Hurricane Mtn, Conway NH 6/5/13

[RoySwkr]

This peak is far less famous than the road of the same name used to access it, I had bushwhacked it 30+ years ago but learned there is now an unofficial trail. The road was repaved last year and still in pretty good shape but best avoided at times of heavy traffic, Black Cap parking was over half full on a weekday before school is out.

The unsigned trail starts up an old woods road maybe 400' W of the Black Cap parking lot, just after the paved road starts steeply down. The path is overgrown with deadfalls and climbs at a steady grade. After maybe .2 mi there is an unmarked fork where you stay on the better path to the R which begins to climb more steeply with some ledges. If you look at the right time, you may get a view of Mt Chocorua. There are some cairns and red blazes to help with the obscure parts. Some areas have small pits dug by mineral collectors. Eventually the trail levels off and wanders before crossing a bump and ending at the overgrown ledge summit where there is an obstructed view of Kearsarge North from near the fire ring.

If you like obscure trails which are rarely hiked and don't need much view, then this is a better peak than Black Cap.

 

[Amicus]

I believe that Trail appeared in the AMC Guide for at least one ed., but has been gone from the last few. The Nature Conservancy also formerly showed it on its Green Hills of North Conway map, but it has disappeared from that one too. At least as of last August, however, you could still see it on the older TNC map posted at the kiosk on the Black Cap Trail. I saw it on a hike of the Cranmore Trail, before finding and hiking the Hurricane Mtn. trail, which was just as you describe.

If you like obscure trails which are rarely hiked and don't need much view, then this is a better peak than Black Cap.

That's true, I suppose. While I like obscure trails which are rarely hiked, however, I also like views, so before returning to Hurricane Mtn., I'll try to revisit Black Cap on a day when it's unlikely to be crowded. A sunny weekday in September, when schools are in session, might be nice, if I could evade work. Peaked and Middle Mtns. in the southern part of the Green Hills have some good views - not as good as Black Cap but better than Hurricane. By the same token, they are less popular than Black Cap, but more than Hurricane - a trade-off.

 

[Kevin Judy and Emma]

We bushwhacked this last fall from the Black Cap parking lot because the map at the kiosk showed a trail, which we didn't look hard enough to find. Once at the summit it was easy to find the trail and follow it back down. We found it an interesting hike and it was good to add a little extra to the underwhelming hike of Black Cap.Though Black Cap has excellent views it is not much of a hike unless you come up from the other hills in Green's Preserve. Also, it is a nice hike to Cranmore from Black Cap.

KDT