Mount Cardigan summit – Firescrew Mountain loop from Cardigan Mountain State Park

Hiking trails & Routes

United States

New Hampshire

Grafton County

Mount Cardigan summit – Firescrew Mountain loop from Cardigan Mountain State Park

Moderate

2.5

(5)

hikers

Mount Cardigan summit – Firescrew Mountain loop from Cardigan Mountain State Park

03:40

8.89km

490m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: September 25, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Cardigan Mountain State Forest

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

2.71 km

Cardigan Rimrock

Peak

3.84 km

Mount Cardigan summit

Highlight • Summit

From the 3,121-foot, treeless granite summit of Mount Cardigan, you'll have an outstanding view of west-central New Hampshire. The panorama includes Mount Monadnock and the White Mountains, Camel's Hump in Vermont, and Pleasant Mountain in Maine.

Tip by

4.74 km

Firescrew Mountain

Highlight • Summit

While hiking Cardigan, it is greatly recommended to head over to Firescrew while your at it, as the views are astounding. Coming from the AMC lodge in Alexandria, NH gives you the opportunity to make a loop that covers both summits with numerous trail options from family friendly to the Holt trail, considered one of the toughest (but shortest) rock scrambles in New England. If ascending Holt, I would recommend not bringing along dogs or children as it is a real challenge. Also avoid it during wet or icy days.

Tip by