Gap Mountain, Troy NH

• 4-star hikes
• 3 mile options
• Moderate | Gain 670 to 810 feet
• Troy, NH | Monadnock Region
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A hiker wearing a red shirt, dark pants, a baseball cap, and a blue and yellow backpack stands on a rocky, shrub-covered ledge, looking toward the rocky peak of Mount Monadnock in the distance under a bright blue sky with wispy clouds.

Mount Monadnock views from North Mountain.

Gap Mountain gives hikers two choices to reach the top, with routes approaching from both the north and the south. The two trails are nearly identical in length and elevation gain, and both offer a fantastic experience. We suggest choosing whichever trailhead is closest to you. On either path you can expect a mostly shaded woodland walk, capped off with a few short, rocky sections near the top.

North Mountain is the highlight of the hike. Its rounded summit features open views in all directions and plenty of room to wander around. Wild blueberry bushes blanket the top, and if you happen to visit in July or August they should be loaded with fruit. Bring a container to collect a harvest or just bring your appetite.

Trail Options Expand KMZ · Google Earth ·

⬤ 4★ North Trail to North Mountain 2.6 mi out & back, moderate, gain 680 ft
GPX File · AllTrails · Directions GPX?

⬤ 4★ South Trail to North Mountain 2.4 mi out & back, moderate, gain 670 ft
GPX File · AllTrails · Directions

⬤ 3★ South Mountain Spur + 0.5 mi out & back, moderate, gain 130 ft

$ Donation requested

The best view on the mountain is probably the view of nearby Mount Monadnock. You will find this viewpoint a tenth of a mile north of the North Mountain summit, taking only a short stroll to reach. Monadnock fills the horizon beautifully, making this the perfect spot for a quick snack and a photo.

South Mountain offers a different kind of summit. It's covered in trees and provides little in the way of scenic views, but it does mark the highest true point of Gap Mountain. Reaching the peak requires an extra half mile out and back along a spur trail marked on our map. Peakbaggers will want to make the detour, but everyone else can skip it without guilt.

A hiker in a red shirt, black pants, cap, and small backpack walks away from the camera along a wooden plank boardwalk winding through a dense, green forest.

Thankful for boardwalks along North Trail sections.

Just below the summit and a short distance off the south trail sit the abandoned, rusted remains of an old rope tow. It served a private ski hill for the landowner back in the mid twentieth century. A local trail expert pointed this hidden piece of history out to us, and we have marked it on our map and in our GPX download. On the map it can be made visible by using the Expand Map function.

Both trailheads feature moderate sized parking lots with portable toilets available. The trails and facilities are maintained by the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests. Donations to support their work are always appreciated and can be placed into the iron ranger boxes located at both trailheads.

A wide panoramic view looking out over rolling, forested hills and distant mountain ranges under a clear, pale blue sky, framed by evergreen trees and autumn-tinted shrubbery in the foreground.

Looking North. Panoramic views from North Mountain.

A wide panoramic view featuring lush, autumn-tinted bushes in the foreground, looking out toward a forested green mountain ridge on the right and distant, flat horizon plains on the left under a soft blue sky with thin, wispy clouds.

Looking towards the tree-covered South Gap Mountain.

Two hikers, one with trekking poles and the other wearing a colorful backpack and shorts, cross a wooden footbridge equipped with handrails over a small forest stream surrounded by dense, green trees and lush ferns.

Trail bridge on the South Trail.

A rusting, abandoned iron rope tow mechanism—consisting of a steel frame, gears, and large grooved drive wheels—stands among fallen leaf litter and trees in a forest.

Abandoned and rusted ski-tow mechanism close to South trail.

External links:
Gap Mountain at Forest Society

Trailspotting nearby:
5★ Mount Monadnock (4-8 mi)
4★ Miller State Park (3-8 mi)
4★ Cheshire Rail Trail South (20 mi)
Show Area Map

Trailspotting free offline maps:
MAP PACK Monadnock Region

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