Click to download trail description.
Trail Name: Whiteface Mountain Trail
Gilford, NH
Trail Description: Southern New Hampshire Trail Guide. 3rd Edition. 2010. Compiled and Edited by Gene Daniell and Steven D. Smith. Appalachian Mountain Club Books. Boston, MA. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Whiteface Mountain Trail – Description
This Whiteface Mountain Trail (blazed blue) leads from the end of Belknap Mountain Rd. to the open summit of Whiteface Mtn. (1,670 ft.) and also provides access to Piper Mtn. via the Whiteface-Piper Link. Its lower part is on land owned by the Lakes Region Conservation Trust (LRCT), while the upper part follows a jeep road that has been heavily impacted by ATV use. To reach the trailhead, continue ahead on Belknap Mountain Rd. past the junction with the Belknap Carriage Rd. at 2.4 mi. from NH11A. Turn left at 3.4 mi. and park on the right at the end of the paved road at 3.8 mi. Walk up the gravel continuation of the road past two houses on the left and in 110 yd., just before a third house, turn left into the woods at a sign for “Piper-Whiteface Trail.” The blue-blazed trail ascends moderately on an eroded old roadbed, passing a LRCT kiosk. At 0.4 mi. it swings right, crosses a. small brook, then climbs to the ridgecrest, meeting the Whiteface-Piper Link at 0.7 ml. Here the Whiteface Mountain Trail bears right through a gap in a stone wall and descends slightly, passing an unmarked path that descends left, to an open meadow with a view of the summit ahead. The trail swings right across the meadow, then turns left to join a rocky jeep road, badly eroded by ATV use and follows it along the ridge, crossing an intermediate hump with partial views. It makes a short, steep ascent to open ledges on the north side of the summit, with excellent views north and west, then continues to a large clearing at the true summit, where there are views to the south.
Distances from end of Belknap Mountain Rd. (1,050 ft.) to:
- Whiteface-Piper Link (1,510 ft.): 0.7 mi. (1.1 km.), 450 ft., 35 min.
- Whiteface Mtn. summit (1,670 ft.): 1.6 mi. (2.6 km), 700 ft. (rev. 100 ft.), l hr. 10 min.