Hike New England - Mount Morgan and Mount Percival Loop

Diana climbing the ladders on Mt. Morgan's ledges (photo by Mark Malnati)

Mount Morgan and Mount Percival Loop

Mountains:		Mt. Morgan (2220'), Mt. Percival (2212')
Trails:		Mount Morgan Trail, Crawford-Ridgepole Trail, Mount Percival Trail, Morgan-Percival Connector
Region:		NH - Central East Lakes Region
Location:		Holderness, NH
Rating:		Moderate
Features:		Summits, views, ledges, loop hike, caves, ladders
Distance:		5.3 miles
Elevation Gain:		1575 feet (cumulative)
Hiking Time:		Typical: 3:30
Outing Duration:		Typical: 6:30
Season:		Spring
Hike Date:		05/10/2009 (Sunday)
Last Updated:		05/17/2011
Author:		Diane King
Companion:		Seven SDHers

Mossy brook (photo by Mark Malnati)

Route Summary

This moderate loop hike over Mount Morgan and Mount Percival offers great lake and mountain views from each summit as well as the option to experience ladders and caves.

Start at the Mount Morgan Trailhead and follow it for 1.7 miles until it meets with Crawford-Ridgepole Trail.
Turn right and follow this path for about 0.4 mile. Mount Morgan Trail and Crawford-Ridgepole Trail coincide for this section. After about 0.2 mile there will be a series of ladders on the left leading up to a boulder cave that must be passed through before reaching Mount Morgan's cliff-top viewpoint.

The less adventurous should ignore the ladders and continue about 0.2 mile farther on the main trail before turning left to tackle the last part of Mount Morgan Trail, leaving Crawford-Ridgepole Trail behind. After 90 yards you will reach a fork. Bear left/straight to reach the cliff-top viewpoint in just 50 yards; or veer right to reach the true summit of Mount Morgan after 50 yards.
Return to Crawford-Ridgepole Trail, turn left, and follow this route for 0.8 mile which will bring you to the summit of Mount Percival.
For the descent, follow Mount Percival Trail. After less than 0.1 mile you will reach a trail junction, where on the way up one could opt to take a very rough route up to the summit by way of a boulder cave.
Continue descending on Mount Percival Trail for 1.7 miles at which point there will be a junction with Morgan-Percival Connector.
Turn right onto Morgan-Percival Connector and follow it for 0.5 mile to its end.
Finally turn left and follow Mount Morgan Trail for 0.1 mile back to the parking area.

Ladders leading up to Mt. Morgan (photo by Diane King)

Place	Split Miles	Total Miles
Mount Morgan Trailhead (800')	0.0	0.0
Jct. Morgan-Percival Connector/Mount Morgan Trail (820')	0.1	0.1
Lower Jct. Mount Morgan Trail/Crawford-Ridgepole Trail (1850')	1.6	1.7
Upper Jct. Mount Morgan Trail/Crawford-Ridgepole Trail	0.4	2.1
Mount Morgan (2220')	0.05	2.15
Upper Jct. Mount Morgan Trail/Crawford-Ridgepole Trail	0.05	2.2
Mount Percival (2212')	0.8	3.0
Jct. Mount Percival Trail/Morgan-Percival Connector (850')	1.7	4.7
Jct. Morgan-Percival Connector/Mount Morgan Trail (820')	0.5	5.2
Mount Morgan Trailhead (800')	0.1	5.3

Diana waving from the top of the ladders on Mt. Morgan (photo by Diane King)

Charlie waving from the top of the ladders on Mt. Morgan (photo by Mark Malnati)

Trail map of hike route to Mount Morgan and Mount Percival (map by Webmaster)

Trail Guide

On Sunday, May 10th, seven dayhikers met at the Rattlesnake trailhead across from the Morgan trailhead on Route 113 as the Morgan trailhead was closed. There was a brisk wind which whisked away the annoying spring bugs typically encountered. We ventured up Mount Morgan Trail.

The group split up at the cliffs just beneath the summit of Mount Morgan with several eagerly scaling the ladders and waving to those below. Some of us had to remain below to get pictures (or so our version goes). We didn't linger long on Morgan due to the wind and chilly air but caught some nice views.

Lunch on Mt. Percival's summit (photo by Mark Malnati)

We took our lunch break on Mount Percival where it was more protected. There, we attended with first-aid to the dreadful blisters one member suffered which are often imposed when breaking in new boots. Okay, so it was one tiny blister barely visible, but those are the ones that can turn into big ones that last and last.

We descended Percival and bypassed exploration of the cave. Then Diana, the only mom present, received a surprise call from her daughter in Switzerland wishing her a happy Mother's Day. We were all impressed with the cell service as well as her thoughtful daughter!

We completed the hike in about four hours and headed into Holderness to a local pub.

Diane and Diana (photo by Mark Malnati)

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NH - Central East

Driving Directions

The trailhead for Mount Morgan Trail is located in Holderness, New Hampshire along Route 113.

The loop starts from the Mount Morgan Trailhead.

From I-93:

From I-93, take Exit 24 and follow Rt. 3 South to Holderness.
From Holderness, get on Rt. 113 and follow it northeast for 5.5 miles.
The parking area will be on the left. There is also parking on the right side of the road at the Rattlesnake trailhead.

From the East:

From the junction of Rt. 113 and Rt. 109 in Center Sandwich, follow Rt. 113 southwest for 6.3 miles.
The parking area will be on the right. There is also parking on the left side of the road at the Rattlesnake trailhead.

Note that the Mount Percival Trailhead is 0.3 mile southwest of the Mount Morgan parking area. Parking for this trail is at the end of a short gravel road.

Other Notes

Note that this trail may be closed during mud season.

Heading down (photo by Mark Malnati)

More Mt. Morgan and Mt. Percival Trail Reports

View (photo by Mark Malnati)

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