mt whiteface, sandwich wilderness, nh

Route:
Summit of Mt. Whiteface (4020 feet) via Flat Mountain Pond Trail to McCrillis Trail. Start at Trailhead parking lot off of Whiteface Intervale Road just north of NH-113A off of NH-113 East of US-3/NH-25. Trailhead is about 40 minutes drive east of I-93 Exit 24: Holderness/Ashland. Round trip to north summit (4020 feet), which is wooded with limited views and is about 0.2 miles beyond the south summit which offers fine views of the New Hampshire lake country to the south, is about 9.8 miles with a total elevation gain of about 3100 feet on the ascent. There is one narrow water crossing of the Whiteface River near the junction of the Flat Mountain Pond and McCrillis Trails.
+ august 2001 views | from south summit |.

Maps / More Info:
The trails can be found on the AMC White Mountain Guide Map #3, "Crawford Notch-Sandwich Range Wilderness" (K8 & J8) and the "Mt Tripyramid" USGS 1:24,000 topographic map.

GPS Coordinates:

43.88596°N, 71.40447°W, 961 feet	Trailhead
43.89527°N, 71.40875°W, 1085 feet	Flat Mtn Pond & McCrillis Trails Junction
43.93657°N, 71.40776°W, 4020 feet	Mt. Whiteface summit

Pros:
The McCrillis trail is rarely used---most take the rockier, but more direct Blueberry Ledge Trail to the summit of Mt. Whiteface---which makes this route more like a quiet walk in the woods. This narrow trail through the undeveloped Sandwich Range Wilderness is an excellent way to see a northern forest in its natural state. The rocky porch outlook at the south summit of Whiteface (3995 feet) makes for an excellent spot for lunch.

Cons:
The trail can be somewhat overgrown (as it was when I hiked it in August 2001) and difficult to follow if one is not paying attention. In the summer months, when the vegetation is high, this wouldn't be a good route with young children as the trail leads through some dense underbrush upto more than 4 feet high. The yellow blazes are fading (as of 2001) which would make this trail especially difficult to follow with any snow cover.

Note:
This information has been thoughtfully prepared and is believed to be correct, but any use of the trail information found here is at the reader's own risk. Hiking can be dangerous and requires preparation, appropriate skills, and proper equipment.