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Belknap Mt Fire Tower, Gilford NH

• 4-star hikes
• 2 mile options
• Easy & Moderate | Gain 700 feet
• Gilford, NH | Lakes Region
. NHFT

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 received a new cabin in 2023.

The Red and Green Trails to the summit of Belknap Mountain and its fire lookout tower is a great moderately easy hike with rewarding views, however the gate allowing access Upper Carriage Road trailhead and parking area is only available from late May into November, during daylight hours. We recommend checking the gate hours if you're driving up later in the day so you don't get locked in. Also, this unpaved road has a couple of steep hairpins that might be difficult in the wettest of weather.

Another option for hikers when the gate is locked, or for those looking for a longer hike is the 5-mile Gunstock, Belknap & Piper Mountain loop, which we have mapped in a separate trail review linked in the 'Trailspotting Nearby' section at the foot of this page.

Trail Options Expand KML · Google Earth ·

⬤ 4★ Red Trail Out & Back 2.0 mi out & back, easy, gain 700 ft
GPX File · AllTrails · Directions GPX?

⬤ 4★ Green & Red Loop 1.8 mi loop, moderate, gain 700 ft
GPX File · AllTrails · Directions

P Free parking

Most hikers will prefer the counter-clockwise looping route to the fire tower, starting with the slightly harder Green Trail. This trail is relatively easy and has a modest climb, but does include occasional sections of rocks that become slippery in wet weather that are easiest to traverse in the uphill direction. The Red Trail is noticeably easier, so if you're looking for the easiest route then an out-and-back of this trail is the option to choose.

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.

A person in a bright red shirt walks alone on a leaf-strewn forest trail surrounded by dense, green woodland. Tall birch and maple trees, along with abundant ferns, line the path, creating a peaceful, natural tunnel. The overcast sky filters soft light through the canopy, enhancing the lush green tones of the foliage.

The Red Trail is easier than the Green Trail.

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.

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.

View from inside a wooden fire tower lookout, showing a panoramic scene through four large rectangular windows. The landscape outside reveals a dense green forest of conifer trees in the foreground, with expansive views of lakes and islands stretching into the distance. Beyond the water, rolling mountains rise under a partly cloudy sky, creating a dramatic and far-reaching vista.

Views from the recently replaced cabin.

Expansive view from a mountain vantage point overlooking a vast lake dotted with numerous small islands. A dense forest of evergreen trees fills the foreground, while the background features rolling, blue-toned mountains beneath a sky thick with layered clouds.

Weather rolls in across Lake Winnipesaukee.

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.

Wreckage of a 1972 light airplane crash.

Tangents:
• AllTrails Public: Red & Green Loop
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Trailspotting Nearby
4★ Gunstock, Belknap, Piper Loop (5 mi) · 5★ Mount Major (3-7 mi) · 5★ Cotton Valley Rail Trail (12 mi) · Show Map

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