Join our GetWinter Hikes designed to get you into winter hiking. This is a series of progressively harder winter hikes leading up to a small 4,000 footer.

This trip's focus is to get you familiar with breaking trail with snowshoes. This trail is hardly used in winter so everyone will certainly get a good workout as we take turns breaking trail. This is a hike up to Mount Kearsarge [2,930'] with outstanding 360-degree views from its bare summit. On a clear day, skyscrapers from Boston 80 miles away are visible from the firetower on the summit. 

We will be hiking Mt. Kearsarge [2,937 feet] via the Lincoln Trail and Rollins Trail to the summit of Mt. Kearsarge. The total distance covered is 9.6 miles, it should take approximately 6.5 hours and the elevation gain is 2,100 feet.  From the parking area we follow the meandering Link Trail around neat looking boulders to hook up with the Lincoln Trail [part of the Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway Trail]. Once we reach the Rollins State Park upper lot we'll climb to the summit using the Rollins Trail. The summit is large, open and rocky ~ and greatly exposed to the elements.

Due to uncertain weather, you should be prepared with layers of warm clothing and winter gear. No cotton clothing. Make sure to bring snowshoes [we have some to borrow so let us know]. 

For this trip, we'll be having lunch on the summit. Please know your ability before signing up. Winter hiking is more demanding than three-season hiking. Please read the disclaimer above.

Jon and I are planning to drive home for dinner after the hike but the group can make its own plans. 

Event Coordinators: Mike Boisvert and Jon Normand

• From I-89 take exit 10 [sign says "To 114" and there's also a brown sign that says "Winslow State Park"].
• At the bottom of the ramp, head east [right if you were heading north].
• Very shortly you come to a T-stop.
• Go right onto North Road and follow that for 0.4 mile.
• Turn left onto Kearsarge Valley Road and follow that also for 0.4 mile.
• Turn right into a fairly obvious cleared parking area. [This may not be plowed and not so obvious in winter]. If you reach the golf course, you've gone 0.4 mile too far.
• There are no signs at the actual parking area ~ but a trailhead sign is visible just inside the woods from the parking area. It's at about the center of the parking area. If we get there early enough you can look for a blue FJ Cruiser which we'll be driving.