Hike Mount Kearsarge Loop Mount Kearsarge State Forest Park, NH

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Mount Kearsarge is a popular summit and the focal point of Mount Kearsarge State Forest Park. A road leads closer to the summit than this hike does, but that requires parking on the south side of the mountain. This loop starts from Winslow State Park (basically just a parking lot so they can justify taking your money) and follows the Winslow Trail up to the summit, and then down the Barlow Trail. This was my last hike of my northeastern trip and I was definitely feeling it on the uphill along the Winslow Trail. The trail is steep and rocky, but short enough that it attracts a bunch of people. Toward the summit, the Winslow Trail intersects the Barlow Trail and continues to the summit on a pretty granite slope. A fire tower sits here, along with the many folks who decided to hike from the south side via the shorter hike option.

I backtracked from the summit to the Barlow Trail and enjoyed the views during the first few hundred feet of descent, where the landscape stretched out to the east, framed by trees growing through the cracks in the granite. The rest of the Barlow Trail was forested and pretty, and was a lot less steep than the Winslow Trail ascent.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)

Peaks on hike

Elevation

Prominence

Mount Kearsarge

2920 ft

2080 rise

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Starting from Winslow State Park.

Heading up the Winslow Trail.

View back at one of the steeper portions.

The trail is more obvious than it looks in these photos.

View back at a small viewpoint.

Ascending through the forest a bit more before emerging at the summit area.

Summit tower visible ahead.

Junction with the Barlow Trail, which I'll be returning to after visiting the summit of Mount Kearsarge.

A view back toward the summit after hiking just past it.

A view south from Mount Kearsarge's summit.

Along the Barlow Trail, looking back toward the summit.

Descending the Barlow Trail, which initially had some gorgeous views.

Back into the forest, along the the Barlow Trail.

Barlow Trail.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!