Pine Mountain Trail is a 3.4 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Gorham, New Hampshire that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking and nature trips and is best used from March until November. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
Horton Center is on private property, owned and operated by the New Hampshire Conference of the United Church of Christ, located on top of Pine Mountain where church youth summer camp is held each summer during the months of June, July, and August. Retreats are also held on the property in the shoulder seasons during May, September and October. When summer camp is in session, hikers are asked not to come on the property (including Chapel Rock summit) in keeping with the safe camp policy and the guidelines of the American Camp Association, of which Horton Center is an accredited member site. During the non-summer season hikers are welcome to enjoy the steep climb up to, and stunning views at Chapel Rock, unless the sign is up across bottom of the stairs at the beginning Chapel Rock trail. It is asked that no one goes into the campus (other than hiking up to Chapel Rock) or the buildings at any time of year, unless prior arrangements have been made with Tim Hughes, Horton Center’s Executive Director. Since it is private property, hikers could simply not be allowed on Horton Center property at all, but that’s not in keeping with the mission and ministry, and the use of the land. They want people to enjoy and learn to love, respect and care for our natural world and especially such inspirational places as Chapel Rock, Pinkham Ledge and others. Indeed that is a big part of what they focus on with campers. It is asked that visitors please respect the wishes to keep camp private and stay on the designated trails which lead around and not through the campus. Also please respect privacy in the summer camp use of Chapel Rock, a sacred place to those who call Horton Center a spiritual home. Thank you for your care as you hike. If you would like to know more about Horton Center and it’s Outdoor Ministry check out the website at www.HortonCenter.org or email Tim Hughes at: thughes@NHCUCC.org
March 17, 2021snow shoes are needed, and I didn't bring them.
January 9, 2021Road was “closed” but we drove up anyway. Beautiful day. Mostly cloudy and not to much below freezing temperatures. Slight breeze. Perfect winter wonderland walk with my PIC and KB, wondrous dog sidekick.
December 27, 2020Road was closed so added at least 2.5 miles to get to the trail head. Short hike to the top. Used micro spikes and went counter clockwise. View was one of the best views. Loved this trail except for the added 5 miles. Very easy to follow and perfect conditions today, clear and snow flurries. Not too cold and the sun was shining at the top which made things warmer. Did this hike with my two kids and dog. Overall, fantastic small hike.
December 27, 2020December 23, 2020December 4, 2020Loved this trail because it was short but there was so much to see. Don’t skip Chapel Rock!!!!
November 28, 2020Ok overall. Road hike was longer than the actual trail. Views not bad for little effort.
November 21, 2020November 14, 2020November 8, 2020Nice trail with short section of ledges and boring road walk. Great views of northern presidentials, wildcats, Carter’s and Gorham.
November 8, 2020November 7, 2020November 1, 2020October 31, 2020First 0.9 miles an easy walk along the road. Trail splits and you can either continue up the road or head right and go straight up the mountain to the top. Highly recommend doing the loop counterclockwise as it is MUCH easier coming down the road than it would be climbing down the ledges. Outstanding views from several view points. Definitely an underrated mountain! Some of the best views I’ve ever seen.
October 21, 2020Fantastic misty mountain hop!!
October 20, 2020October 18, 2020Really fun trail with a couple areas climbing up a small section of rocks. I’m used to hiking in Yellowstone so this was a very different kind of hike from what I’m used to. So fun! Went counter clockwise, made it back to the car in a couple hours. Beautiful foliage.
October 18, 2020One of my favorite hikes ever. Went counter clockwise as recommended. Water was trickling down the rocks as I climbed up.
October 16, 2020Beautiful 70° day near peak foliage. 0.9-mile dirt road from parking area (limited) to Ledge Trail. Went up and down Ledge Trail for sake of time. Very short 0.6-mile steep climb. Gorgeous views (before reaching summit). Coming down Ledge Trail after any rain or moisture would be tricky in parts.
October 11, 2020Good hike. Definitely some difficult terrain during areas on the ledge trail but worth the views. Small dogs were also able to climb without trouble.
October 11, 2020October 11, 2020Great trail, amazing views. Definitely concur with (and appreciate) everyone's suggestion to go up the Ledge Trail (i.e. counterclockwise) and down the other side, as ledge trail has a bunch of bald steepish rocks that it's probably easier to go up than down. would definitely NOT recommend if wet as the rocks could be pretty slippery and dangerous. One more thing, if you do take the Ledge Trail up, there's a huge open rock area that you'll hit when your nearing but not quite at the peak... There's no vista at the peak itself, so do yourself a favor and stop there to have lunch/snack and take in the view. (We had to backtrack a bit after going all the way to the peak!)
October 11, 2020Great views!
October 11, 2020Beautiful views with not much effort. Went up Ledge and detoured to Chapel Rock.
October 11, 2020beautiful short hike! offers many outlooks from different sides of the mountain. has a short steep area that my 8lb dog needed a couple boosts on. love this one! i prefer starting on the first trail off the dirt road so you're going up the steep section and looping around. start on the second trail if you want to come down the steeps.
October 10, 2020Great hike. Quick hit views. Splendid.
