Shelburne Moriah Hike

Shelburne-Moriah Mountain (3,735 ft elevation) is a terrific peak!  It ranks #5 on the "New Hampshire 52 with a View" list.  It would unquestionably see a lot more hiker traffic if it were easier to access! But with COVID, we were fine with less hiker traffic!

Our approach was to take the Rattle River Trail and Kenduskeag trails up from Route 2, near Gorham, NH. This involved an 11.2 mile round-trip hike with an oftentimes tricky crossing of Rattle River about 1.7 miles at the outset of the hike.    

This past Saturday (July 25, 2020), seven of us started from the Rattle River Trail.  We followed an old logging road at easy grades and reached the Rattle River Shelter at 1.7 miles. We then crossed Rattle River and another branch of the brook at 3.2 miles. The climb became more moderate over a long stretch of rock steps and getting much steeper as the trail became a relentless climb out of the valley eventually reaching the junction with Kenduskeag Trail at 4.3 miles.

It was then onward and upward to the top of Shelburne-Moriah. Many segments of the Kenduskeag Trail were beautifully "laurel-lined"! Many portions of the trail had long stretches of boardwalk.  And although the insertion of man-made structures can sometimes be unattractive, I thought that some of the wooden pathways were quite picturesque.

The top of Shelburne-Moriah is so expansive and is so attractive!  There are acres of bare rock interspersed among pockets of low-growing vegetation.  This arrangement provides a wealth of nooks and crannies to explore.  Without too much exaggeration, just exploring the top of Shelburne-Moriah could almost be a hike unto itself!

By roaming around this sprawling mountaintop, you can get views in all directions.  One view that dominates is the scene looking westward where the tops of the northern Presidentials loom on the horizon!

The ending of this adventure on our return was after we crossed the Rattle River and took a refreshing dip on a gorgeous swimming hole with a delightful cascade. Afterward, most of us went to Mr. Pizza for an early dinner on their outdoor deck along the Androscoggin River.

To sum it up, this was an enjoyable hike.  It supplied a nice variety of views. Finding the picturesque swimming hole for a refreshing dip was awesome. Thanks everybody who joined!!! 

Shelburne Moriah is the crown jewel of the northern Carter-Moriah Range and offers stunning vistas in most directions from its summit and nearby ledges!

This is a strenuous trip with 11.2 miles roundtrip and 3,000 feet elevation gain. We are planning on taking 8 hours to complete this hike.

We will follow the Rattle River Trail, take a left on the Kenduskeag Trail and head up to the summit of Shelburne-Moriah. We will return the same way we climbed.

Its sub-alpine environment provides hikers with a preview of terrain found further north in the Mahoosuc Range. A section of the Appalachian Trail and blazed in white, Rattle River Trail provides an easy walk in with good footing before a relentless steep and rough climb up to the ridge. This section of the Kenduskeag Trail is lightly maintained. It traverses the ridge over scenic ledges to the summit of Shelburne-Moriah.

What to wear/bring: Wear clothing suitable for the hike in layers...no cotton or blue jeans.  Have a rain jacket in the event of inclement weather. Bring along plenty of water (at least 2 liters), lunch, snacks and anything else you may require for a day hike. Contact us if you have any questions. 

After the Hike: Following the hike, members are welcome to Gorham, NH to join us for dinner and a social mixer at Mr. Pizza! 

As we monitor the COVID-19 updates, we will keep you informed, as best we can, of any changes to this planned event. 

Lodging Option: Bunk beds are available at our house near Waterville Valley, NH for Friday and Saturday night for $25 per night. Coffee/bagels each morning and linen/blankets/towels are provided. We have limited space in the fridge to store your beverages/food so it's best to bring a small cooler. Limit of 4. Tenting is available for $5 per night.