| About White Mountains National Forest |
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| Carter-Moriah Trail |
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Length, One-way:
13.8 Miles
Elevation Gain:
> 6,000 Feet
Difficulty:
More Difficult
Elevation:
4,610
Reservation:
No
Season:
Year-round
From Gorham, NH, Travel US 2 east about .5 mile and make a right onto Bangor Road. Travel another .5 mile to the dead-end.
Location Information
The trail travels south along an old logging road and climbs a step bank through a second-growth forest with views of clear-cut woodlands. At 2 miles there is a nice ledge which offers a beautiful overlook. As the trail ascends the forest type changes to evergreen. The trail passes Mt. Surprise, elevation 2,194 feet. The trail has a few elevation gains and losses before making a steady climb up. A short spur path offers spectacular views from Mt. Moriah, elevation 4,049. From the summit two trails descend one reaching Kenduskeag Trail heading left and Carter-Moriah Trail veering right. From this point you may notice white blazes which means you are overlapping the Appalachian Trail. The trail continues along ridges of Carter Mountain occasionally opening up to fantastic mountain views. Shortly you will come to an intersection with Moriah Trail and Stony Brook Trail about 40 yards beyond. Stony Brook Trail travels west back to SR 16 while Moriah Trail heads east The Basin area. At 6.6 miles a spurt trail descends to reach Imp campsite / shelter. The next 5 miles is a difficult journey over slender, slick, rocky trail. Three peaks must be negotiated: Mt. Lethe, Middle Carter and Southern Carter. The trail reaches Zeta Pass at 11.2 miles, Carter Dome at 12.6 miles (elevation 4,832 feet) and Nineteen-Mile Brook / AMC Cater Notch Hut at 13.8 miles. To hike the entire distance, the average hiker may expect at least a 10 hour one-way trip.
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