Glencliff Trail

Approach

Follow the directions for getting to the base of the Carriage Road, but instead of stopping here, continue on Rt. 118 west until you reach the intersection with Rt. 25. Take 25 north until you reach the town of Glencliff and then go to the end of High Street which is where this trail begins.

Route Description

This route heads up the west side of the Moosilauke Group and ends up in the saddle between Mt. Moosilauke to the northeast and South Peak to the south. The trail is filled with great picturesque views of the Moosilauke Group and surrounding countryside including the Connecticut River Valley.

Leaving from High Street in Glencliff the trail follows remnants of an old logging road as it heads through some pretty low elevation forests and pastures which afford some nice views up and back over the valley. After about a half mile the trail re-enters the woods and meets up with the Hurricane Trail on the right. At a little over two miles the trail heads straight up towards the saddle between the two summits.

At three miles you'll meet up with the Carriage Road between the two summits and South Peak will be to the right as you should see a marked sign for the South Peak Spur Trail. From here it is a short 0.2 mile jaunt to the summit of South Peak which offers great views in all directions. From here you can continue up Moosilauke if the weather appears that it will hold. The ascent follows the southwest ridge into the Alpine Zone. Make sure you have your camera because you'll need it.

If descended the same way this route summits Mt. Moosilauke, but also has the added bonus of summitting South Peak along the way. The round-trip numbers with South Peak included are 8.2 miles with an elevation gain of 3,400 feet.

Essential Gear

Comfortable hiking boots, food/water, bad weather gear, trekking poles, and a camera.