Mount Osceola and East Osceola via Mount Osceola Trail
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Mount Osceola and East Osceola Hike Overview
Mount Osceola (4,315’) is one of the most popular 4,000-footers because it is considered one of the easier 4,000-footers to conquer. Although it does not have 360-degree views, they are breathtaking! If you want to tack on another 4,000-footer, you can hike it with East Osceola (4,157′)!
Trail Details
Trail: Mount Osceola Trail
Miles: 8.4 miles
Elevation Gain: 2,850 feet
My Trail Time: 4 hours hiking; 4:45 hours total
Hike Overview
The Mount Osceola Trail is an out-and-back trail, gaining over 2,800 feet of elevation. Although the trail leading to Mount Osceola is gradual, the trail going to East Osceola is incredibly steep. The steepest section is called the chimney. The chimney is as it sounds, a straight up rock climb, but you can skip it by taking a less steep trail around it.
Mount Osceola and East Osceola Hike via Mount Osceola Trail Guide
September 8, 2019
**Always remember to leave no trace. It is crucial to pack out what you pack in and throw away your trash properly.
Sam and I began our hike to Mount Osceola and East Osceola around 7:30 AM on a cool September morning. This was my fourth time hiking Mount Osceola but Sam’s first. This was also Sam’s first 4,000-footer hike, so I was excited for her to experience the hike! The first part of Mount Osceola Trail was very flat and open. It was a classic bait and switch because the trail quickly became cluttered with larger rocks. After the first mile, Mount Osceola Trail had switchbacks winding up Mount Osceola. The switchbacks made for an easier, more gradual climb to Mount Osceola’s summit without too many steep sections. However, as we approached the summit, there were rock scrambles that added some difficulty and fun! Mount Osceola Trail was a little wet, so we had to be careful on the rock slabs because they were primarily smooth, flat, and slippery.
All of Mount Osceola Trail was within the tree line, so Sam didn’t get a sneak peek of the view. Because the trail never went above the treeline, most of Mount Osceola’s summit is covered in trees, but there is an open section that offers beautiful views. Once we made it to Mount Osceola’s summit, we were greeted with NO VIEWS! The summit was in the clouds, but they were moving quickly, so we knew we would have some amazing views looking east soon! There are a few concrete slabs on Mount Osceola’s summit which used to hold a fire tower. It was built in 1910 but removed in 1985. I wish it was still there because it would give some breathtaking views above the treeline.
We reached Mount Osceola’s summit around 9:00 AM and were surprised by the lack of people. This summit is usually moderately packed, but there were only a few other groups of people when we reached the summit. We took a short break on Mount Osceola before making our way to East Osceola.
Mount Osceola Trail to East Osceola was to the left on the summit and immediately began to descend. The hike over to East Osceola was very rocky but very easy. There was one point where we were on our hands and bums climbing down a ridiculously steep section. Once we reached the bottom, I looked back and realized that was the chimney! We descended via the bypass which I HIGHLY recommend doing. I was excited to ascend the chimney on the way back.
Soon after, we were at the summit of East Osceola at 9:45 AM! East Osceola was completely wooded with only a rock cairn noting the summit. There were beautiful views before the summit but nothing that compared to what Mount Osceola offered. We stayed on East Osceola for a few minutes before heading back to Mount Osceola with our fingers crossed the clouds cleared.
We ascended the chimney which was NOT as bad as people say, but it is not for the faint of heart. We climbed about 20 feet vertically which was exhilarating and fun! If you did not feel comfortable going up the chimney, you could easily ascend the bypass again. Once we passed the chimney, it was a gradual incline to Mount Osceola’s summit.
We reached Mount Osceola at 10:45 AM, and FINALLY, the clouds had cleared! We were rewarded with incredible views! It was Sam’s first time experiencing a view like this in New Hampshire, so I was super excited for her! We stayed on Mount Osceola’s summit for a bit enjoying the views and our trail mix. I was SO IMPRESSED with how Sam did hiking. She was an amazing hiking partner and pushed herself to complete the hike. I love that she found a love for these mountains like I did a few years ago hiking the same mountain.
As we began our descent on Mount Osceola Trail, the wind picked up, so we were happy to be below the treeline again. The descent was fairly quick and easy. We picked up our speed as we reached the switchbacks on Mount Osceola Trail and were ready to be back in the car to eat our lunch! Soon enough, we arrived at the car at 12:15 PM happily eating our peanut butter sandwiches.
As I mentioned above, Mount Osceola is one of the easiest 4,000 footers to conquer that has a view. There are other 4,000-footers that are considered easier, but they do not have a view. If you are looking to conquer your first 4,000-footer and want a beautiful view, I would recommend Mount Osceola!
Have you hiked East Osceola with Mount Osceola? How did you like ascending and descending the chimney?
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!