Moat Mountain Trail
To North Moat Mountain, South Moat Mountain · New Hampshire
Moat Mountain Trail is a trail around the Moats and Montalban Ridge, climbing about 3,150 ft from the Diana's Bath Trail junction to South Moat Mtn. Trail Parking Lot.
Map length
8.3 mi
Climb from the low end
3,166 ft
Book time up / down (from map miles)
5 h 43 min / 5 h 42 min
High point
3,172 ft
Above treeline
None
Steepest ¼ mile
1,718 ft/mi
Stream crossings
2 (1 ford)
Low point
602 ft
Measured on the map. The AMC guide and Forest Service figures usually run 5 to 15% longer.
Moat Mountain Trail
Mile by mile (map miles)
From Diana's Bath Trail junction (the lower end) to South Moat Mtn. Trail Parking Lot.
- 0.0Diana's Bath Trail junction
- 0.0Diana's Baths
- 0.6Junction with Red Ridge Trail (Orange)
- 0.8Fords Lucy Brook
- 1.8Junction with Attitash Trail
- 3.5North Moat Mountain
- 4.4Junction with Red Ridge Trail (Yellow)
- 5.2Middle Moat Mountain
- 5.8South Moat Mountain
- 7.3Bridge over Dry Brook
- 8.3South Moat Mtn. Trail Parking Lot
Distances and book times (map miles)
To Red Ridge Trail (Orange) junction
0.58 mi (total 0.58) · ↑145 ↓2 ft · 22 min / 17 min
To Attitash Trail junction
1.18 mi (total 1.76) · ↑315 ↓0 ft · 45 min / 35 min
To North Moat Mountain
1.71 mi (total 3.47) · ↑2,101 ↓1 ft · 1 h 55 min / 52 min
To Red Ridge Trail (Yellow) junction
0.94 mi (total 4.41) · ↑119 ↓541 ft · 32 min / 44 min
To Middle Moat Mountain
0.80 mi (total 5.21) · ↑327 ↓282 ft · 34 min / 32 min
To South Moat Mountain
0.56 mi (total 5.77) · ↑96 ↓138 ft · 20 min / 21 min
To South Moat Mtn. Trail Parking Lot
2.51 mi (total 8.28) · ↑58 ↓2,156 ft · 1 h 17 min / 2 h 20 min
| From | To | Map miles | Total | Climb ↑ / ↓ | Time ↑ / ↓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diana's Bath Trail junction | Red Ridge Trail (Orange) junction | 0.58 | 0.58 | 145 / 2 ft | 22 min / 17 min |
| Red Ridge Trail (Orange) junction | Attitash Trail junction | 1.18 | 1.76 | 315 / 0 ft | 45 min / 35 min |
| Attitash Trail junction | North Moat Mountain | 1.71 | 3.47 | 2,101 / 1 ft | 1 h 55 min / 52 min |
| North Moat Mountain | Red Ridge Trail (Yellow) junction | 0.94 | 4.41 | 119 / 541 ft | 32 min / 44 min |
| Red Ridge Trail (Yellow) junction | Middle Moat Mountain | 0.80 | 5.21 | 327 / 282 ft | 34 min / 32 min |
| Middle Moat Mountain | South Moat Mountain | 0.56 | 5.77 | 96 / 138 ft | 20 min / 21 min |
| South Moat Mountain | South Moat Mtn. Trail Parking Lot | 2.51 | 8.28 | 58 / 2,156 ft | 1 h 17 min / 2 h 20 min |
↑ walking from Diana's Bath Trail junction; ↓ the other way. Book time: 2 mph over the map miles plus 30 minutes per 1,000 ft of climbing.
Trailheads and parking
South Moat Mtn. Trail Parking Lot
Off Passaconaway Road
Weekends (all seasons): Full in 2 of 5 reports, as early as 10 am; others found space as late as 1:30 pm.
Weekdays (all seasons): Had space in all 5 reports, as late as 12 pm.
Latest report, Sat, Jul 11: Plenty of room at 1:30 pm.
Summit conditions
Today's conditions report3 incidents recorded on this trail: North Moat Mountain 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.
- Sat, Aug 15MudWetDry
Water crossings: All crossings, even those of the Swift River and Sawyer River, were relatively easy rock hops. Attribute this to the relatively dry conditions in 2026.
Full report on NETC
Connecting trails
What to bring
From the summit forecast, Sat to MonPaid links. Backcountry.com pays me if you buy.
51 mph
Summit gusts
Waterproof shell
Daytime gusts near 51 mph and up to a 75% 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. Distances are measured from the map and can differ from signs and guidebooks. Conditions change: check before you go.