Big New Hampshire Mountain Views Without the Crowds on Sugarloaf Mountain - Hidden North Country Gem
Hiking Sugarloaf Mountain NH – Big Views, No Crowds
Sugarloaf Mountain is one of the best hidden hikes in New Hampshire’s North Country. Located near Stratford, this moderate trail rewards hikers with sweeping summit views and solitude — a true gem among New Hampshire hiking trails.
With a rocky, mostly open summit, Sugarloaf Mountain (3,701') in northern New Hampshire offers stunning views of the surrounding North Country, along with views south into the heart of the White Mountains, including the Presidential Range.
Sugarloaf Mountain is climbed via the Sugarloaf Mountain Trail, which is a 4.7 mile in and out hike and accessed from a trailhead located on Nash Stream Road (a seasonal road). The trail follows an old woods road to the former site of a fire tower observer's cabin, and then ascends the summit ridge to the open rock summit where the fire tower was once located.
Even without the tower, the mountain boasts amazing views to the south and to the east, including the nearby open rock summits of the Percy Peaks. The trail is not difficult, but it is a steady, and in places, steep climb that really never levels off except at the very top.
Sugarloaf Mountain Trail Description
The Sugarloaf Mountain Trail begins on the left side of Nash Stream road (as you head north from the trailhead) and turns left off the road, just before a private residence. Just past the home, the trail enters the woods and shortly thereafter the Cohos Trail continues to the left while the trail up Sugarloaf Mountain goes right.
From here you follow the old fire tower road to the summit. The trail begins climbing gradually, but the climb gets more intense as you ascend. The old road ends at the remains of the fire tower observers cabin. Today all that’s left of the cabin is some timber and rusting metal pieces at the edge of the field
Once past the remains of the cabin, the trail narrows, becoming a footpath and climbs rather steeply. After reaching the crest of the ridge, the trail follows it to the summit of Sugarloaf Mountain at a much more relaxed grade.
As you reach the summit area, the trail brings you to the rocky summit and extensive views open up to the south. The summit, while not above treeline, has open ledges that offer a spectacular view of the White Mountains to the south and the surrounding north country area.
From the summit, you’ll return the way that you came to the trailhead.
Note that Nash Stream Road is not maintained in the winter for vehicle traffic, so unless you have access to a snowmobile, this Sugarloaf Mountain Trail is only accessible during the summer months.
On this trip you briefly travel on the Cohos Trail, which is a roughly 170-mile long-distance hiking trail that begins in Crawford Notch in the south and ends at the United States/Canada Border in the north. This area of the Cohos Trail is roughly about halfway through the length of the trail. Moe completed a thru-hike of the Cohos Trail in the Fall of 2020.
Sugarloaf Mountain Trail Details:
📍 Trailhead: Off Nash Stream Road (gravel, usually passable in summer/fall, closed in the winter months) - Google Maps Link
🥾 Distance: ~4.7 miles round trip
⛰️ Elevation Gain: ~2172 feet
⚠️ Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging
💦 Highlights: Epic views from summit, few visitors, remnants of old observer’s cabin near summit
🗺️ GPS Information: Trail Route in GPX Format
Sugarloaf Mountain is one of the 52 Hikes With a View!
New Hampshire's 52 With A View (52 WAV) is a curated list of 52 mountains, each under 4,000 feet in elevation, offering exceptional scenic vistas. Unlike the more rigorous 4,000-footer list, the 52 WAV provides a rewarding hiking experience with less strenuous climbs, making it accessible to a broader range of hikers.
More information on the Sugarloaf Mountain Trail in New Hampshire
You can find this hike:
Need help on a hike or a backpack like this? Moe is a NYS licensed hiking and backpacking guide. You can hire him for Outdoor Hiking, Backpacking and Camping Guide Services at Hike On Guides.
Hikes near Sugarloaf Mountain
Gear we used on the hike up Sugarloaf Mountain:
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