Skip to main content
Detour Travel Gay Travel Tours
All events Share Strenuous

MIDDLE AND SOUTH CARTER LOOP HIKE

While South Carter summit [4430’] is wooded, the highlight will be the views from the Carter-Moriah Trail before and after the summit of Middle Carter

MIDDLE AND SOUTH CARTER LOOP HIKE

While South Carter summit [4430’] is wooded, the highlight will be the views from the Carter-Moriah Trail before and after the summit of Middle Carter

Details

While South Carter summit [4430’] is wooded, the highlight will be the views from the Carter-Moriah Trail before and after the summit of Middle Carter [4610’]! Join us for a loop hike starting from a short road walk from the Nineteen Mile Brook Trail trailhead, taking a Joe Dodge Camp short cut to the Imp Trail, up North Carter Trail, traverse the ridge on the Carter-Moriah Trail, descending back down using the Carter Dome and Nineteen Mile Brook Trail. The hike will be approximately 10.6 miles round trip with around 3800' of elevation gain.

The ascent up the Imp/North Carter trails is a moderate climb through a fir and birch forest. The ridge walk to on the Carter-Moriah Trail to Middle Carter will be rolling terrain over a series of knobs where we’ll have lunch on one of the scenic ledges after the summit of Middle Carter. We’ll then continue across the scrubby ridge, with plank walkways and some short scrambles to the wooded summit of South Carter.

We’ll have a steep drop at first from South Carter but then descend at easy to moderate grades to Zeta Pass. We’ll take a right on the Carter Dome Trail with moderate grades with glimpses up to Carter Dome. We’ll finish our hike with a rolling walk down the scenic Nineteen Mile Brook Trail.

Don't forget to bring wind/rain shell, water, lunch, snacks, bug repellent, sunscreen, etc. along with whatever you typically have for a hiking excursion. We’ll have lunch on top of the summit. 

Social Mixer: Following the hike, everyone is welcome back to join us at Mr. Pizza in Gorham for dinner on their outdoor deck along the Ammonoosuc River.   

Lodging Option: Bunk beds are available at our house near Waterville Valley, NH for Friday and Saturday night. Its $25 dollars Friday night and $35 Saturday that includes BBQ. Coffee/bagels each morning and linen/blankets/towels are provided. We have 4 bunks available so the first 4 guys that contact us to reserve will get one; and let us know which night[s] you’ll be lodging with us. You’re on your own for dinner Friday night but you’re welcome to use our kitchen facilities to cook!  

Directions

From I-93, take exit 35 where you will end up on US-3 / N towards Twin Mountain / Lancaster. Continue along for roughly 12 miles and then turn right onto NH 115 N. Continue for 9.6 miles and turn right onto US-2 E / Presidential Hwy. Drive for another 12 miles and make a turn onto Main Street. Drive 1.4 miles and turn NH-16 S / Glen Road. Drive for roughly 6.8 more miles until you reach the parking lot for the Nineteen Mile Brook trailhead. We’ll be driving a blue Toyota Tacoma truck.   

Saturday, August 19, 2023
Gorham, NH · Directions
Meet at 8:00 AM
Hosted by Gandalf
10/15 signed up
MIDDLE AND SOUTH CARTER LOOP HIKE

About this event

While South Carter summit [4430’] is wooded, the highlight will be the views from the Carter-Moriah Trail before and after the summit of Middle Carter [4610’]! Join us for a loop hike starting from a short road walk from the Nineteen Mile Brook Trail trailhead, taking a Joe Dodge Camp short cut to the Imp Trail, up North Carter Trail, traverse the ridge on the Carter-Moriah Trail, descending back down using the Carter Dome and Nineteen Mile Brook Trail. The hike will be approximately 10.6 miles round trip with around 3800' of elevation gain.

The ascent up the Imp/North Carter trails is a moderate climb through a fir and birch forest. The ridge walk to on the Carter-Moriah Trail to Middle Carter will be rolling terrain over a series of knobs where we’ll have lunch on one of the scenic ledges after the summit of Middle Carter. We’ll then continue across the scrubby ridge, with plank walkways and some short scrambles to the wooded summit of South Carter.

