Bald Mountain – Sugar Hill NH
| Date: | 7-19-2025 |
| Location: | Sugar Hill, NH |
| Distance: | 4.92 mi |
| Elevation Gain: | 1,349′ |
| Total Time: | 3 hr 46 min |
| Parking: | 15-20 cars |
Bald Mountain is a side trail off of the Kinsman Trail on the Back side of Franconia Notch. This mountain was recently added to the NH 52 With A View list. So, I figured I would check it out.
When I got the new parking lot, the weather was sunny, but it was still cool temperature wise. The parking lot gets very full, and spaces are tight. The lot holds about 15-20 cars. There is also a fee to park there. $10 for NH residents and $20 for out of state.
From there I stared up the trail. This is more like an ATV trail and ascended gradually at the beginning. As I ascended the trail narrowed and there were a few bridges for some minor water crossings.
After a ways the trail I came to the old barn shack that I had passed many years ago going up Mt. Kinsman. From the bottom there appeared to be a network of mountain bike trails that waved in and out of the woods.
Soon the trail stared to climb at a moderate rate. There were a couple of rock stairs along the trail and a few more water crossings. One of the water crossings was a small cascaded covered in moss. It was very beautiful.
I continued up a little further and arrived at the junction for the Bald Mountain spur. The summit was only .2 miles away.
From here it is a few ups and downs but nothing serious. While climbing the last little up I could hear people talking and soon I popped out of the woods to a beautiful view to the west.
I hung around for a bit. Took some pictures and had a snack. I did not stay long. I started back down the way I came. The sun was getting a little warm at this point. When I got to the mossy water cascade I took a break for a moment. I took another break at the river crossing about half way down.
Before I knew it I was back at the trail head. The lot was pretty full still but with different cars.
On my way back I decided to take a trip through Franconia State Park. The trams going up Cannon Mountain are being replaced so I decided to see if I could take a tram ride up. It was a beautiful Saturday and the parking lots were pretty full. But I tried anyway.
I lucked out and was able to board the next tram in 15mon. I went up in the ketchup tram first and then came down in the mustard. This was a nice little way to end this hiking trip.
