Rand Mountain

Length: 7.5 miles out-and-back with loop

Difficulty (click for info): Hard

Elevation Gain: 1600 feet (+300 feet on return)

Rating (click for info): 7/10

Elevation: 1881'

Prominence: 185'

Driving Directions:
Trailhead and parking area are off Wood Road in Gilford, NH. To get there, take Bickford Road from Rt. 11A, 4.4 miles southeast of Rt. 11B and 2.7 miles west of Rt. 11. Heading east, Bickford road is the first right after the Gunstock Mountain Ski Area entrance. Drive 0.2 miles down Bickford Road, then turn left onto Wood Road. Just a short distance up the road, turn left into a parking area with spaces for five cars. Click here for a Google map.

About the Hike:
Rand Mountain is located in the central Belknap Range. It has a very limited view and will likely be visited only by those who are trying to achieve the Belknap Range Hiker patch. It is best summited on a trip to Mts. Mack and Klem. A description of the side trip to Rand Mountain is provided here. Follow the directions for that hike to the trail junction near the summit of Mt. Klem. Turn right onto Dave Roberts Quarry Trail. The trail descends over rock and soon begins to drop rapidly, passing through a stone wall. After crossing a narrow col, the trail starts to ascend even more steeply. A short scramble brings you to several switchbacks along a precarious, rocky path. The trail then drops slightly and swings around the mountainside to a limited viewpoint to the south. A short walk brings you up to the viewless summit, marked with a wooden sign. The total distance for the side trip from Mt. Klem to Rand Mountain is 1.2 miles out-and-back.

Printable directions page