Whiteface Mountain via Wilmington

This route begins and ends at the Wilmington Trailhead on Reservoir Road and after reaching the summit of Whiteface Mountain. Start by heading west along the Whiteface Mountain Trail, following the trail as it curves to the southwest, around 0.6 miles. Continue climbing steadily through a northern hardwood forest. At 1.3 miles, turn right to stay on the Whiteface Mountain Trail. At 2.0 miles, reach the junction with the Marble Mountain Trail coming from the Atmospheric Sciences Research Center. Bear left at this junction to stay on the Wilmington Trail. Continue climbing to the ridge. At 3.3 miles, reach the junction with the herd path to Esther Mountain, marked by a large cairn. Keep straight to continue toward Whiteface Mountain. Around 4.0 miles, pass the remnants of an old ski lift at approximately 4,000 feet of elevation. The climb becomes significantly steeper and rockier from this point forward. At 4.3 miles, the trail approaches the Wilmington Turn on the Whiteface Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway. The trail parallels the road without crossing it, emerging onto the long, highly exposed summit ridge. Climb the final rocky ridge to reach the 4,867-foot summit of Whiteface Mountain. Retrace your steps to return to the trailhead.