NH 52 With a View: North Moat Mountain via Diana’s Bath, Red Ridge Trail, Moat Mountain Trail
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The Moats are a group of peaks I haven’t done in years. I’d been eyeing a loop from Diana’s Bath for quite a while, and in order to get the mountains to myself, a late Friday afternoon proved to be the perfect time for a run up.
I began at the always busy Diana’s Baths lot which as you can expect, was busy, even on a Friday afternoon. This first part is easy running and passes by one of the most popular areas in the White Mountains. It’s impressive, no doubt, but there are way more interesting features that are more secluded in the White Mountains.
I decided to take the Red Ridge Trail first, because why not. It looks like you bang out more moderate terrain to start which meant more uphill running. This proved to be the case and I was happy I chose this route. I was able to run a good bit before it got too steep and rocky and I climbed up this very steep, beautiful, and open section up to the Moat Mountain Trail which gave me some more steep terrain on the way up to North Moat Mountain. I opted to not do Middle or South given my time constraints.
It was a beautiful early fall day and I got some nice foliage views, but it was still weeks away from peak. The summit of North Moat was windy and chilly, and with the impending sunset in a few hours, it was prudent to not spend too much time up here.
The run down from here on Moat Mountain Trail wasn’t too bad, but was wet in places given that the ledges hold water. I had no trouble getting down in just over an hour from the summit, however.
All in all, this loop was absolutely classic and when the crowd levels are non-existent like they were for me (except by Diana’s Bath), you can cherish every moment of these trails.
Total Time: 2 hrs 47Total Distance: ~9.25 milesTotal Elevation Gain: ~3074 feet
GPS Track
The Moats are a group of peaks I haven’t done in years. I’d been eyeing a loop from Diana’s Bath for quite a while, and in order to get the mountains to myself, a late Friday afternoon proved to be the perfect time for a run up.
I began at the always busy Diana’s Baths lot which as you can expect, was busy, even on a Friday afternoon. This first part is easy running and passes by one of the most popular areas in the White Mountains. It’s impressive, no doubt, but there are way more interesting features that are more secluded in the White Mountains.
I decided to take the Red Ridge Trail first, because why not. It looks like you bang out more moderate terrain to start which meant more uphill running. This proved to be the case and I was happy I chose this route. I was able to run a good bit before it got too steep and rocky and I climbed up this very steep, beautiful, and open section up to the Moat Mountain Trail which gave me some more steep terrain on the way up to North Moat Mountain. I opted to not do Middle or South given my time constraints.
It was a beautiful early fall day and I got some nice foliage views, but it was still weeks away from peak. The summit of North Moat was windy and chilly, and with the impending sunset in a few hours, it was prudent to not spend too much time up here.
The run down from here on Moat Mountain Trail wasn’t too bad, but was wet in places given that the ledges hold water. I had no trouble getting down in just over an hour from the summit, however.
All in all, this loop was absolutely classic and when the crowd levels are non-existent like they were for me (except by Diana’s Bath), you can cherish every moment of these trails.
Total Time: 2 hrs 47Total Distance: ~9.25 milesTotal Elevation Gain: ~3074 feet
GPS Track
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