Moose Mountain – Hanover, NH
New Hampshire’s Dartmouth Sunapee region is home to numerous family-friendly day hikes, and the hike to the south peak of Moose Mountain in Hanover is among the best in the area. It also happens to be located along the Appalachian Trail, which is always an added bonus. The hike is relatively short (3.8 miles), not terribly steep, and offers some scenic views and stream crossings along the way. Moose Mountain is really an 8-mile ridge with two summits: North Peak and South Peak. Both summits are located along the AT, but South Peak is the more popular destination due to the clearing at the top. Moose Mountain is also known as the site of a tragic 1968 plane crash in which 32 of the 42 passengers were killed.
Trail Summary
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Distance: 3.8 miles out and back to South Peak (there is also an option to do a 4.3 mile loop)
Summit Elevation: 2,293 ft.
Elevation Gain: ~1,200 ft.
Trail Map: Peakery
Read More: Best Hikes in the Dartmouth-Sunapee Region
Getting There
The trailhead is located on 3 Mile Road in Hanover, about 8 miles east of Dartmouth College. If you’re heading north on 3 Mile Road, there will be a small parking area on your left and the trailhead will be on the opposite side of the road (the east side). The Appalachian Trail crosses 3 Mile Road at this point, so be sure to start at the correct trailhead which is marked by the USFS sign shown in the photo below.
The Hike
The hike begins heading eastward and slightly uphill along the Appalachian Trail (white blazes). After about a quarter mile, the trail crosses a stream via a narrow wooden footbridge. We happened to be hiking a few days after a 3+ foot snowfall was followed by a 55 degree rainy Christmas Day, so the stream was really ripping.
After slightly less than another quarter mile, the trail crosses the clearly-marked Harris Trail. Many of the signs along the trail, including the South Peak summit sign, are painted bright orange, so they’re difficult to miss. The ascent is moderate (~630 ft. of elevation gain per mile), with only a few relatively steep sections, but even in the snow and ice this was not a difficult climb.
Read More: Best Winter Hikes in New Hampshire
The Summit
After a total of ~1.9 miles, the trail arrives at a rocky clearing marked with yet another bright orange sign. The clearing opens up to the east, providing views of Mt. Cardigan, Mt. Kearsarge, and Goose Pond. The true summit is technically 0.10 miles from the clearing, but there are no views. From here, you have the option to 1) retrace your steps to the trailhead (this is what we did), 2) descend on the Ski Loop, or 3) descend on Wolfeboro Road. This link provides further detail on options 2 and 3.
The hike to the South Peak of Moose Mountain is a pleasant day hike. If you’re looking for more of a challenge with genuinely breathtaking summit views, then we’d recommend heading north to the White Mountains, but as far as the Dartmouth Sunapee region goes, this is certainly one of the better hikes.
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