Mt. Belknap via East Gilford Trail (Yellow)

Starting from the small parking area on Wood Road, head out on the East Gilford Trail (Yellow), which starts off with a gentle incline through deciduous woods. As it begins to get steeper, the going becomes rockier and there are some scrambles. Several other Belknap Range trails intersect along the way, making it easy to connect and create a longer route. After a fairly steep rocky stair-step portion, the trail crosses a few sections of ledge from which, on a clear day, spectacular views can be had across Lake Winnepesaukee and beyond. Beware--these ledges are slippery when wet! Beyond the ledges, the trail transition to the Warden's Trail (Green) and continues at a gentle incline to the fire tower at the summit. This can be climbed to get an even better 360-degree view of the area, including Squam Lake and Mt. Washington (it's the one with all the clouds on an otherwise clear day!).

If you're interested in the geology of the Belknap Range read "Stepping-Stones Across New Hampshire: A Geological Story of the Belknap Mountains" by Jay Long, a life-long summer resident of the area.