Hedgehog Mountain via UNH Trail
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Hedgehog Mountain NH Hike Details
Trail: UNH Trail
Miles: 5
Hours: 3 hiking, 3.5 total
Level: Moderate
Hedgehog Mountain NH Hike Overview
Hedgehog Mountain (2,532’) is a beautiful mountain off of the Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire. It is the shortest mountain on the 52 With a View List but has some of the best views! The UNH Trail offers beautiful views on the summit and nearby ledges, overlooking Mount Passaconaway and the Sandwich Wilderness. Hedgehog Mountain will become one of your favorite hikes on the Kancamagus Highway and will leave you in awe of the stunning views.
Note: Although Hedgehog Mountain is the shortest mountain on the 52 With a View List, it is not easy. It gains about 1,500 feet of elevation in 1.5 miles, so multiple sections are steep with rocks and roots. The trail also passes over ledges with steep drop-offs, so make sure to be cautious as you hike. If you are looking to hike the steep section first, I recommend hiking the loop trail counterclockwise.
Hedgehog Mountain NH Hike via UNH Trail
July 31, 2021
**Always remember to leave no trace. It is crucial to pack out what you pack in and throw away your trash properly.
Hedgehog Mountain has been on my New Hampshire hiking bucket list for a while, so I was so excited to hike it! Alex and I began the hike on a beautiful July day, with cool temperatures in the 60s and low humidity. The Downes Brook Trail parking lot was almost full when we arrived at 9:30 AM, but we didn’t pass anyone on the trail until the end. The parking lot is also home to the Mount Potash Trail, which the majority of the people were hiking.
The first half-mile on the UNH trail was pretty flat and a great warm-up for the steep sections later in the hike. The trail has a few trail junctions with cross-country ski trails but has plenty of signs to help keep you on the UNH Trail. Before we knew it, we were at the loop junction. The left has a more gradual trail, and the left has the steeper and more direct route to Hedgehog Mountain. We opted to go counterclockwise to get the steep sections out of the way first.
After a few minutes, we came to the Allen’s Ledge Trail junction. I HIGHLY recommend hiking the short and steep trail to Allen’s Ledge because it has beautiful views! After enjoying Allen's Ledge, we made our way back to the UNH Trail and continued gaining elevation as we approached the summit. The trail had a few really steep sections that had our legs burning, but the views were so worth it! One section of the trail was very wet and felt like we were hiking through a creek bed. Although the trail was wet, it wasn’t too difficult to ascend.
We reached the summit of Hedgehog Mountain and were in awe of the stunning views! Mount Passaconaway, a 4,000 footer, stood next to us and looked huge compared to where we were. The UNH Trail continues around Hedgehog Mountain and across multiple ledges that offer incredible views of the Sandwich Wilderness. The east ledges were last since we were hiking counterclockwise, so we enjoyed a snack while taking in the epic views.
We didn’t stay on the summit or ledges for too long because the wind was picking up. Descending the rest of the UNH Trail was uneventful but had a few obscured views, which was nice!
Our descent was quick and much less steep than our ascent, so we were flying down the trail. UNH Trail is so beautiful with an open forest feel, which is rare in the White Mountains. Most of the White Mountain trails are thickly wooded, so this was a nice change! Before we knew it, we were at the loop junction and back on the flat trail leading out to the parking lot. We arrived at the parking lot at 1 PM, and it was packed! We were glad we started the hike when we did.
Hedgehog Mountain is one of my new favorite mountains on the 52 With a View List, and I’m excited to hike it again! If you are looking for a beautiful hike along the Kancamagus Highway, Hedgehog Mountain is for you!
Have you hiked Hedgehog Mountain?
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
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