Hike New England - Mt. Major via Boulder Loop and Brook Trails

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Mt. Major via Boulder Loop and Brook Trails

Mountain:		Mt. Major (1786')
Trails:		Boulder Loop, Brook Trail, Mount Major Trail (Main Trail)
Region:		NH - Central East Lakes Region, Belknap Range
Location:		Alton, NH
Rating:		Moderate
Features:		Summit, views, brook, ledges, loop hike
Distance:		4.2 miles
Elevation Gain:		1150 feet (cumulative)
Hiking Time:		Actual: 2:30 Typical: 2:45
Outing Duration:		Typical: 4:30
Hike Date:		05/06/2000 (Saturday)
Last Updated:		08/05/2008
Author:		Webmaster
Companions:		SDHrs: Carlos C., Rich, Dave S., Phil B., Anne H., Linda S., Elaine B., Chris & Monsie D., Ellen S., Karen, Ernie G., Sal S., Pam S., Noreen

Route Summary

This is a loop hike up to Mount Major.

From the back, left-hand corner of the parking lot, get onto the snowmobile trail which quickly crosses a wooden bridge.
After about 0.4 mile on the snowmobile trail, turn right onto Boulder Loop which starts to climb.
Boulder Loop climbs easily at first then gets steeper as it winds amongst ledge and boulders. After a final steep pitch, you will reach semi-open ledges (where the trail curves to the left) with views and much easier inclines.
After 1.4 miles on Boulder Loop, you will reach the summit of Mount Major.
Descend by walking away from the view (in a westerly direction) to get onto Brook Trail.
Follow Brook Trail, keeping to the right as you pass two trail junctions on the upper part of the mountain.
Brook Trail will flow straight into Mount Major Trail/Main Trail which will return you to the parking lot, 2.4 miles from the summit.

Place	Split Miles	Total Miles	Split Time	Total Time
Parking lot (650')	0.0	0.0	0:00	0:00
Mt. Major summit (1786')	1.8	1.8	1:15	1:15
Parking lot (650')	2.4	4.2	1:15	2:30

Trail map of hike route to Mount Major (map by Webmaster)

Trail Guide

On the trail (photo by Sal Silvestre)

Dave led the SDH group along some great trails for the Mount Major hike. Although the parking area was full, we only came across two other people on the hike up. We ascended via Boulder Loop, an easy-to-follow, trail that Dave and Sal had scoped out. To find this trailhead in the future, face the back of the parking lot - the trail leaves from the back, left-hand corner; whereas the official Mount Major Trail leaves from the back, right-hand corner.

The route presented us with gentle inclines most of the way until we got near the top where we encountered a steep, ledgey section. We even had a short tunnel to duck through where a flat rock lays across two large boulders that flank either side of the path. We enjoyed great views during our rest breaks along this section although the respites were kept short due to the black fly attacks.

After tackling the steep section, we were rewarded with several large, open, rocky areas at the top. In addition to magnificent views of Lake Winnipesaukee and the surrounding areas we also came upon the remains of a stone hut that was built in the early 1900's to provide shelter for hikers.

Mt. Major from the top (photo by Sal Silvestre)

After about an hour of relaxing on the summit, Dave led us down the Brook Trail (which coincides with the Mount Major trail near the bottom). This turned out to be another little-traveled route and we only encountered a handful of people. True to its namesake, there was a pretty brook along several sections. Thin birch and moosewood trunks arched over the pathway to form a tall arbor.

We had several naturalists in our midst that were able to identify items of curiosity. It was Phil that provided the name of moosewood (also known as striped maple) for the odd looking trees that sport a greenish-colored trunk with thin white vertical stripes running through the bark. We saw some shrubs with dogwood-like, white flower clusters that Sal informed us were hobblebush. Sal also pointed out some rock tripe (also called toad lichen). This is brown, brittle-looking, often overlapping, lichen that can be seen clinging to many boulders. It is said that rock tripe can be cooked up in a brew and eaten, although no one in the group has actually tried it.

Closer to the ground, Pam pointed out princess pine, growing a few inches high, which are a type of clubmoss. Although they go by the name of "pine" and fall into the "clubmoss" group, they are neither a conifer nor moss but rather an evergreen that is more closely related to ferns. Also close to the ground, we spotted some violets in both purple and white.

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Driving Directions

The parking area and trailheads are located on Rt. 11, 4.2 miles north of Alton Bay.

Heading north, the parking area turn-off is located shortly after a scenic vista and is on the left hand side of the road.

Heading south, the parking area turn-off is located a couple miles after passing the junction with Rt. 11A.

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