Mt. Chocorua (3,475ft)

Mt. Chocorua via the Champney Falls trail is located in the town of Albany NH. This mountain is just east of the sandwich range wilderness and is the eastern most peak of the sandwich range. To summit Mt.Chocorua you hike for 3.9 miles. The trails are well kept, with moderate elevation gain, making it a moderate hike overall.  This trail starts right off of RT.112. In the first 1.5 miles of the trail you are rewarded with the Champney Falls. This is an easy part of the trail to access. From the parking lot and back it only takes about 2.5 hours. After the falls you hike another 1.5 miles (following the signs to mt.Chocorua on the way up) until you are above tree line. This is when you start getting some picturesque views. Once you get on the peak of this rocky summit  you will have 360° views. The eastern and southern exposure

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view at the first break in tree line.

gives you a great view of the lakes region. At the top you have two options. You can either do the summit loop which only adds about .2 miles onto your hike or you can go right back down the way you came. Totaling the hike to about 7.8 miles, which going at an average pace will take about 6 hours give or take.

 

 

 

Getting There

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sign by the road for parking lot and trailhead

The easiest way to get to this trailhead is to take I-93 until exit 32. Get off this exit onto Rt.112, (Kancamagus Hwy) take this road east for about 26 miles (40 minutes) and you will see the parking lot on your right. The big sign that says “Chapmney Brook Trail, Bolles Trail” is where you will park and find the trailhead.

 

 

 

 

 

 

FYI

In the first tenth of a mile of this hike the trail will split. Make sure you stay to the left (Champney Falls Trail). The other trail is called Bolles trail and will take you into the sandwich range wilderness. Other than that the trail is pretty easy to follow, if you follow the signs for Mt. Chocorua at the different intersections on the trail. Be sure to check out the falls on the way up too. During high water they are spectacular, however, they are quite scanty when it is dry.

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one of the waterfalls (was not very wet).

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The rocky peak with great views and great people