Mt. Roberts

Trip Details
Date: July 20^th, 2018
Total Distance: 5.5 mi (via Garmin fenix 5X)
Total Time: 2 hours 29 minutes
Total Elevation: 1385 ft gained
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After a few week break, it was time for Boomer and I to hit the trails again. Mt. Roberts was one I had wanted to do after doing Mt. Shaw a few years back. The Ossipee Range is of interest to me due to its volcanic origins. It is neat to think that at one point in geological history there was once a volcano in New Hampshire. Looking at it from Google Maps is pretty self-explanatory.

You see the perfect circle of the old volcano with the caldera crater (flat spot) in the middle? The roads basically go around the circumference of the old volcano.

Terrain view shows it even clearer.

I assumed like Mt. Shaw there was an unmarked trailhead on the Route 171 somewhere, but to my discovery I found out that Mt. Roberts is accessed through the Castle in the Clouds Conservation Area and Lakes Region Conservation Trust. Parking is free, but you do have to do a short road walk to the actual trailhead that is over by the Riding in the Clouds horsepen.

Hiker parking lot

The gate that closes at 1800 (6PM). I am not sure if this means you have to finish your hiking by then or not since you are parked outside the gate.

The trail starts on a multi-use trail that is shared with the horses and has a nice wood chip base. Shortly it takes a sharp right and starts its ascent up the mountain.

The hike up was a short 2.25 miles. It was pretty uneventful so we just motored on and bypassed all the views to save them for the way down. Nothing too tricky on this trail. The footing is great as erosion has not really set in. The only weird part is it looks like you are maybe near the top but then you dip back down into the woods for another quarter of a mile before finally reaching the summit.

The rocks provide you with the view that gets this mountain on the 52 with a View list.

Mt. Moosilauke in the background on the left, Sandwich Dome is dead center, and Mt. Osceola is in the background on the right.

Mt. Osceola and East Osceola with Mt. Lafayette popping up in the center.

Owl's Head in the center.

Carter Dome in the background on the left, Mt. Chocorua in the center, and Wildcat D in the background on the right.

Mt. Chocorua

Mt. Washington

Mt. Whiteface and Mt. Passaconaway with Mt. Carrigain popping up in the center.

WNHX-FM radio towers

I am trying to get artsy and learn to take lens flare photos.

On the way down we stopped at some of the views to enjoy them.

Just before the summit, the trail is basically overgrown.

Looking out over Lake Winnipesaukee.

Looking out towards Mt. Kearsarge in the way distance.

I believe that is Weirs Beach.

Mt. Shaw

Bauneg Beg way out in North Berwick, ME!

The view from the dedicated view point. That is Mt. Kearsarge to the right.

The Belknap Range

Red Hill

The firetower on Red Hill.

We finished up and hung out at Shannon Pond for a few minutes. I was going to let Boomer jump in but one of the employees was feeding the ducks, so I decided against it. We headed back to the car and started driving home.

Shannon Pond

The trail map

Overall it is a nice easy hike with stunning views. I think I enjoyed Mt. Shaw more only for its more difficult hike.

The GPS was spot on for this trip.