Mount Tecumseh via Mt Tecumseh 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 Tecumseh Hike Overview
Mount Tecumseh is the baby among the 4,000-footers with a whopping height of 4,003’! Mount Tecumseh is part of Waterville Valley, so if you have ever skied or snowboarded there, you were near Mount Tecumseh.
Trail Details
Trail: Mt Tecumseh Trail
Length: 5 miles
Elevation Gain: 2,150 feet
My Trail Time: 3:30 hours hiking; 4:15 hours total
Hike Overview
Mount Tecumseh is considered one of the easier 4,000 footers compared to the other hikes. Although Mount Tecumseh is the smallest 4,000-footer, the trail gains over 2,100 feet of elevation in 2.5 miles. The Mt Tecumseh Trail is the shortest and easiest trail to the summit, but it is a relentless climb.
The trailhead is located in the Waterville Valley ski area, and I recommend parking in lot #1 if possible because it is the closest to Mt Tecumseh trailhead.
Mount Tecumseh Hike via Mt Tecumseh Trail Guide
July 15, 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 our adventure to Mount Tecumseh at 9:30 AM on a VERY humid July day. It felt as if we were swimming through the air (#gross). I was sweating after the 10-foot walk from the car to Mt Tecumseh Trail. The first mile of Mt Tecumseh Trail was a walk in the park with a gradual incline and great footing. It was mostly dirt with some rocks, but nothing that would make your climb difficult. It was the perfect warm-up for what was to come. There was a small ledge after about a mile that gave us views of the ski slopes.
After we admired the grassy ski slopes, we returned to Mt Tecumseh Trail and got ready for some fun!! The next mile of Mt Tecumseh Trail was a relentless, steep incline. This was the most difficult part. Mt Tecumseh Trail consisted of a rock staircase, which provided great footing for the steep incline. However, the staircase seemed never-ending! My advice: don’t look up. Keep looking down at your feet and continue the mile-long journey up the staircase, so you don’t see how much more you have to go. We had buns of steel after the hike to Mount Tecumseh!
After we conquered the never-ending staircase, we came to an intersection. We could go down either path of the Mt Tecumseh Trail since both lead to the summit, and both were the same distance. We choose to go left and were rewarded with a few rock scrambles. Nothing too difficult, but our butts were yelling at us to stop. Once we pushed a little more, we reached the summit of Mount Tecumseh! The summit was mostly wooded except for one side which provides beautiful views of the northeastern section of the White Mountains. We arrived at Mount Tecumseh’s summit around 11:00 AM and spent 45 minutes enjoying our lunch and chatting with some fellow hikers.
We met someone who was six hikes away from finishing the 4,000-footers! Obviously, I asked him a million questions about some of our future hikes. We also met an awesome couple with a beautiful dog (who I pet the entire time we were on Mount Tecumseh’s summit). The guy told us he and his 8-year-old dog conquered the 4,000-footers in SIX MONTHS. Like… okay… way to put everyone else to shame. The woman then proceeded to one-up her boyfriend and told us how she was on the Appalachian Trail for over 500 miles including the 100-mile wilderness alone! For those of you who aren’t familiar with the 100-mile wilderness, it is a section of the Appalachian Trail in Maine where you are pretty much stuck on the trail. It does not have easy access to a town, so you are on the trail until the 100 miles is over. I love meeting people on trails and hearing their stories!
After I was done applauding the couple for their adventures, Alex and I decided to make the quick hike on Sosman Trail to the ski slopes and got some amazing views. Then we headed back the way we came and made our way down. The hike down was pretty uneventful to be honest, but it was quick! Soon enough we were back at the parking lot.
Have you hiked Mount Tecumseh? Which trail did you take down the mountain?
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!