Appalachian Mountains > White Mountains > Owl's Head

Note: there are at least six "Owl's Head"s in New Hampshire alone. The one described on this page is the only one to reach 4000 feet.

Owl's Head is a peak for hikers who savor the journey more than the destination. Indeed, the eight-mile approach hike dominates the experience, while Owl's Head itself has been described as "a mountain with much to be modest about".

At a mere 4,025 feet, Owl's Head ranks near the bottom on the AMC's New Hampshire 4000-Footer List, and its summit is completely treed-in. In theory, one can obtain a view eastward toward Bond by a combination of bushwhacking and tree-climbing, but I was not able to get more than a glimpse. (This may be because I was not at the true summit - see below.) Good views toward Franconia Ridge are available from the rockslide on the western face, but far better views can be had with far less effort by climbing any of the higher peaks that ring Owl's Head on all sides.

Unofficial Trail - Often Unmarked!
One distinctive thing about the mountain itself is that it is the only AMC-listed 4000-footer in New Hampshire whose summit is more than a few paces from an officially-maintained trail. Instead, access is via a rockslide and an unmaintained path. The path's unofficial status is reflected in two ways: downed trees are not cleared, and the beginning of the path is not marked by a sign. The path itself is well-traveled and marked by cairns and blazes, though park rangers periodically make efforts to erase these signs of travel (one fairly thorough trail-obscuring was reported at the end of summer 2005, but usually rangers content themselves with dismantling the cairn that marks the beginning of the trail).
update summer 2008: Reports indicate that, on the whole, the cairn-builders are winning the contest of will against the cairn-dismantlers. There's even a new sign on the ("new") summit (which I don't expect to last). However, the unmaintained status of the trail is making a difference, in that hikers must now negotiate a large number of blowdowns (at least 60, according to SP member "dirth").

[Royswkr points out that the sign for the short spur trail to Mt Isolation was removed around 2005, so Owl's Head is no longer the only 4000-foot summit with an unmaintained trail. But it is the only one whose unmaintained trail is of substantial length.]

Former Summit Sign - Wrong Spot!
Starting at an unknown date (Dave Metsky suggests the late 1990s) until the end of summer 2005, there was a sign and cairn where the heavily-traveled trail stopped on the top of the ridge. This spot was, unfortunately for peak baggers, 0.2 miles south of the true summit. It is likely that by summer 2006 the use trail will again extend to the true summit, but those who care about such things are advised to bring a GPS and/or to bushwhack the ridge thoroughly.

The "view" from the summit

Water Crossings!
Other than its length, the approach is remarkable for two somewhat challenging water crossings. While not especially dangerous, these will be intimidating when high, and often impassible for children.

Naming Confusion 1: Which peak?
The name of the mountain comes from the bumpy shape of its southern end. (You may need to cross your eyes to see the resemblance.) To be more precise, this page describes the 4025-foot mountain having a 3660-foot bump called "Owl's Head" at its southern end. (It's been suggested that the name actually derives from a cliff even lower down on the southern face.) Since the mountain has no other name, and the 3660-foot bump doesn't count for peak baggers, "Owl's Head" now commonly refers to the whole mountain. However, you will sometimes see maps where the southern bump bears the "Owl's Head" label, and the mountain's summit is nameless or completely unmarked.

Naming Confusion 2: spelling
The U.S. Geological Survey's Board on Geographic Names has it spelled "Owls Head" (no apostrophe), but I believe that is due to a general no-apostrophe policy and does not reflect local practice. Although some maps using USGS data have picked up the USGS spelling, the Appalachian Mountain Club, for example, consistently includes an apostrophe in the name of this mountain. Since this mountain is of most interest to hikers following the AMC list (and because the apostrophe is grammatically required) this page follows AMC practice, not the USGS standard.

Geographic Classification
Owl's Head lies between the Twin Range and the Franconia Range, and properly belongs to neither. I have included it on the Twin & Franconia Range page as a matter of geographic convenience.

Getting There

Owl's Head is located in the western lobe of the Pemigewasset Wilderness, just east of Franconia Notch. Access is easiest from the south, using the
Lincoln Woods trailhead on the Kancamagus Highway (rte 112). Rte 112 crosses Interstate 93 in the town of Lincoln.

The most common route is via the Owl's Head Path.

Red Tape

White Mountain National Forest trailhead parking $3/day. Discount pass
Group size limited to 10 people within the Pemigewasset Wilderness. New guidelines will limit off-trail group size to four people [ref: RoySwkr], but it is not known whether this will be enforced on the Owl's Head slide.
Common-sensical Rules on fires, camping, litter, biological waste, etc.
Hunting (in the fall for most species) is allowed in the WMNF, but not in close proximity to trails. Info & permits.
Black pond and the Pemigewasset River are stocked with trout. NH fishing license info

When To Climb

Year-round. Two significant water crossings may be dangerous in flood season, and daunting in in cold weather.
The rockslide may be difficult when icy or very wet.

Camping & Huts

The nearest High Mountain Hut is Galehead Hut, located to the northeast (about seven trail miles from the bottom of the rockslide).

The nearest trailside campsite is 13 Falls, located to the north of the mountain (about 3.5 miles north of the rockslide via the Lincoln Brook trail). AMC campsite info

Backcountry Camping is allowed, subject to the usual rules:
Unless otherwise posted, you may camp:

Below treeline (where trees are 8 feet or taller).
At least 200 feet from the trail and water sources.
At least a quarter of a mile from any road or facility (ie, campsite, platform, shelter, hut).

Additional rule within the Pemigewasset wilderness:
Maximum group size 10 people.
No camping within Franconia Notch State Park (except at Lafayette Campground).

Roadside Campgrounds
These are abundant in New Hampshire. The nearest is Hancock Campground, located near the Lincoln Woods trailhead. Reservations

Mountain Conditions

Due to low altitudes and thick tree cover, expect milder conditions on this hike than for most WMNF peaks.
Water is plentiful for most of the hike since the trail follows brooks all the way to the rockslide.

External Links

HikeNH: Owl's Head Routes Overview
With some interesting history, including the recent uncertainty about the location of the summit.

Images



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