Piper Trail
To Mount Chocorua · New Hampshire
Piper Trail is a trail in the Sandwich Range and Waterville Valley, climbing about 2,700 ft from Piper Trailhead to Mount Chocorua.
Map length
3.8 mi
Climb from the low end
2,695 ft
Book time up / down (from map miles)
3 h 16 min / 1 h 56 min
High point
3,447 ft
Above treeline
0.1 mi
Steepest ¼ mile
1,497 ft/mi
Stream crossings
1
Low point
773 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 Chocorua; these figures end there.
Piper Trail Above treeline
Mile by mile (map miles)
From Piper Trailhead (the lower end) to Mount Chocorua.
- 0.0Piper Trailhead
- 0.6Junction with Weetamoo Trail
- 1.1Junction with Nickerson Ledge Trail
- 1.7Bridge over Chocorua River
- 2.7Junction with Camp Penacook Spur Path
- 3.3Junction with Champney Falls Trail
- 3.5Junction with West Side Trail
- 3.8Leaves the trees: exposed above treeline
- 3.8Junction with Liberty Trail
- 3.8Mount Chocorua
Distances and book times (map miles)
To Weetamoo Trail junction
0.55 mi (total 0.55) · ↑171 ↓0 ft · 22 min / 17 min
To Nickerson Ledge Trail junction
0.57 mi (total 1.12) · ↑431 ↓2 ft · 30 min / 17 min
To Camp Penacook Spur Path junction
1.55 mi (total 2.67) · ↑1,100 ↓5 ft · 1 h 20 min / 47 min
To Champney Falls Trail junction
0.66 mi (total 3.33) · ↑693 ↓2 ft · 41 min / 20 min
To West Side Trail junction
0.14 mi (total 3.47) · ↑43 ↓13 ft · 5 min / 5 min
To Mount Chocorua
0.37 mi (total 3.84) · ↑230 ↓0 ft · 18 min / 11 min
| From | To | Map miles | Total | Climb ↑ / ↓ | Time ↑ / ↓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Piper Trailhead | Weetamoo Trail junction | 0.55 | 0.55 | 171 / 0 ft | 22 min / 17 min |
| Weetamoo Trail junction | Nickerson Ledge Trail junction | 0.57 | 1.12 | 431 / 2 ft | 30 min / 17 min |
| Nickerson Ledge Trail junction | Camp Penacook Spur Path junction | 1.55 | 2.67 | 1,100 / 5 ft | 1 h 20 min / 47 min |
| Camp Penacook Spur Path junction | Champney Falls Trail junction | 0.66 | 3.33 | 693 / 2 ft | 41 min / 20 min |
| Champney Falls Trail junction | West Side Trail junction | 0.14 | 3.47 | 43 / 13 ft | 5 min / 5 min |
| West Side Trail junction | Mount Chocorua | 0.37 | 3.84 | 230 / 0 ft | 18 min / 11 min |
↑ walking from Piper Trailhead; ↓ the other way. Book time: 2 mph over the map miles plus 30 minutes per 1,000 ft of climbing.
Trailheads and parking
Piper Trailhead
Parking fee
Weekends (all seasons): Had space in the one report.
Weekdays (all seasons): Full at 1 pm in the one report.
Latest report, Fri, May 22: Filling up at 8:30 am, then full at 1 pm.
Summit conditions
Today's conditions report4 incidents recorded on this trail, 1 fatal: Mount Chocorua safety record
Connecting trails
What to bring
From the summit forecast, Sat to MonPaid links. Backcountry.com pays me if you buy.
58 mph
Summit gusts
Waterproof shell
Daytime gusts near 58 mph and up to a 77% 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.