Middle Sugarloaf (2,539 ft) & North Sugarloaf (2,310 ft) 7-31-22

Distance: 4.28 mi.
Elevation: 873 ft. (overall) 1,249 ft. (total)
Time: (with an 8 and 4 year setting the pace) 1:49 (Middle Sugarloaf) 3:03 (North Sugarloaf) 4:20 (Total)
Trails: Sugarloaf Trail, Trestle Trail

This summer my youngest daughter (4) has been asking about doing a family hike so she can come along and do a mountain with her sister and I. So at the end of a week off, we all headed to the White Mountain to take Middle and North Sugarloaf. I have been her before, so I was pretty confident our youngest could handle it and would enjoy the hike. For her it would be the first on the NH 52 With a View list. For her older sister, it would be number 6.

After getting to the trail head and getting our gear on, we hit the trail with the girls in the lead. I wanted them to set the pace because I know I can set to fast of a pace and I wanted them both to enjoy it. They both did good, but a new pack for Liliana (our oldest) and new (to her at least) gear for Madison (our youngest) meant many things were a novelty and it went a bit slow and frustrating at times. There was lots along the trail for the girls to check out, so that helped in keeping them moving on to the next thing.

Two little hikers ready to go

Madison and Liliana in front of a glacial erratic

The girls got to choose which peak we went to first, and they wanted to go to the higher one. This meant going left at the intersection and hitting Middle Sugarloaf first. At the top the girls took off their shoes and socks and enjoyed the sun, nice temps, and plenty of snacks before exploring the whole summit area.

Madison at the top of the stairs on Middle Sugarloaf

Madison and Liliana on top of the stairs

View from Middle Sugarloaf

Madison enjoying herself at the summit

View north on Middle Sugarloaf

Eventually we moved on to North Sugarloaf so the girls could see that peak as well. It isn't as big or as open, but it is still worth the visit in my opinion.

Their own bottles of trail mix were a hit today

Zealand Valley from North Sugarloaf

Family photo time

In the end the hike went well for everyone. As we do a few more hikes with Madison the novelty of all the gear and snacks will wear off and she can focus a bit more on the actual hike. She had fun though, and still had plenty of energy on the hike back down. This was a great pick for her first bigger hike and would be good for others with younger kids too. Lots of other happy hikers along the trail encouraged both girls along the way and were glad to see more young hikers enjoying the trails.

Google Earth representation of the hike

For more pictures from the hike, click HERE

Middle Sugarloaf (2,539 ft) & North Sugarloaf (2,310 ft) 11-10-12

Distance: 3.669 mi.
Elevation: 1,010 ft. (overall) 1,289 ft. (total)
Time: 2:50
Trails: Sugarloaf Trail, Trestle Trail

This hike would be part one of my hikes for the day. I had decided on doing two shorter hikes from the 52 With A View list. This would get me to some new places and allow for some easier hikes and a later start than if I were doing a 4K.

I was the first car in the parking lot this morning, but not by much. After quickly getting on my needed gear, I was off on the trail. The trail starts off following the Zealand River before turning left away from it. Everything is pretty gentle and easy to start, even with today's coating of snow.

Early section of trail

Before too long, the trail gets to it's steepest part. Nothing too bad though considering this is the Whites. With a couple small switchbacks, it works up onto the ridge between the two peaks where the trail splits to go to each. I went left to Middle Sugarloaf first. The trail is pretty nice through here, and after a shorter descent it heads up to the summit. There are a couple spots where you climb up over some rocks and then just before the summit you come to a set of wooden stairs. The summit has some nice open spots and good views.

Wooden stairs

One of the views from the summit

Eventually I headed back down the trail to North Sugarloaf. This portion of trail also has a short descent before it works up around the back side of the summit to avoid being too steep and difficult. The views here are nice, but not quite as encompassing as Middle Sugarloaf.

Trail between the peaks

View towards Mt. Washington

After heading back down the trail and getting back to the Zealand River, I took a left onto the Trestle Trail so that I could check it out. It works away from the river a bit while passing a few large and interesting boulders. Soon you come to a crossing of the river where a bridge once was. The rocks had a nice layer of ice on them this morning, so I decided to put on my microspikes just for this crossing. That was a good idea and got me across safely. The trail then works back towards Zealand Road while passing through part of Sugarloaf Campground #2.

Boulder along the trail

Zealand River crossing

For more pictures from the hike, click HERE