Baldface Circle Trail
To North Baldface, South Baldface · New Hampshire
Baldface Circle Trail is a loop in the Carter, Wildcat and Baldface ranges, climbing about 3,300 ft. Part of it is above treeline.
Map length (loop)
7.5 mi
Climb from the low end
3,287 ft
Book time up / down (from map miles)
5 h 25 min / 5 h 25 min
High point
3,575 ft
Above treeline
0.5 mi
Steepest ¼ mile
2,438 ft/mi
Stream crossings
2 (1 ford)
Low point
723 ft
Measured on the map. The AMC guide and Forest Service figures usually run 5 to 15% longer.
Baldface Circle Trail Above treeline
Mile by mile (map miles)
From Emerald Pool Trail junction (the lower end), once around.
- 0.0Emerald Pool Trail junction
- 0.1Bridge over Charles Brook
- 0.6Junction with Bicknell Ridge Trail
- 0.7Fords a stream
- 1.3Junction with Eagle Cascade Link
- 2.7Junction with Eagle Link Trail and Meader Ridge Trail
- 2.9Junction with Bicknell Ridge Trail
- 3.3Leaves the trees: exposed above treeline
- 3.5Back below treeline
- 3.8North Baldface
- 4.8South Baldface
- 5.0Leaves the trees: exposed above treeline
- 5.3Junction with Baldface Knob Trail
- 5.4Back below treeline
- 5.8South Baldface Shelter
- 7.0Junction with Chandler Gorge Loop
- 7.1Junction with Chandler Gorge Loop
- 7.4Junction with Slippery Brook Trail
Distances and book times (map miles)
To Bicknell Ridge Trail junction (mile 0.6)
0.59 mi (total 0.59) · ↑260 ↓0 ft · 26 min / 18 min
To Eagle Cascade Link junction
0.70 mi (total 1.29) · ↑428 ↓0 ft · 34 min / 21 min
To Eagle Link Trail and Meader Ridge Trail junction
1.43 mi (total 2.72) · ↑1,550 ↓0 ft · 1 h 29 min / 43 min
To Bicknell Ridge Trail junction (mile 2.9)
0.22 mi (total 2.94) · ↑88 ↓8 ft · 9 min / 7 min
To North Baldface
0.86 mi (total 3.80) · ↑604 ↓86 ft · 44 min / 28 min
To South Baldface
1.02 mi (total 4.82) · ↑344 ↓359 ft · 41 min / 41 min
To Baldface Knob Trail junction
0.45 mi (total 5.27) · ↑1 ↓489 ft · 14 min / 28 min
To South Baldface Shelter
0.51 mi (total 5.78) · ↑0 ↓936 ft · 16 min / 43 min
To Chandler Gorge Loop junction (mile 7.0)
1.22 mi (total 7.00) · ↑0 ↓973 ft · 37 min / 1 h 6 min
To Chandler Gorge Loop junction (mile 7.1)
0.13 mi (total 7.13) · ↑0 ↓124 ft · 4 min / 8 min
To Slippery Brook Trail junction
0.24 mi (total 7.37) · ↑0 ↓229 ft · 7 min / 14 min
To Emerald Pool Trail junction (mile 7.5)
0.17 mi (total 7.54) · ↑0 ↓61 ft · 5 min / 7 min
| From | To | Map miles | Total | Climb ↑ / ↓ | Time ↑ / ↓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emerald Pool Trail junction (mile 0.0) | Bicknell Ridge Trail junction (mile 0.6) | 0.59 | 0.59 | 260 / 0 ft | 26 min / 18 min |
| Bicknell Ridge Trail junction (mile 0.6) | Eagle Cascade Link junction | 0.70 | 1.29 | 428 / 0 ft | 34 min / 21 min |
| Eagle Cascade Link junction | Eagle Link Trail and Meader Ridge Trail junction | 1.43 | 2.72 | 1,550 / 0 ft | 1 h 29 min / 43 min |
| Eagle Link Trail and Meader Ridge Trail junction | Bicknell Ridge Trail junction (mile 2.9) | 0.22 | 2.94 | 88 / 8 ft | 9 min / 7 min |
| Bicknell Ridge Trail junction (mile 2.9) | North Baldface | 0.86 | 3.80 | 604 / 86 ft | 44 min / 28 min |
| North Baldface | South Baldface | 1.02 | 4.82 | 344 / 359 ft | 41 min / 41 min |
| South Baldface | Baldface Knob Trail junction | 0.45 | 5.27 | 1 / 489 ft | 14 min / 28 min |
| Baldface Knob Trail junction | South Baldface Shelter | 0.51 | 5.78 | 0 / 936 ft | 16 min / 43 min |
| South Baldface Shelter | Chandler Gorge Loop junction (mile 7.0) | 1.22 | 7.00 | 0 / 973 ft | 37 min / 1 h 6 min |
| Chandler Gorge Loop junction (mile 7.0) | Chandler Gorge Loop junction (mile 7.1) | 0.13 | 7.13 | 0 / 124 ft | 4 min / 8 min |
| Chandler Gorge Loop junction (mile 7.1) | Slippery Brook Trail junction | 0.24 | 7.37 | 0 / 229 ft | 7 min / 14 min |
| Slippery Brook Trail junction | Emerald Pool Trail junction (mile 7.5) | 0.17 | 7.54 | 0 / 61 ft | 5 min / 7 min |
↑ walking from Emerald Pool Trail junction; ↓ the other way. Book time: 2 mph over the map miles plus 30 minutes per 1,000 ft of climbing.
Summit conditions
Today's conditions report2 incidents recorded on this trail: North Baldface safety record
Connecting trails
What to bring
From the summit forecast, Sat to MonPaid links. Backcountry.com pays me if you buy. Prices are Backcountry's, checked twice a day.
61 mph
Summit gusts
Plan a below-treeline hike
Daytime gusts near 61 mph above treeline. Pick a sheltered route or another day.
30°F
Summit low
Microspikes
Summit lows near 30°F, so expect ice on rock and the upper trail.
11h 13m
Daylight
Headlamp
Sunset around 6:08 PM, so a late start or a slow descent ends in the dark.
The rest of the list: Winter gear guide · How I pick gear
Trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Elevation: USGS 3DEP. Above-treeline areas from canopy height by Meta and WRI (CC BY 4.0). Distances are measured from the map and can differ from signs and guidebooks. Conditions change: check before you go.