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Big Ball Mountain, Black Snoot, Mt. Shaw
Tuftonboro, NH, Moultonboro, NH
Trailheads, measurements, times, distances, and maps are all approximate and relative to the hike(s) as shown below.
Looking up the Tate Mountain Trail
Route: Mt. Shaw Trail, Tate Mountain Trail, Banana Trail, (Big Ball Mountain), Banana Trail, Black Snout Spur Trail, (Black Snoot), Black Snout Spur Trail, Black Snout Trail, (Mt. Shaw), Black Snout Trail, Mt. Shaw Trail
Initial portion of the Mt. Shaw Trail has been recently logged (selective cut of pine), but there's no impact to the hiking trail at this time.
Tate Mountain Trail turnoff is easy to miss (no sign and blazing doesn't start until a few dozen feet up the trail). Trail was dry and snow free.
Banana Trail was dry and snow free to Big Ball Mountain.
Banana Trail was mostly dry between Big Ball Mountain and Black Snoot (I refer to it as Black Snoot, as a very old map labels this peak Black Snoot and the trailless peak on the northern side of the range as Black Snout). Portions of the trail are hard to follow, as the woods are open but there's a lot of deadfall (including on the trail).
Black Snout Spur (carriage road) has some patches of foot deep snow on the east side, but novelty sized. Otherwise, dry trail.
Black Snout Trail from there to Mt. Shaw was initially dry, but then had alternating patches of snow (which generally support foot traffic due to snowmobile use on the upper portion). Probably about 95% snow free.
Mt. Shaw Trail was snow free and mostly dry.
A few trailing arbutus (Tate Mountain Trail, Banana Trail) and trillium (Mt. Shaw Trail) in bloom.
Good to get a 4K-sized hike in without dealing with ice/mud/monorail.
| Hike Ratings |
|
Getting To Trailhead: |
Easy |
| Destination: |
Big Ball Mountain |
|
Length: |
Moderate |
|
Steepness: |
Difficult |
|
Navigation: |
Easy |
|
Views: |
Excellent |
|
Crowds: |
Minimal |
| Destination: |
Black Snoot |
|
Length: |
Moderate |
|
Steepness: |
Difficult |
|
Navigation: |
Moderate |
|
Views: |
Excellent |
|
Crowds: |
Minimal |
| Destination: |
Mt. Shaw |
|
Length: |
Moderate |
|
Steepness: |
Easy |
|
Navigation: |
Easy |
|
Views: |
Excellent |
|
Crowds: |
Moderate |
|
| Hike Stats |
|
Date Hiked: |
Sunday, May 3, 2015 |
| Parking Elevation: |
675' |
| Destination: |
Big Ball Mountain |
| Time Elapsed: |
00:46 |
| Trailhead Elevation: |
675' |
| Summit Elevation: |
2,060' |
| Vertical Gain: |
1,455' |
| Destination: |
Black Snoot |
| Time Elapsed: |
00:40 |
| Trailhead Elevation: |
2,060' |
| Summit Elevation: |
2,803' |
| Vertical Gain: |
903' |
| Destination: |
Mt. Shaw |
| Time Elapsed: |
00:24 |
| Trailhead Elevation: |
2,803' |
| Summit Elevation: |
2,990' |
| Vertical Gain: |
285' |
|
|
| Hike Time Elapsed: |
03:45 |
| Hike Vertical Gain: |
2,728' |
|
The Mt. Shaw Trail trailhead
Cascades along the Mt. Shaw Trail just before the Tate Mountain Trail junction
Looking at the Belknaps from the Big Ball Mountain summit
Yellow violet on the Banana Trail
Looking at Mt. Flagg from Black Snoot
The Black Snout Trail on the way to Mt. Shaw
Looking Mt. Washington from Mt. Shaw
Directions to trailhead: Take 171 southeast from Route 25, past Castle in the Clouds. Shortly after crossing the Tuftonboro town line, there is a bridge/brook crossing. Immediately after this, there is an informal parking lot on the left (maybe 4 cars). The unmarked trail starts at the back of this lot.
Back to Big Ball Mountain Profile
Back to Black Snoot Profile
Back to Mt. Shaw Profile
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