Mount Major (1,785′)
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Mount Major Hike Overview
Mount Major (1,785′) sits near Alton Bay in New Hampshire and offers views overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee. It is one of the most popular hikes in New Hampshire because it offers stunning views with a short hike!
Trail Details
Trail: Main Trail > Boulder Loop Trail
Length: 3.2 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,150 feet
My Trail Time: 1.5 hours hiking, 3 hours total
Hike Overview
Although the trails to Mount Major are short, they gain about 1,000 feet of elevation, with some steep and rocky sections. Also, because this is a popular hike, the parking lot fills up quickly. I recommend arriving at the trailhead before 8:00 AM to secure a parking spot!
Mount Major Hike via Main Trail and Boulder Loop Trail Guide
May 1, 2021
Hiking Mount Major for sunset had been on my bucket list for years, so I was very excited to do it! Alex, Meadow, and I arrived at the Mount Major trailhead around 5:30 PM on a beautiful Saturday in May, and to our surprise, there were many cars in the parking lot. As we began getting ready to start our sunset hike, we saw so many people leave the trailhead, so we were so excited to have a peaceful sunset!
We began the hike at 5:45 PM on the Main Trail, which had blue blazes and started relatively easy. The first mile had a gradual incline and was a great warm-up for what was to come. At about 0.8 miles, we arrived at the Brook Trail junction. Brook Trail also leads to Mount Major with a longer and more gradual trail, but we continued left on the Main Trail.
Once we passed the trail junction, the trail was pretty steep for the last 0.7 miles to the summit of Mount Major. Even though the Main Trail is relatively short, it kicked our butts! As we neared the summit of Mount Major, the trail traveled on rock, which was tricky because it was wet. The last section of the Main Trail was very steep but was worth every step for the views that awaited us.
We reached the summit of Mount Major at 6:30 PM and shared it with only four other people. It was very windy, but we stuck it out for an hour to watch the sunset. The views from Mount Major overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee were incredible, especially during golden hour.
Once the sun was behind the mountains and it began getting dark, we started our descent. Since the Main Trail was steep and slippery, we decided to take the Boulder Loop Trail (orange blazes) on the way down. It was 1.5 miles to the parking lot and had less steep sections. There was one steep section where we had to maneuver our way down rocks, but other than that, the trail was great! It was a little muddy, but that’s common for spring hiking. We flew down the Boulder Loop Trail quicker than we anticipated and made it to the car by 8:00 PM!
If you are looking for a great short hike with incredible views, Mount Major is definitely for you! It has one of the best views in the area!
Have you hiked Mount Major? Which trail did you take?
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!