Mount Waumbek and Mount Starr King via Starr King Trail
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Mount Waumbek and Mount Starr King Hike Details
Trail: Starr King Trail
Miles: 7.2
Hours: 3 hiking; 3:30 total
Mount Waumbek and Mount Starr King Hike Overview
Mount Waumbek (4,006’) is the third shortest 4,000 footer and is hiked with Mount Starr King (3,907’). Starr King Trail is a fairly easy in and out trail with awesome views on Mount Starr King. However, Mount Waumbek’s summit is wooded, and we couldn’t find any clearings for views. Mount Waumbek is also one of the easiest 4,000 footers if you are looking for a hike to start the list with!
NOTE: The Starr King trailhead is literally in the middle of nowhere because Mount Waumbek and Mount Starr King are north of the White Mountains. I would recommend putting “Starr King Trailhead” into a GPS to find the trailhead. Don’t let these shorter mountains fool you either! Starr King Trail gains 2,700 feet of elevation most of which is gained within the first 2.6 miles, so get ready for some steep sections.
Mount Waumbek and Mount Starr King Hike via Starr King Trail Guide
July 28, 2018
**Always remember to leave no trace. It is crucial to pack out what you pack in and throw away your trash properly.
Alex and I started the hike to Mount Waumbeck and Mount Starr King at 10:00 AM on a VERY humid July morning. Alex decided to have some caffeine before the hike which did not sit well once he began to sweat. After being on Starr King Trail for about 15 minutes, Alex thought he was going to pass out, so we rested while I scolded him for drinking a lot of caffeine before exercising.
Once he was stable and ready to move, we began hiking again. This is one of those hikes that starts off strong and throws you right into the ascent. We climbed steadily to Mount Starr King. If it wasn’t so dang humid out, we probably would have reached the summit quicker, but it was 90% humidity, sooooo we were a bit sweaty. About 2 miles on Starr King Trail, there was a small spring to our left. If you sweat as much as we do, you’ll thoroughly enjoy splashing the fresh, cold water onto your wash.
The thing I loved most about Starr King Trail was the vegetation. I LOVE ferns, and there were ferns EVERYWHERE. The smell was an awesome addition to the hike and somewhat took our minds off the relentless elevation gain. As we got closer to Mount Starr King’s summit, the trail became more gradual. Mount Starr King’s summit was small and of course, has no sign, but we knew we made it because there was a chimney. The chimney was part of a shelter built in the 1940s but later removed in the 1980s. There were also awesome views of the Presidentials. We made it to Mount Starr King’s summit by 11:30 AM.
Before we left the summit, we were on the lookout for Grey Jays. We couldn’t miss them because they got all up in our business when they saw we had food. To the left of Mount Starr King’s summit, there is a sign that says “path”. Very specific signage, I know. As you probably guessed, I think the sign should say “Mount Waumbeck Summit - 1 mile”, but I digress. We followed the sign and continued for another mile on Mount Starr King trail until we reached Mount Waumbek’s summit.
The trail in between summits was an easy hike, so it only took us 15-20 minutes to reach Mount Waumbeck’s summit. The only way we knew we reached the summit was the rock cairn. As I said at the beginning, Mount Waumbek’s summit lacked views, but it was peaceful!
We ate lunch on Mount Waumbek’s summit before beginning our descent on Starr King Trail. Because the trail was well maintained and our footing was great, we jogged a bit down the trail. We made it back down in an hour! We got to our car at 1:00 PM, so we beat our ascent by a half hour!
Mount Waumbek is a great beginner 4,000-foot hike if you are looking for one! The drive to the Starr King trailhead has beautiful views as well!
Have you hiked Mount Starr King and Mount Waumbek? Do you agree Mount Waumbek is one of the easier 4,000 footers?
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!