Bunnell Notch Trail
On the way up Mount Cabot · New Hampshire
Bunnell Notch Trail is a trail in New Hampshire's North Country, climbing about 1,450 ft from Bunnell Notch Trailhead (York Pond Road) to the Killkenny Ridge Trail and Mt Cabot Trail junction.
Map length
3.0 mi
Climb from the low end
1,434 ft
Book time up / down (from map miles)
2 h 14 min / 1 h 37 min
High point
3,050 ft
Above treeline
None
Steepest ¼ mile
1,092 ft/mi
Stream crossings
0
Low point
1,685 ft
Measured on the map. The AMC guide and Forest Service figures usually run 5 to 15% longer.
HikerNerd routes on this trail
Bunnell Notch Trail
Mile by mile (map miles)
From Bunnell Notch Trailhead (York Pond Road) (the lower end) to Killkenny Ridge Trail and Mt Cabot Trail junction.
- 0.0Bunnell Notch Trailhead (York Pond Road)
- 2.5Bunnell Notch
- 2.6Junction with Kilkenny Ridge Trail
- 3.0Junction with Kilkenny Ridge Trail and Mt Cabot Trail
Distances and book times (map miles)
To Killkenny Ridge Trail junction
2.62 mi (total 2.62) · ↑1,397 ↓46 ft · 2 h 1 min / 1 h 20 min
To Killkenny Ridge Trail and Mt Cabot Trail junction
0.42 mi (total 3.04) · ↑37 ↓133 ft · 14 min / 17 min
| From | To | Map miles | Total | Climb ↑ / ↓ | Time ↑ / ↓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bunnell Notch Trailhead (York Pond Road) | Killkenny Ridge Trail junction | 2.62 | 2.62 | 1,397 / 46 ft | 2 h 1 min / 1 h 20 min |
| Killkenny Ridge Trail junction | Killkenny Ridge Trail and Mt Cabot Trail junction | 0.42 | 3.04 | 37 / 133 ft | 14 min / 17 min |
↑ walking from Bunnell Notch Trailhead (York Pond Road); ↓ the other way. Book time: 2 mph over the map miles plus 30 minutes per 1,000 ft of climbing.
Trailheads and parking
Bunnell Notch Trailhead (York Pond Road)
0.2 mi walk to the start of the trail
Trailhead
Summit conditions
Today's conditions report1 incident recorded on this trail: incident database
Recent trip reports
1 report on this trail in the last 30 days: snow or ice in 0, microspikes recommended in 0, mud in 1. From hikers on New England Trail Conditions.
- Wed, Sep 30MudWet
Water crossings: All water crossings on the Bunnell Notch Trail were easy. The largest crossing is the brook that drains Bunnell Notch that may difficult in high water. Not high today.
Full report on NETC - Wed, Aug 26WetDry
Water crossings: The main crossing, about a mile in, had low flow, due to generally dry summer, so the crossing was an easy rock hop, mostly just walking along. The minor drainage flows above that were similarly easy.
Full report on NETC - Fri, Aug 14MudWetDry
Water crossings: No issue
Full report on NETC
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.
62 mph
Summit gusts
Plan a below-treeline hike
Daytime gusts near 62 mph above treeline. Pick a sheltered route or another day.
28°F
Summit low
Microspikes
Summit lows near 28°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. Distances are measured from the map and can differ from signs and guidebooks. Conditions change: check before you go.