Sandwich Dome and Jennings Peak via Sandwich Mountain Trail
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Sandwich Dome and Jennings Peak via Sandwich Mountain Trail Details
Trail: Sandwich Mountain Trail > Drakes Brook Trail
Miles: 8.5 miles
Hours: 4.5 hours hiking; 5.5 hours total
Sandwich Dome and Jennings Peak Loop Overview
Sandwich Dome (3,992’) and Jennings Peak (3,493’) are near Waterville Valley and are two of the tallest mountains on the 52 With a View List. Sandwich Dome is only a few feet short of being a 4,000-footer! Since the summits are only a mile apart, people hike them together as a loop. Both Jennings Peak and Sandwich Dome offer breathtaking views overlooking the surrounding mountains, landing them on the list.
NOTE: I recommend hiking this loop counterclockwise to ascend Sandwich Mountain Trail and descend Drakes Brook Trail. Sandwich Mountain Trail is the steeper of the two, so it is easier to hike up it. The loop also has some river crossings at the beginning of Sandwich Mountain Trail and the end of Drakes Brook Trail, which are easy to cross when the water level is low.
Sandwich Dome and Jennings Peak via Sandwich Mountain Trail Guide
August 29, 2024
**Always remember to leave no trace. It is crucial to pack out what you pack in and throw away your trash properly.
Jennings Peak and Sandwich Dome had been on my summer bucket list, and I was excited to check them off my 52 With a View List! I never heard much about them, which means it was the perfect trail to enjoy without crowds.
My friend and I decided to hike the Sandwich Dome and Jennings Peak Loop on a beautiful Thursday in late August. Surprisingly, the weather had been pretty cool, and the higher summits were already below 30 degrees with the wind chill. This Thursday was a little warmer, so we were excited to spend the day in the mountains!
We started our hike at the Sandwich Mountain Trailhead near Waterville Valley around 9:00 AM, and we were only two of four cars in the parking lot. We only saw one other group of hikers on the hike, which was great! We decided to hike the loop counterclockwise to ascend the steeper trail, which was the right choice.
At first, we started hiking along the Drakes Brook Trail because we did not realize the Sandwich Mountain Trail began on the other side of the parking lot. Sandwich Mountain Trail was difficult to find, but we walked away from the parking lot towards the road and saw the Sandwich Mountain Trail sign to our left.
Within the first few minutes of our hike, we descended towards Drake Brook and crossed the river. It was easy to cross because the water was low due to the lack of recent rain storms, and the river had plenty of rocks to hop our way across.
The next two miles along Sandwich Mountain Trail were uneventful, steeply gaining elevation. There was no wind, making the trail very quiet, which was so nice. I do not think I have ever hiked on a day where it was that calm!
After about two miles, we came to a stunning overlook near Noon Peak. The views were incredible, overlooking the surrounding mountains, and we stopped there for a quick break from the elevation before continuing towards Jennings Peak.
After Noon Peak, the trail flattened out for the next mile, and we passed the Drakes Brook Trail before we got to the Jennings Peak Spur. We turned right at the small sign pointing to Jennings Peak and climbed the steep trail to the summit.
The views from Jennings Peak were my favorite along the hike because they were breathtaking! The overlook near the summit was not huge but had plenty of room for us and another group of hikers to enjoy a break. This group of hikers were the only other people we saw along the entire hike!
We stayed on Jennings Peak for about a half-hour, enjoying our snacks and the views. Even though it was not windy, the temperature at the summit started to cool off quickly, so before we got too cold, we packed up and began our hike to Sandwich Dome.
After descending Jennings Peak Spur, we turned right to continue on Sandwich Mountain Trail. The next half-mile was relatively flat, bringing us to the Smarts Brook Trail Junction. This trail junction did not have a sign pointing towards Sandwich Dome, but we knew to continue straight on Sandwich Mountain Trail to make the final push to the summit.
The final half-mile to Sandwich Dome was steep, but we were at the top before we knew it! Sandwich Dome did not have as big of an overlook as Jennings Peak, but the views were still spectacular. We stayed at the summit for about a half hour, enjoying more snacks and views. The sun was out, and the wind was nonexistent, so we loved relaxing on Sandwich Dome.
Once we finished, we began our descent on Sandwich Mountain Trail, hiking back the way we came. After a mile, we arrived at the Drakes Brook Trail junction, where we turned right to descend it. We could have descended the Sandwich Mountain Trail, but we read that Drakes Brook Trail was more gradual, so we decided to hike the loop.
The first mile of our descent on Drakes Brook Trail was the steepest, but the trail quickly flattened out as we approached the river. This trail is not well-marked, and we got confused in a few areas of our descent near the river.
At one point, we were hiking on the side of the river and missed the left turn to continue on the trail. We backtracked and found it because we had a map, but it was easy to miss. Once we were back on the trail, the Drakes Brook Trail became easy to follow, and we flew along the rest of the descent.
Just before we reached the parking lot, the trail crossed Drakes Brook again. Since the water was low, it was easy to rock-hop across and walk the final bit of trail to the parking lot.
The Sandwich Dome and Jennings Peak Loop was a super fun hike with stunning views, and we could not have asked for a better day.
Have you hiked Sandwich Dome and Jennings Peak?
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!