Mount Carrigain via Signal Ridge 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 Carrigain Hike Overview
Mount Carrigain (4,700’) is a mountain located in the Pemigewasset Wilderness in the White Mountains. Although most of the summit is wooded, the summit has a fire tower that offers beautiful 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains.
Trail Details
Trail: Signal Ridge Trail
Length: 10 miles
Elevation Gain: 3,500 feet
My Trail Time: 5:30 hours hiking; 6 hours total
Hike Overview
The most popular way to summit Mount Carrigain is via Signal Ridge Trail. The first 2.5 miles are relatively flat, but the rest of the trail gains elevation steeply to the summit. Most of the 3,500 feet of elevation is gained in the final three miles before Mount Carrigain’s summit.
Mount Carrigain Hike via Signal Ridge Trail Guide
June 13, 2020
**Always remember to leave no trace. It is crucial to pack out what you pack in and throw away your trash properly.
I hiked Mount Carrigain on a beautiful June morning with my wonderful sister Gina. This was our first time hiking a 4,000 footer together, so I was excited to have her on this hike! We began our hike on Signal Ridge Trail at 9:00 AM. There were a few clouds in the sky, but we were hoping they would clear up by the time we reached the summit.
The first two miles of Signal Ridge Trail were a breeze, so we were moving fast. It was a great warmup for what was to come! The first portion of the Signal Ridge Trail ran along Whiteface Brook, so the trail was muddy and slippery. After almost two miles, we arrived at the Carrigain Notch Trail junction. We continued left to stay on Signal Brook Trail but became confused when most of the trail was blocked. We did not see signs or warnings at the trailhead about trail closures, so we hiked back to the junction to figure out what to do next. Luckily, a group of hikers was nearby who told us about the trail closure and the 0.5-mile detour we had to take. Now that we knew where we were going, it was time to cross Carrigain Brook! Usually, this would be easy to cross, but due to the recent rainfall and snowmelt, it was a bit difficult. After a few tries, we crossed the brook and began our detour hike.
After our quick detour, the real ascent began. The next 2 miles were a relentless climb with minimal breaks. This portion of the Signal Ridge Trail has many rock staircases, which made the elevation gain easier. Soon enough, we made it above the treeline to the ridge and only had a mile left to Mount Carrigain. We were in the clouds, so we did not have high hopes for having views on the summit. The temperature also dropped drastically above the treeline to about 30°, and winds picked up. We kept moving because we wanted to get back into the treeline, so we were protected from the cold winds.
After being on the ridge for less than 0.5 miles, we went back into the treeline and continued up Signal Ridge Trail to the final push to Mount Carrigain. Around noon we arrived on Mount Carrigain’s and were rewarded with high winds and no views! We climbed the fire tower, enjoyed our lunch, and hoped the clouds would disperse. After 15 minutes of enjoying our lunch on the fire tower, we decided waiting for views in 30° weather was not worth it, so we packed up and began our descent on Signal Ridge Trail.
As we arrived back to the ridge, the clouds were clearing, and we were rewarded with beautiful views of the Pemigewasset Wilderness! We took the next 15 minutes to take in the views before continuing our descent. The views from the ridge were incredible! The clouds lifted just enough for us to see for miles.
At 12:30 PM, we finally tore our eyes away from the beautiful views and began our final descent. Because this hike was uneventful, our descent on Signal Ridge Trail felt like it took forever. It was one of those hikes where we felt like we hiked further than we actually did and had to stop looking at our map because we couldn’t take the disappointment!
After what felt like an eternity, we hiked the detour, crossed Carrigain Brook again, and began the final two miles of Signal Ridge Trail. We flew down the last portion of the trail, and before we knew it, we were hiking alongside Whiteface Brook. Soon enough, we were back at the trailhead at 3:00 PM.
The hike to Mount Carrigain was pretty uneventful until we reached the ridge, which offered incredible views! I read that the views from Mount Carrigain’s fire tower are incredible, so we are bummed we missed them, but happy we were able to at least get some views.
Have you hiked Mount Carrigain on a clear day and were able to experience the beautiful views on the fire tower?
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!