File · AllTrails · Directions |
| ⬤ 3★ Mts Roberts & Faraway Loop
GPX File · AllTrails · Directions |
| P Free parking |
⬤ Mt Roberts Viewpoint
Short hike to first viewpoint.
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.
⬤ Mt Roberts Summit
Best trails and views.
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.
Mount Roberts views across Lake Winnipesaukee.
White Mountain panorama from the top of Mount Roberts.
⬤ Mts Roberts & Faraway Loop
For completeists.
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.
MAP PACK: NH 52 With A View Our free Map Pack gives you New Hampshires' most scenic peaks (including Mount Roberts) in a single smartphone download. Complete with offline route navigation and our trail reviews.
MAP PACK: NH Ossipee 10-Peak Challenge Hike the ten summits to complete the Ossipee 10-Peak Challenge with our free smartphone download, complete with trail reviews and off-line route finding.
Best lake views are above the treeline before Mt Roberts summit.
Probably one of the rockiest sections on the Mt Roberts trail.
Tangents:
• Lakes Region Trust: Castle In The Clouds
• AllTrails Public: Mt Roberts,
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 Hampshire Lake Trails
Find trails that feature lakes along their journey.
Find trails that feature lakes along their journey.
