Gap Mountain
Location: Troy, New Hampshire
Mileage: 3.4 Miles
Elevation Gain: 1170 Feet
Trails Used: Gap Mountain North Trail, Bushwhack, Road Walk
Views: Views From Summit of Gap Mountain-North Peak
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Hiking Lists: None
Desi and I decided to head out for a quick hike, and I suggested Gap Mountain, a small monadnock with three separate summits. I had tried hiking it a few winters ago but was stopped by poor parking options due to deep snow. We knew it would be a hot, humid day, but since the hike was short, we didn’t think it would bother us much, so we skipped bringing backpacks. The summits were dotted with plenty of blueberry bushes.
The kiosk in the parking lot at the Gap Mountain North Trail.
The Gap Mountain North Trail loops back and crosses over Mountain Road, which we followed down on our way out instead of retracing the 0.3 miles we hiked in.
The woods are beautiful and the trails are easy, with sections like this part of the Gap Mountain North Trail offering pleasant hikes.
This stretch of the Gap Mountain North Trail is also part of the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail. From this side, it’s just 1.2 miles to the end, though it felt noticeably shorter.
The Gap Mountain North Trail was clearly marked with white blazes and easy to follow. It never felt steep, but it still provided a good workout.
There were plenty of old trees along the Gap Mountain North Trail, and the woods felt wide open.
From the north summit of Gap Mountain, at an elevation of 1,840 feet, Mount Monadnock makes a stunning appearance.
Gazing toward the northern section of the Wapack Range from the middle summit of Gap Mountain, standing at an elevation of 1,840 feet.
A couple is out enjoying the day and the stunning views from ledges on Middle Gap Mountain, gazing toward the summit of South Gap Mountain.
I decided to bushwhack my way to the south summit of Gap Mountain, wandering through beautiful, open woods along the way.
The summit cairn on Gap Mountain stands at an elevation of 1,900 feet.
I found an unnamed trail leading down from the south peak and made my way back to the middle peak, where Desi was waiting for me. I snapped this parting shot of Mount Monadnock.
It was a bit warm, so we headed back down the trail and took a short road walk to the car. This is a great little family-friendly hike with views from both the north and south summits of Gap Mountain. I imagine it would make a lovely snowshoe hike in winter, with even better views.
Gap Mountain, the highest point in Troy, New Hampshire, is located within the Gap Mountain Reservation, which is managed by the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests.
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