Plymouth Mountain is a moderate hike nicely softened by the presence of snow.  We will hike the Fauver Link and Sutherland Trails to Pike’s Peak and Plymouth Mountain (2193') with stunning views and worth the climb! We start on the Fauver Link trail through the forest that first starts at easy grade and begins to climb moderately after a stream crossing. At 0.4 miles we reach the Sutherland Trail, and at 2 miles we reach the blue-blazed trail to Pike’s Peak with tremendous views to the White Mountains and east to Squam Lake and Ossipee Range; it also allows for easy sitting/viewing. We’ll then continue the climb over rough ledges to the wooded summit of Plymouth Mountain. Just below the summit there is a large rock ledge [with a sharp drop off on both sides] with more wide ranging views than Pike’s Peak!  

Distance:      5 miles

Elevation Gain: 1463 feet

After the hike, we’ll drive into Plymouth and view the exhibit at the Museum of the White Mountains: Forecasting Climate Change and Water Impact. The museum is run by the Plymouth State University and free of charge.

What to wear/bring: Wear warm clothing suitable for the hike in layers...no cotton or blue jeans.  Wear a warm hat and gloves and bring hand warmers as a precaution. Bring along plenty of water (at least 2 liters), lunch, snacks and anything else you may require for a day hike. Make sure your pack is big enough to place your jacket and excess clothing into it as you warm up. For footwear, have winter insulated boots and MicroSpikes in case we encounter icy trails. We may need snowshoes if we had a snowstorm just prior to the hike…we’ll let you know a few days before. Contact us if you have any questions. 

Afterwards:  Everyone is welcome to join us back at our house in Waterville Valley to relax by our fireplace [BYOB and bring snacks] followed by one of Jon's delicious dinners. We ask $10 per person to help pay for our food costs. Showers are available so bring a change of clothing to make your visit with us more comfortable.

Lodging Option: Bunk beds are available at our house [with Wi Fi] near Waterville Valley, NH. It's $35 for Saturday that includes dinner. Coffee/bagels each morning and linen/blankets/towels are provided. Space is limited so email ASAP to reserve a bunk!

The trailhead can be difficult to find so we'll meet at this location and we can carpool from there.  

Take I93 north to exit 26 [Tenney Mountain Highway]. Take a left at the first traffic light and park in the Hannaford's parking lot. We will meet here to carpool and drive the backroads to the trailhead. We will be driving a blue Toyota Tacoma truck.