Mount Hayes NH via Centennial Trail
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, my blog may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.
Mount Hayes NH Hike Overview
Mount Hayes (2,546’) sits north of Pinkham Notch in Gorham. Although the summit does not have views, it has ledges just past it, providing stunning views looking south over Gorham and the White Mountains. These ledge views put Mount Hayes on the 52 With a View List.
Trail Details
Trail: Centennial Trail > Mahoosuc Trail
Length: 6.6 miles
Elevation Gain: 2,050 feet
My Trail Time: 4 hours hiking; 4.5 hours total
Hike Overview
Mount Hayes has two commons ways to reach its summit: Centennial Trail and Mahoosuc Trail. Both trails are great options if you want to hike Mount Hayes, but we decided to hike the Centennial Trail. The Centennial Trail also runs along the Appalachian Trail, so you will likely see thru-hikers.
Although the hike to Mount Hayes is not overly strenuous, it gains over 2,000 feet of elevation and has a few steep sections. Once you reach the summit, continue hiking about 0.4 miles past it to the ledges to get the stunning views!
Also, the parking lot is off Hogan Road, which is unpaved. It fits only a handful of cars, but another parking lot is 0.2 miles from the trailhead at the intersection of Hogan Road and North Road.
Mount Hayes NH via Centennial Trail Guide
September 24, 2023
**Always remember to leave no trace. It is crucial to pack out what you pack in and throw away your trash properly.
Fall is my favorite time to hike, so I wanted to start the season with a beautiful view! Mount Hayes was high on my 52 With a View bucket list, and I wanted to check out the foliage up north, so it was the perfect hike.
Two trails lead to Mount Hayes: Centennial Trail and Mahoosuc Trail. I heard from other hikes the Centennial Trail is the preferred route because it is well-maintained. The Mahoosuc Trail begins in downtown Gorham, where you have to walk through the downtown and down Hogan Road before turning onto the Mahoosuc Trail. Mahoosuc Trail is much less trafficked.
I started the hike to Mount Hayes around 8:30 AM, and the parking lot only had two other cars in the lot. I read Hogan Road has a lot of holes from the summer rain, but they did work on it recently, and the road was in great condition!
The Centennial Trail to Mount Hayes follows the Appalachian Trail, so we saw quite a few thru-hikers throughout the trail, including at the beginning of our hike. It is always fun meeting thru-hikers!
The trail started immediately gaining elevation, but the Centennial Trail is well-maintained, so many rock steps helped with the ascent. To be honest, the hike was pretty uneventful. It was a long walk through the woods without much going on, but it was incredibly peaceful since we were one of the few people hiking it.
The first 2.5 miles of Centennial Trail alternated from steep sections to flat sections, which I love. Typical New England trails never have any breaks, so I always cherish them when I find them! As we got closer to the top, the trail was beautiful, with moss everywhere and a few trees with yellow foliage.
When we approached the final 0.5 miles before the summit of Mount Hayes, the trail began to flatten out. At about 2.8 miles in, the trail intersected with the Mahoosuc Trail. The Appalachian Trail continues right, but we turned left to continue to Mount Hayes. This section of the Mahoosuc Trail was pretty muddy, with some deep areas, making my shoes very muddy. We missed the summit of Mount Hayes without even realizing it because it did not have a marker, haha!
Mount Hayes does not have views, but we knew to continue hiking to the ledges just past the summit. These ledges were about 0.3 miles past Mount Hayes and were not easily noticeable. The trail markers were few and far between along this portion of the trail, so we relied on the map to lead us to the ledges.
Note: The AllTrails map does not lead you to the ledges. You must continue hiking to the small loop noted on the map.
The views from the ledges were stunning, overlooking Gorham and the White Mountains. The mountains were out of the clouds, and we could see Mount Washington in all its glory. There was some smoke in the air, so the views were not completely clear, but I cannot complain!
We sat at the summit enjoying a snack and did not see another hiker the entire time, which is crazy for a fall weekend! The trees around this area were starting to turn, which made me excited for the foliage.
Eventually, a small rain cloud moved in, and we decided to begin our descent before it started raining more. The hike down was pretty uneventful, similar to the ascent. We only passed one other hiker, so it was peaceful. Soon enough, we arrived at the parking lot!
Mount Hayes is one of my new favorite hikes on the 52 With a View list. The views from the ledges were stunning, and I would love to hike it again when it is peak foliage.
Have you hiked to Mount Hayes?
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!