Clark Trail
To Mount Cardigan · New Hampshire
Clark Trail is a trail in southern and western New Hampshire, climbing about 1,750 ft from its lower end to Mount Cardigan. Part of it is above treeline.
Map length
2.6 mi
Climb from the low end
1,764 ft
Book time up / down (from map miles)
2 h 12 min / 1 h 22 min
High point
3,122 ft
Above treeline
0.1 mi
Steepest ¼ mile
1,501 ft/mi
Stream crossings
1
Low point
1,384 ft
Measured on the map. The AMC guide and Forest Service figures usually run 5 to 15% longer. The mapped trail stops just short of the summit of Mount Cardigan; these figures end there.
Clark Trail Above treeline
Mile by mile (map miles)
From Lower end (the lower end) to Mount Cardigan.
- 0.0Lower end
- 0.2Bridge over Clark Brook
- 0.3Junction with Woodland Trail
- 0.6Junction with Woodland Trail
- 0.9Junction with Woodland Trail
- 1.6Junction with Vistamont Trail
- 1.9Junction with Cathedral Forest Trail
- 2.2Junction with Alexandria Ski Trail and Hurricane Gap Trail
- 2.5Junction with South Ridge Trail
- 2.5Leaves the trees: exposed above treeline
- 2.6Mount Cardigan
- 2.6Junction with Holt Trail, Mowglis Trail and West Ridge Trail
Distances and book times (map miles)
To Clark Trail; Woodland Trail and Woodland Trail junction (mile 0.3)
0.30 mi (total 0.30) · ↑32 ↓58 ft · 10 min / 11 min
To Clark Trail; Woodland Trail junction
0.32 mi (total 0.62) · ↑154 ↓5 ft · 14 min / 10 min
To Clark Trail; Woodland Trail and Woodland Trail junction (mile 0.9)
0.25 mi (total 0.87) · ↑11 ↓15 ft · 8 min / 8 min
To Vistamont Trail junction
0.74 mi (total 1.61) · ↑489 ↓9 ft · 37 min / 22 min
To Cathedral Forest Trail junction
0.25 mi (total 1.86) · ↑189 ↓0 ft · 13 min / 8 min
To Alexandria Ski Trail junction
0.32 mi (total 2.18) · ↑292 ↓0 ft · 19 min / 10 min
To South Ridge Trail junction
0.32 mi (total 2.50) · ↑354 ↓0 ft · 20 min / 10 min
To Mount Cardigan
0.14 mi (total 2.64) · ↑208 ↓0 ft · 10 min / 4 min
| From | To | Map miles | Total | Climb ↑ / ↓ | Time ↑ / ↓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lower end | Clark Trail; Woodland Trail and Woodland Trail junction (mile 0.3) | 0.30 | 0.30 | 32 / 58 ft | 10 min / 11 min |
| Clark Trail; Woodland Trail and Woodland Trail junction (mile 0.3) | Clark Trail; Woodland Trail junction | 0.32 | 0.62 | 154 / 5 ft | 14 min / 10 min |
| Clark Trail; Woodland Trail junction | Clark Trail; Woodland Trail and Woodland Trail junction (mile 0.9) | 0.25 | 0.87 | 11 / 15 ft | 8 min / 8 min |
| Clark Trail; Woodland Trail and Woodland Trail junction (mile 0.9) | Vistamont Trail junction | 0.74 | 1.61 | 489 / 9 ft | 37 min / 22 min |
| Vistamont Trail junction | Cathedral Forest Trail junction | 0.25 | 1.86 | 189 / 0 ft | 13 min / 8 min |
| Cathedral Forest Trail junction | Alexandria Ski Trail junction | 0.32 | 2.18 | 292 / 0 ft | 19 min / 10 min |
| Alexandria Ski Trail junction | South Ridge Trail junction | 0.32 | 2.50 | 354 / 0 ft | 20 min / 10 min |
| South Ridge Trail junction | Mount Cardigan | 0.14 | 2.64 | 208 / 0 ft | 10 min / 4 min |
↑ walking from Lower end; ↓ 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 report1 incident recorded on this trail: Mount Cardigan safety record
Recent trip reports
No reports on this trail in the last 30 days; the latest are below. From hikers on New England Trail Conditions.
- Sun, Sep 6WetDry
Water crossings: All legitimate water crossings had bridges, though several trail sections were like rivers, with running water down them.
Full report on NETC
Connecting trails
What to bring
From the summit forecast, Sat to MonPaid links. Backcountry.com pays me if you buy.
45 mph
Summit gusts
Waterproof shell
Daytime gusts near 45 mph and up to a 83% chance of rain. A shell blocks both.
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: Fall 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.