Trails Up the Mountain
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There are 3 summits to Gap Mountain.
The Metacomet Monadnock Trail runs across the Middle and North Summits on its way to Mt. Monadnock. Two parking lots provide access to this trail. It is about 1.3 miles from the South Parking Lot to the Middle Summit. It is about 1.2 miles from the North Parking Lot to the North Summit. The Middle and North Summits are about one tenth of a mile apart. The parking lots were constructed by The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests.
Maps of the trails are posted at both parking lots. Be sure to read the Reservation Regulations also posted at the trail heads. If you leave your car at either parking lot, plan to return the way you came. There is no easy way to walk between the two parking lots other than over Gap Mt. Need directions to the either parking lot? CLICK HERE.
Ascent from the South Parking Lot
From the South Parking Lot, proceed as follows: Immediately behind the sign board at the parking area a yellow blazed trail bears off to the left. (Do not attempt to use the paved road as this method of access to the Trail is now forbidden.) Follow the yellow blazed trail for 4 tenths of a mile to where the trail merges with the Metacomet Monadnock Trail (white blazes). Continue straight ahead on the M/M trail immediately crossing a swampy stream (use boards to cross muddy spot). The trail then climbs steadily through mixed forest, emerging into a overgrown field at .6 miles and then crossing a stone wall into a hay field. Bear left here and follow the wall back into the woods emerging on a woods road where a State of NH Bulletin Board is situated at .7 miles. Cross the woods road and follow the white blazes, climbing through mixed forest to emerge at an open field with nice views back to the west at 1.0 miles. Turn right at this area and climb steeply reaching a rocky ledge at 1.1 miles. An unmarked trail leads off from the base of this ledge to the South Summit. Follow the marked trail (still white blazes) left steeply up the rocky ledge (there is a pathway around the ledge to the right of the ledge) then over a rocky path emerging on the Middle Summit at 1.3 miles. If you wish to visit the North Summit, follow the white blazes down into a swampy area and then back up to the summit (1.4 miles).
NOTE: On returning to the Parking Lot, remember to look for the yellow blazed trail to the Parking Lot on the left just after crossing the stream.
Ascent from the North Parking Lot
From the sign board in the North Parking lot take the trail to the right of the sign board. Almost immediately you will come to the Metacomet Monadnock Trail (white blazes). The M/M Trail in this area may also be labelled the Royce Trail. Turn to the right (west) here, making sure you are on the white blazed trail. At .1 miles cross a stone wall and bear to the left slightly up hill. At .2 miles, you will cross a woods road. Go directly across this road (bearing slightly to the right) and back into the woods. Make sure you pick up the white blazes on the other side of the road. At .3 miles there is a rocky crossing of a stream (Quarry Brook). Immediately after crossing the stream bear slightly to the right, again looking for white blazes. At .4 miles cross a stone wall and turn to the right on a path that follows the stone wall soon bearing to the left and uphill. At .5 miles there is a blue blazed trail to the right (East Hill Farm). There is also a sign reading 'Gap Mt. 1.2 Miles'. The milage on this sign is in error and should be ignored, but the sign points in the right direction.
From this point continue directly ahead uphill following the white blazes. The trail climbs steadily, then slabs the hillside, crossing a usually dry gully at .8 miles. The trail turns left beyond the gully ascending to an old apple orchard at .9 miles. Turn sharply left at the orchard then ascend to come out on brushy open rock ledges at 1.0 miles. There are soon nice views of Mt. Monadnock directly behind you. Continue following white blazed on the rock to cross a stone wall at 1.1 miles and reaching the North Summit at 1.2 miles. To visit the Middle Summit, follow the white blazes to the left down through a swampy area and steeply up to the Middle Summit at 1.3 miles.
Return to the trailhead the way you came. A sign on the Metacomet Monadnock Trail reading TRAILHEAD points to the North Parking Lot. (This sign is currently missing, so watch for the path to the left .2 miles from the woods road at the base of the mountain. There is a M/M Trail marker just beyond the turnoff to the parking lot.)
Revised 8/9/2004