Well known for being the closest mountains to New Hampshire's largest city, the Uncanoonuc Mountains (North and South Uncanoonuc Mountain) are known for completely contrasting each other. Uncanoonuc, a Native American term named for women’s breasts, was given to those two mountains because of the how symmetrical they are to each other. We will be hiking up North Uncanoonuc.

The ascent one way is only 0.6 mile hike but it is a steady and steep ascent! It’s going to be a workout. You will be gasping for air. We’ll take frequent breaks on the ascent for everyone to catch their breath.

Most of the trail is a ledgy path through hemlock woods. We will leave the parking lot and proceed up the White Dot Trail. At 0.1 mile we’ll encounter a remarkable rock overhang, which forms a cave. The trail continues steadily and rather steeply up until it hits a limited view at about 0.5 mile of Goffstown and on a clear day some of the distant northern mountains. At 0.6 miles the summit of North Uncanoonuc leads to an expansive view of Manchester, the largest city in New Hampshire. We’ll have relaxing lunch on the summit.

For the descent, we’ll take the blue trail, where there is a limited view of Pack Monadnock and Joe English Mountain. We might see Mount Monadnock. The blue trail ends at snowmobile trail to Mountain Road. We’ll walk down Mountain Road back to our vehicles to make this a loop hike.

Bring lunch and water; along with whatever else you normally carry for a day hike.

Distance: 2.2 miles

Elevation gain: 675 feet 

Expected time: 2 hours 30 minutes

The trailhead can be challenging to find! Look for our blue Toyota Tacoma truck off Mountain Road.

Traveling south from Nashua take Everett Turnpike north. When nearing Manchester, take Route 101 west. [If taking I-93 north, bear left to I-293 when nearing Manchester and then continue straight to Route 101 where I-293 bears right.]

 - Follow Route 101 west (for 2.1 miles) [At the traffic light, Route 101 turns left. Keep straight for the start of Route 114 west]

 - Follow Route 114 west (for 7.4 miles) to Goffstown.

 - At the traffic circle in Goffstown, turn south onto Mountain Road. [Mountain Road is left right after a gas station.] Take Mountain Rd. After 0.9 mile, the road forks. Turn left. You soon pass a farmhouse and large barn on your right. Just beyond and at 1.4 miles from NH 114 or just when the woods begin there will be a small gravel parking area [dirt road that has been blocked off] on your left. The White Circle Trails starts on the other side of the road.