Mt. Tecumseh

Length: 6.0 miles out-and-back

Difficulty (click for info): Hard

Elevation Gain: 2250 feet (+80 feet on return)

Rating (click for info): 7/10

Elevation: 3994'

Prominence: 1701'

Driving Directions:
Trailhead and parking area are at the Waterville Valley Ski Resort in Waterville Valley, NH. To get there, drive Rt. 49 in toward Waterville Valley 10.2 miles northeast from exit 28 off I-93. Turn left onto Tripoli Road just prior to reaching the town center, following the signs for the ski area. After 1.2 miles, bear left into the ski area entrance. Drive 0.7 miles past the lower parking lots to where the road splits into a loop around the upper parking lots. Bear right (one way) and drive to the third row of parking, closest to the ski lodge. You'll see the sign for the trail on the right side, across from the entrance to the parking. Click here for a Google map.

About the Hike:
Mt. Tecumseh is most known for two things. First, it is home to the Waterville Valley Ski Resort, where it receives the majoriy of its visitors in the form of thousands of skiers each day during the winter. Second, it is the shortest of all the White Mountain 4000-footers, coming up six feet short of the minimum elevation in the most recent survey and being retained on the list for historical purposes. It is one of the southernmost 4000-footers and a huge mountain in bulk, with ridges and subpeaks sprawling in every direction. The northwest peak will likely appear on a future revision of the New England Hundred Highest list, an eastern subpeak hosted an expansion of the ski area called Green Peak, and far down the southern ridges is the famous Welch-Dickey Loop Trail. Tecumseh is also considered one of the easiest 4K's to summit, as the main route to the top is brief by 4000-footer standards, and the trail has relatively moderate grades, although it climbs quite steadily at times over long chains of painstakingly built stone stairs. Its sharp, pointed summit offers a wide view to the east toward Waterville Valley from a view clearing. Other points all around the mountain allow for views to be found in most directions, including some from the mountain's south summit, where the ski area tops out. The upper end of the ski slopes can be reached by a half-mile-each-way detour on the mellow Sosman Trail, which offers additional views on the way.

The Mt. Tecumseh Trail starts on the north side of the drive through the ski area base, across from the first row of parking away from the ski lodge. It enters the forest and immediately crosses a little brook. It climbs at a very easy grade for 0.3 miles, approaching and following along Mt. Tecumseh Brook before crossing it after 0.3 miles. The trail ascends for a short distance on the other side, then remains quite gradual, ascending across the side of a low ridge for 0.8 miles before descending steeply to recross this brook. It then begins to climb steeply, starting with some switchbacks. After 0.1 miles, the trail makes its closest approach to the ski trails, where a spur on the left leads out to the edge. By walking out onto the "Boneyard" ski trail, you can enjoy a wide view east to Mt. Osceola, Mt. Kancamagus, the Tripyramids, and the Sleepers. This point is about 670 feet in elevation over the base of the ski trails. The main trail continues straight, angling uphill over a rocky surface. After a long stretch of constant climbing, the ascent is aided by a string of stone staircases. In about a mile, the trail levels out and reaches the summit ridge, where it joins the Sosman Trail. To the left is the side trip out to the top of the ski area (described later); bear right as the pointed summit is visible ahead. The two trails soon split at the base of the summit cone. Bear left onto Sosman Trail, a slightly easier route to the top. It leads around the steep slope, and ascends to the summit in 0.3 miles with a few switchbacks.

As the trail rounds the corner to the left to the summit, look for a less-used unofficial path on the right. This path leads 200 feet downhill to a view over the trees from the edge of a steep slope. This view looks to the south over the top of the ski area, with Sandwich Dome rising behind the main lift and the Squam Range beyond the southern knob of the mountain. To the right, some of Tecumseh's southern ridges can be seen, including Welch and Dickey Mountains. The view extends over the Pemigewasset River Valley toward Southern NH. Up at the summit, the view offers a unique perspective out over Waterville Valley and beyond. To the north are nearby Mt. Osceola and East Osceola, with Mt. Carrigain and the Presidentials in behind. To the northeast, just beyond East Osceola, are the Carters and Wildcats in the distance and Mt. Kancamagus in the front. To the east, the view extends to Kearsarge North. The Tripyramids are close by, just across Waterville Valley. The actual town of Waterville Valley can be seen through the trees below. To the south and southeast is the Sandwich Range. After enjoying the summit vista, return the way you came down to where you first joined the Sosman Trail. Here, you can bear right and take the Sosman Trail over to the top of the ski area. The winding, ferny trail continues across the flat ridge for 0.2 miles, and then climbs up to a rocky knoll with a viewpoint to the northwest, a direction not seen from the summit. You can see the Franconia Range just to the left of the summit and the Kinsman Range beyond the mountain's northwest peak. Further to the left is Mt. Moosilauke. Off to the left side of the trail, a single wooden bench faces a more restricted view to the east. The trail continues across the flat mountaintop for 0.3 miles to reach the ski area. Passing by a ski lift, it rises to a clearing with a communications tower. Bear to the left and emerge at the very top of the ski area. You can find your way out onto the wide, grassy ski slope and enjoy an unobstructed view down toward Waterville Valley.

Printable directions page