Gretchen Stuppy Carlson
One of the 52 with a view hikes, Stinson Mountain offers views over the rolling hills of western New Hampshire. This is a relateively easier hike on this list and a good starter if you want a short hike. The path up is mostly in the forest and is steady with some steep sections on the 2nd half of the trail.
Fromt the summit you can make this into a loop by hiking down the snowmobile trail. This is very pretty, especially in the fall with the ferns turning yellow.
Freja and I enjoyed this hike on a fall weekend.
You can find more hiking guide to New England in my newsletter: New England Uncovered.
Quick Look at Mount Stinson, NH
Distance: 3.8 miles
Elevation: 1,380 feet
Difficulty: moderate/challenging
Hike this trail in a loop to make it more interesting. Follow the hiking trail signs to the summit and return on the snowmobile trails.
About Mount Stinson
Height and Location
Mount Stinson rises to 1,300 feet in the quiet, scenic foothills of the White Mountains in Rumney, New Hampshire. This part of the state has smalled mountains but you still get panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
Nearby Hikes
If you’re used to the crowded trails of Franconia Notch or the more challenging climbs of the White Mountains’ taller peaks, Mount Stinson is a good alternative- we did this hike on one of the busy fall foliage weekends and enjoyed the lack of crowds although the colors were more yellow than red.
Closest Towns and Trailhead Directions
The easiest access to Mount Stinson is through Rumney, NH, a small town near Plymouth. From Rumney, follow local roads to the Stinson Trailhead, which is located just off Stinson Lake Road. The trailhead is clearly marked, but the final stretch is a narrow forest road drive carefully. There is a small lot with spaces for about 5 cars and some road parking. We were there at 10 on a sunny Sept Sunday and parked on the road.
GPS Tips / Coordinates
For easy navigation, you can plug in these coordinates into your GPS or mapping app:
Trailhead GPS: 43.8675° N, 71.8032° W
Details of the Mount Stinson Hike
The trail starts from the parking lot and climbs gently at first through a forest of oak, maple, and pine. The path is well-marked but includes a mix of dirt, roots, and occasional rocky sections. About 1/3 of the way into the hike the trail turns off to the right and narrows. From here to the summit it is slightly steeper with some short rocky scrambles. Along the way, patches of ferns, moss-covered rocks, and seasonal wildflowers add bursts of color to the trail.
As you approach the summit, the forest begins to thin. The first view is really when you get to teh summit where you get a 180 degree view to the south of the Baker River Valley. This is a nice view and place to take a break.
From here you can retrace your steps or we recommend taking the trail down following the snowmobile path. About 100 feet from the summit, you’ll see this trail (unmarked) on the right. It is a very obvious trail but not marked. This is a bit more open and is very pretty in the fall with the ferns.
Looking fore more hikes on the 52 with a view list? See our completele guide.
