Mount Cabot, The Bulge, and The Horn via Unknown Pond Trail
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, my blog may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.
Mount Cabot, The Bulge, and The Horn Hike Overview
Mount Cabot (4,170’) is the northernmost 4,000 footer in New Hampshire and is the tallest mountain in the Pilot Range. Mount Cabot can be hiked as an out-and-back via the Bunnell Notch Trail, but it is most commonly hiked as a loop with The Bulge and The Horn via Unknown Pond Trail and Bunnell Notch Trail.
Trail Details
Trail: Unknown Pond Trail > Kilkenny Ridge Trail > Bunnell Notch Trail
Length: 11.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 3,200 feet
My Trail Time: 5:30 hours hiking; 6 hours total
Hike Overview
Although you can hike Mount Cabot as an out-and-back, I recommend hiking it as a loop with The Bulge and The Horn. The Horn is on the 52 With a View List, too!
Unknown Pond Trail and Bunnell Notch Trail are very overgrown at the beginning of each trail with tall grass and plants, and it is common to see animals on these trails. Because the overgrown trails do not provide the best visibility, it is important to make noise while hiking, so animals know you are there.
Also, there is a gate leading to Unknown Pond Trail and Bunnell Notch Trail that is closed overnight but is not locked. If you arrive and the gate is closed, you can open it to let yourself through but make sure to close it before heading to the trail.
Mount Cabot, The Bulge, and The Horn Hike via Unknown Pond Trail Guide
August 10, 2020
**Always remember to leave no trace. It is crucial to pack out what you pack in and throw away your trash properly.
Alex, Meadow, and I began the hike to Mount Cabot, The Bulge, and The Horn on a warm and humid August morning. Because it was a Monday, we were the only car in the Unknown Pond Trail parking lot, so we knew we would have a quiet start to our hike. As we began our hike at 9:00 AM on the Unknown Pond Trail, we felt like we were in a jungle. The trail was very narrow and overgrown with tall grass and plants, so we spoke loudly to ensure all animals around us knew we were there. We were also with Meadow, and we could tell she was on high alert when we were hiking through the tall grass.
The 3-mile ascent on Unknown Pond Trail was very uneventful. We gained elevation gradually and felt like we were bushwhacking our entire way up. Soon enough, we arrived at Unknown Pond, which was so beautiful! I definitely would not swim in Unknown Pond, but it was a beautiful area with Mount Cabot in the distance. If we were camping overnight, there is a campsite very close to Unknown Pond.
We stopped for a brief moment at Unknown Pond before continuing to the Kilkenny Ridge Trail Junction. We turned left on Kilkenny Ridge Trail, which was a little wider than what we had been traveling on but still narrow compared to most trails. The next mile flew by, and before we knew it, we were at The Horn junction. It was a short 0.3 miles to The Horn’s summit, which seemed easy, but to get onto The Horn’s summit was another adventure. It was a difficult scramble to get onto The Horn, but there was an easier way around the back. There was a beautiful viewpoint right before the official summit of The Horn, where we ate an early lunch and took in the views.
After we finished eating, we went back down to Kilkenny Ridge Trail and continued another 0.3 miles to The Bulge. The Bulge was a very uneventful summit and could have easily been missed if we weren't looking for the rock cairn. We stopped on The Bulge’s summit to take a picture before continuing the rest of the way to Mount Cabot. Kilkenny Ridge Trail gradually ascended for 0.8 miles to the summit of Mount Cabot, which is another uneventful summit marked with a rock cairn.
The day was becoming more humid, so we took a quick picture on Mount Cabot’s summit before beginning our descent to the car. On our descent, we passed the Mount Cabot Cabin, which would be a great place to sleep if we were doing an overnight. The cabin was not a hut, so it didn’t have anyone working it, but it was just enough for somewhere to sleep. From the Mount Cabot Cabin, it was a 4-mile hike to the Bunnell Notch parking lot.
The hike down from Mount Cabot intersects with a few other trails, one of which is no longer maintained because the trailhead is on private property, and the owner no longer wanted hikers on it. Other than a few trail junctions, Bunnell Notch Trail was very uneventful. As we approached the last half of the trail, we were greeted with an overgrown trail again. We powered through this section of Bunnell Notch Trail because it was relatively flat, and before we knew it, we were in the Bunnell Notch parking lot at 3:00 PM! We walked the final 0.2 miles back to the car on the road and were very happy to be done the hike to Mount Cabot, The Bulge, and The Horn.
Honestly, the hike to Mount Cabot, The Bulge, and The Horn was not memorable. I think the humidity played a part in us not enjoying the trail because hiking an overgrown trail while sweating is not fun. But it had to be done because Mount Cabot is on New Hampshire’s 48 4,000 Footer list!
Have you hiked Mount Cabot? Did you hike it with The Bulge and The Horn?
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.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!