We’ll have a steep drop at first from South Carter but then descend at easy to moderate grades to Zeta Pass. We’ll take a right on the Carter Dome Trail with moderate grades with glimpses up to Carter Dome. We’ll finish our hike with a rolling walk down the scenic Nineteen Mile Brook Trail.

Don't forget to bring wind/rain shell, water, lunch, snacks, bug repellent, sunscreen, etc. along with whatever you typically have for a hiking excursion. We’ll have lunch on top of the summit. 

Social Mixer: Following the hike, everyone is welcome back to join us at Mr. Pizza in Gorham for dinner on their outdoor deck along the Ammonoosuc River.   

Lodging Option: Bunk beds are available at our house near Waterville Valley, NH for Friday and Saturday night. Its $25 dollars Friday night and $35 Saturday that includes BBQ. Coffee/bagels each morning and linen/blankets/towels are provided. We have 4 bunks available so the first 4 guys that contact us to reserve will get one; and let us know which night[s] you’ll be lodging with us. You’re on your own for dinner Friday night but you’re welcome to use our kitchen facilities to cook!  

Directions to the trailhead

Get directions
Opens turn-by-turn directions to Gorham, NH, 03285 in Google Maps (new tab).

From I-93, take exit 35 where you will end up on US-3 / N towards Twin Mountain / Lancaster. Continue along for roughly 12 miles and then turn right onto NH 115 N. Continue for 9.6 miles and turn right onto US-2 E / Presidential Hwy. Drive for another 12 miles and make a turn onto Main Street. Drive 1.4 miles and turn NH-16 S / Glen Road. Drive for roughly 6.8 more miles until you reach the parking lot for the Nineteen Mile Brook trailhead. We’ll be driving a blue Toyota Tacoma truck.   

Who's going (10)

Gandalf SUSTAINING
Gandalf
Thornton, NH
A member
Profile hidden
baezfred GUEST MEMBER
baezfred
Lancaster, NH
MO GUEST MEMBER
MO
Lancaster, NH
mecyclingrunner SUSTAINING
mecyclingrunner
LEWISTON, ME
beyoungyu SUSTAINING
beyoungyu
Harrisburg, PA
A member
Profile hidden
Russell SUSTAINING
Russell
Newtonville, MA
A member
Profile hidden
jmahoney SUSTAINING
jmahoney
Boston, MA

Questions about this event?

Reach out to the host, Gandalf, for route details, carpooling, or what to bring.

Email the host

You can also ask in the event discussion below.

Event discussion

baezfred · Jul 2, 2023
Looking forward to this. Lately every time I want to attend a hike we end up with Lukas @ pet urgent care. Bugger now has Anaplasmosis from a tick bite!
Twigs · Jul 2, 2023
I'll grab a bunk for Friday and Saturday night if they are available.
Gandalf · Aug 17, 2023
The weather forecast is more favorable in the Lakes Region than near the Presidentials so we are changing this to a Belknap Range Traverse. Weather forecast in this area is partly sunny with a high of 65 degrees. Here is the link to a previous posting: https://www.gayoutdoors.org/frmTripDescription.cfm?eventID=5391
Gandalf · Aug 17, 2023
We are meeting at 8AM and the Mt. Major trailhead to drop off vehicles and then carpool to the starting point. We will be driving a blue Toyota Tacoma. From the junction of NH 11 and NH 11B in Gilford, drive NH 11 southeast along Lake Winnipesauke for 9 miles. A highway sign identifies the parking area for the Mount Major Trail. If you are coming northwest from Alton Bay on NH 11, you'll reach the parking area in 4.2 miles.

Log in to join the conversation.

Stay Connected with GayOutdoors

Receive outdoorsy tips, community updates, volunteer opportunities, event announcements, and trip reports.

We respect your privacy — unsubscribe anytime.