Mount Cardigan

In 1855 a forest fire swept over the summit of Mount Cardigan and burned it down to bare granite. On a lesser mountain the woods would simply have grown back, but here the fire, the thin soil, and the exposed rock combined to keep the top open, and more than a century and a half later the summit is still a clean sweep of stone rather than trees.

That accident of history is exactly why people love it. Most New Hampshire peaks of this height are wooded to the top with only a small clearing for a view, but Cardigan gives you a huge, tundra-like granite dome to walk across, with the horizon falling away on every side. On a clear day the view reaches across much of New Hampshire and into neighboring states.

Look down at the rock as you walk and you will find another kind of history: names, dates, and initials carved into the smooth granite by visitors going back to the 1800s, when the mountain was already a popular destination.

People have been climbing Cardigan for a very long time. It has drawn hikers since the early 1800s, and its popularity jumped in 1867 when a carriage road was built partway up the mountain for the then-considerable sum of two hundred dollars, making the summit easier to reach.

The state began protecting the mountain in 1918, acquiring seven hundred acres and creating the Mount Cardigan State Reservation, which has since grown to more than 5,000 acres. A wooden fire lookout raised in 1904 was replaced by the steel tower that still crowns the summit in 1924, and in the 1930s the Civilian Conservation Corps built trails, an access road, and a telephone line up to the tower.

The tower is the finishing touch on the climb. Once you have crossed the granite to the top, you can climb its steps for an even higher, unobstructed sweep of the surrounding country, a small thrill that kids in particular tend to remember.

Cardigan effectively offers two very different experiences depending on which side you climb. From the west, in the state park, a relatively short and gentle trail brings you to the summit with modest effort, which is why the mountain is such a popular first real hike for families and newcomers. Many people are on the granite dome within an hour or so of leaving the car.

From the east the mountain is a steeper, longer, and more demanding proposition, with trails that climb hard over rock, appealing to stronger hikers who want a workout. Whichever way you come, the last stretch is over open granite slab that can be very slick when wet, so a dry day matters, and good footwear helps on the smooth stone.

There is no water and no shelter up top, so carry what you need and keep an eye on the weather, which can shift quickly on the exposed summit. Pick a clear morning, choose the route that fits your group, and Cardigan hands you one of the biggest views in New England for one of the smallest efforts.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.