Skull Cairn Trail
State: NH |
Located between the Liberty and Hammond Trails, the Skull Cairn Trail provided a rugged route to Mt. Chocorua.
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| Skull Cairn Trail Details |
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| Also Known As: |
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| Location: |
White Mountains - Chocorua |
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| Peak: |
Mt. Chocorua |
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| Opened: |
Before 1920 |
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| Closed: |
Early to mid 1940s |
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| Reason Closed: |
Likely do to lack of maintenance/use in 1940s. |
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| Guidebook Descriptions: |
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1931 AMC White Mountain Guide
Skull Cairn Trail
This trail, ascending from the mountain from the S., cannot be readily followed by one unfamiliar with it, as the blazes are now obscure. It has two lower ends, each in the N.W. corner of a brushy pasture, and each marked by a blaze. (See map.) They join at a cairn in the N. part of another pasture a few yards S. of the town line and National Forest boundary (red stake). After crossing a brook (last sure water on the trail), it ascends through hardwood and over ledges. Its upper end is on the Hammond Trail about 100 yds. below the Liberty Trail and is marked with three blazes set vertically.
Distances. Highway by either branch to Hammond Trail 3 ½ m.; to summit of Mt. Chocorua 4 1/4m.
1934 AMC White Mountain Guide
Skull Cairn Trail
This trail, ascending from the mountain from the S., cannot be readily followed by one unfamiliar with it, as the blazes are now obscure. It leaves the highway from Chocorua to Wonalancet 1 5/8 m. W. of the Lake at a red ski-trail sign. (See map.) At a cairn in the N. part of a pasture a few yds. S. of the town line and National Forest boundary (red stake) it is joined by the “Old Mail Road” from the Hammond Farm. It soon branches R. from the ski trail, which leads W. to the Halfway House on the Liberty Trail, and after crossing a brook (last sure water) ascends through hardwood and over ledges. Its upper end is on the Hammond Trail about 100 yds. Below the Liberty Trail and is marked with three blazes set vertically.
Distances. Highway by either branch to Hammond Trail 3 ½ m.; to summit of Mt. Chocorua 4 ¼ m.
1940 AMC White Mountain Guide
Ascending the mountain from the S, this trail cannot readily be followed by one unfamiliar with it, as the blazes are obscure. It leaves the highway from Chocorua to Wonalancet, 1 5/8 m. W of Lake, near the top of a Sandy Hill, and follows the Old Mail Road R (NW) to a cairn in the N part of a pasture a few yds. S of the town line and National Forest Boundary (red stake). The Old Mail Road turns R (E) to the Hammond Farm. After crossing brook (last sure water), it ascends through hardwood and over ledges. Its upper end is on the Hammond Trail about 100 yds. below the Liberty Trail and is marked with three blazes set vertically.
Distances. Highway to junction with Hammond Trail 3 ½ m.; to summit of Mt. Chocorua 4 ¼ m. |
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| Images: |
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1934 AMC map of Mt. Chocorua
1940 AMC map of Mt. Chocorua
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| Last updated 2011-08-20 |
| Disclaimer: Data provided for academic and historical purposes only. Respect all signs. |
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