Mountaineering a North Moat Mountain – Crimson Ridge Loop

The North Moat Mountain / Crimson Ridge Loop is a 10-mile loop hike situated simply outdoors North Conway, New Hampshire that climbs the steep and rocky summit of North Moat Mountain earlier than descending the Crimson Ridge Path down a sequence of open ledges with superior views of Mt Washington and the lesser summits of the Mt Washington River Valley. This hike is especially good in late September and early October when autumn foliage is at its peak.

With near 3000 ft of elevation achieve, this can be a pretty strenuous hike, however properly well worth the climb for the views. The hike begins and ends at Diana’s Baths, a well-known White Mountain waterfall and swimming gap, that’s excellent for a picnic or refreshing dip on the finish of the hike.

North Moat Crimson Ridge Loop

Advisable Waterproof Map

Distance and Problem Score

• 10 miles with 3000′ of elevation achieve
• Reasonably strenuous

Trailhead Instructions

• The Diana Bathtub’s trailhead is on the Higher West Aspect Street about two and one-half miles from North Conway Village. A daytime parking payment or White Mountain season parking sticker is required. Illegally parked automobiles are towed. Click on for USFS trailhead info and GPS coordinates.
• This can be a very fashionable trailhead, so get there early within the day to get a parking area. And I imply early on weekends, though it’s much less crowded on weekdays.

Season

• April – mid-November
• Carry loads of water on sunny days, when the open rock ledges of the Crimson Ridge Path radiate warmth

Path Sequence

• Comply with the Moat Mountain Path for 4.2 miles to the open summit of North Moat Mountain
• Proceed on the Moat Mountain Path for 1.1 miles to the Crimson Ridge Path Junction
• Flip left onto the Crimson Ridge Path and comply with it for two.1 miles descending throughout open rock ledges
• Dropping under treeline, proceed on the Crimson Ridge Path for 1.5 miles till you attain the Moat Mountain Path
• Flip proper onto the Moat Mountain Path and comply with it for 1.1 again to the trailhead car parking zone

On the Path

This hike runs counter-clockwise alongside the route proven above, climbing North Moat Mountain first, earlier than descending alongside the Crimson Ridge Path.

Comply with the Moat Mountain Path from the Trailhead, passing via a developed recreation space that runs previous Diana’s Baths, a well-liked waterfall, and a summertime swimming gap in your left. This can be a excellent place to cease on the finish of the hike for a refreshing dip on a scorching day.

Proceed alongside the Moat Mountain Path which runs alongside Lucy Brook. At 1.2 miles, you’ll move the southern finish of the Crimson Ridge Path Junction the place it crosses a brook and rejoins the Moat Mountain Path. Proceed previous the junction and keep on the Moat Mountain Path which crosses a number of small brooks.

At 2.4 miles, you’ll arrive at a path junction with the Attitash Path. Veer left right here, following the Moat Mountain Path and start to climb, passing via blended scrub, which progressively provides strategy to open ledges as you climb towards the summit of North Moat Mountain. That is the steepest part of the hike, so set a snug tempo as you climb.

At 4.2 miles, you’ll attain the open summit of North Moat Mountain (3196′) which has 360 levels views that embody Mt Washington and Mt Chocorua. There are various good locations to take a seat on the summit, which is a positive place to take a break and admire the views.

In the event you look to the southeast, you may as well make out the open ledges of the Crimson Ridge Path as they descend to the valley under.

Leaving North Moat, proceed southeast alongside the Moat Mountain Path, dropping down a sequence of ledges that require a little bit of scrambling. After passing one other open viewpoint, you’ll enter a wooded stretch, climbing once more in the direction of the junction with the Crimson Ridge Path at 5.3 miles, turning left to comply with it.  There’s a superb likelihood you’ll encounter wooden grouse guarding their nests on the prime of the path who could screech an alarm as you strategy. There’s no must concern them. They’ll run away as you strategy, though they could be agitated.

As you descend, take a second to admire the profile of North Moat Mountain over your proper shoulder.

Comply with the cairns that mark the Crimson Ridge Path fastidiously, whereas admiring the grand views of the Mt Washington Valley that open up earlier than you. Hikers within the White Mountains yearn for these grand expanses of open ledge and the vistas that they provide. The ledges right here additionally make an amazing place for a picnic.

After roughly a mile, the path drops down under treeline once more, descending steeply down open ledges that require cautious footwork. After passing as soon as once more via the forest, it rejoins the Moat Mountain Path at 8.9 miles after a brook crossing, which is commonly rock hop-able in low water. Flip proper onto the Moat Mountain Path at this junction (which you handed early within the route) and proceed for 1.1 miles, as soon as once more passing Diana’s Baths on the best way to the trailhead car parking zone.