Mount Chocorua via Champney Falls Trail
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Mount Chocorua Hike Overview
Mount Chocorua (3,490’) is one of the most photographed mountains in the White Mountains! The rocky and pointed summit sits in the Southern White Mountains, offering beautiful 360° views, which is an amazing reward after a strenuous hike.
Trail Details
Trail: Champney Falls Trail > Piper Trail
Length: 8.4 miles
Elevation Gain: 2,210 feet
My Trail Time: 5 hours hiking, 5:30 hours total
Hike Overview
Mount Chocorua is among the most hiked mountains in New Hampshire because it offers breathtaking 360-degree views. It has many trails leading to the summit, with the most popular being Champney Falls Trail.
Although many people hike Champney Falls Trail, do not underestimate the trail! The hike to Mount Chocorua is gains over 2,200 feet and has some steep rock scrambles near the summit.
Mount Chocorua Hike via Champney Falls Trail Guide
June 11, 2016
**Always remember to leave no trace. It is crucial to pack out what you pack in and throw away your trash properly.
Alex and I began the hike to Mount Chocorua on a cloudy June morning at 9:00 AM. Alex had previously hiked Mount Chocorua a few times, however, this was my first time! The first mile of Champney Falls Trail was an uneventful, easy stroll with a few river crossings. The river crossings were easy to rock-hop even after some rain. We took the spur trail to Champney Falls and Pitcher Falls and loved the short trail to see these beautiful waterfalls.
After the waterfalls, the elevation gain began. The next mile on Champney Falls Trail consisted of switchbacks which made the elevation gain bearable and not too difficult. We soon came to the end of the Champney Falls Trail and continued our ascent on the Piper Trail.
The Piper Trail junction was the beginning of our last push to Mount Chocorua’s summit. We broke the treeline soon after the junction and began the rock scrambles. These rock scrambles were STEEP and made our legs BURN. We took multiple breaks going up, so our calves could rest. It felt as if the rock scrambles would never end, but it was so fun!
We reached Mount Chocorua’s summit around 11:45 AM just as the clouds started rolling in. We knew we didn’t have long before the rain came, so we made the most of our time on Mount Chocorua’s summit to take in the views and enjoy our lunch. Mount Chocorua, surprisingly, didn’t have many people on it. We were two of maybe ten people there. This is a popular hike, so we were surprised by the lack of people.
Unfortunately, we were only able to stay on Mount Chocorua’s summit for a half hour before we felt the first droplets of rain. We quickly packed up and began the scramble down Piper Trail. I don’t think we have ever descended rock scrambles so quickly before! We wanted to make sure we were in the treeline before the rain picked up. The rain just began to pick up as we arrived at the Champney Falls Trail junction. The trees saved us from getting very wet, and it never picked up too much. We lucked out!
We had to be cautious with the rest of our descent on Champney Falls trail because it was becoming slippery. We decided to visit Champney Falls and Pitcher Falls again and wash off some of the mud we had on ourselves. It was a nice rest for our legs, too! It became a warm and humid day, so we saw a few people taking a dip in the waters. We would have considered doing this if we had extra clothes!
We reached the last quarter mile of Champney Falls Trail when the skies opened up. Luckily, we were almost done hiking and made it to our car at 2:30 PM. We were on the verge of being uncomfortably soaked as we made it to our car. PHEW! We were so happy our timing was on point for this hike. If we started a half-hour later, the descent would have been super slippery.
I would love to do this hike again and spend more time on Mount Chocorua’s summit!
Have you hiked Mount Chocorua? Which trail did you take?
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!