Grafton Loop Trail
Near Sunday River Whitecap · Maine
Grafton Loop Trail is a trail in New Hampshire's North Country, climbing about 5,350 ft from its lower end to the Appalachian Trail junction. Part of it is above treeline.
Map length
11.3 mi
Climb from the low end
5,374 ft
Book time up / down (from map miles)
8 h 21 min / 6 h 41 min
High point
4,182 ft
Above treeline
0.1 mi
Steepest ¼ mile
2,168 ft/mi
Stream crossings
2
Low point
705 ft
Measured on the map. The AMC guide and Forest Service figures usually run 5 to 15% longer.
Grafton Loop Trail Above treeline
Mile by mile (map miles)
From Lower end (the lower end) to Appalachian Trail junction.
- 0.0Lower end
- 0.1Bridge over Bear River
- 1.5Bald Mountain Campsite
- 2.3Bald Mountain
- 4.0Stowe Mountain
- 5.5Leaves the trees: exposed above treeline
- 5.7Sunday River Whitecap
- 5.7Back below treeline
- 6.7Miles Notch
- 8.6Crosses a stream
- 11.1Old Speck Mountain
- 11.3Junction with Appalachian Trail
Distances and book times (map miles)
To Bald Mountain Campsite
1.50 mi (total 1.50) · ↑641 ↓27 ft · 1 h 4 min / 46 min
To Bald Mountain
0.82 mi (total 2.32) · ↑735 ↓7 ft · 47 min / 25 min
To Stowe Mountain
1.72 mi (total 4.04) · ↑1,009 ↓383 ft · 1 h 22 min / 1 h 3 min
To Sunday River Whitecap
1.62 mi (total 5.66) · ↑839 ↓188 ft · 1 h 14 min / 54 min
To Old Speck Mountain
5.42 mi (total 11.08) · ↑2,140 ↓1,310 ft · 3 h 47 min / 3 h 22 min
To Appalachian Trail junction
0.24 mi (total 11.32) · ↑1 ↓114 ft · 7 min / 11 min
| From | To | Map miles | Total | Climb ↑ / ↓ | Time ↑ / ↓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lower end | Bald Mountain Campsite | 1.50 | 1.50 | 641 / 27 ft | 1 h 4 min / 46 min |
| Bald Mountain Campsite | Bald Mountain | 0.82 | 2.32 | 735 / 7 ft | 47 min / 25 min |
| Bald Mountain | Stowe Mountain | 1.72 | 4.04 | 1,009 / 383 ft | 1 h 22 min / 1 h 3 min |
| Stowe Mountain | Sunday River Whitecap | 1.62 | 5.66 | 839 / 188 ft | 1 h 14 min / 54 min |
| Sunday River Whitecap | Old Speck Mountain | 5.42 | 11.08 | 2,140 / 1,310 ft | 3 h 47 min / 3 h 22 min |
| Old Speck Mountain | Appalachian Trail junction | 0.24 | 11.32 | 1 / 114 ft | 7 min / 11 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.
Connecting trails
Packing for fall? The fall gear guide has the full list.
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.