Hale-Zealand Loop

These two mountains are near enough to do them both in one day hike. Doing Hale alone would be quick and easy, but there is no view. So adding in the view from Zeacliff is a nice payoff.

This loop can be done in either direction, but I recommend starting with Hale because the parking lot here is free (the Zealand lot costs you $5). Take 93N to exit 35 for Rt. 3N. At the traffic light intersection in Twin Mountain, turn right onto Rt. 302E. After 2.2 miles, take the first turn on the right onto Zealand Rd. The Zealand Campground is on your left, but continue straight over the bridge into the Zealand Recreation Area.

The road takes you uphill with lots of potholes. The Sugarloaf Campgrounds will be on your right, then the Sugarloaf Trailhead. You will pass over another bridge, then the road turns to dirt. There is a gate here which is likely closed during the winter months. Continue another 1.5 miles and the small Hale Brook Trailhead parking lot will be on your right.

Mount Hale

Trip Summary:
Hale Elevation: 4,055 ft
Difficulty: Easy
Views: None
One-way distance: 2.3 miles
Estimated time: 1.5-2 hours up

The Hale Brook Trail begins at the right side of the parking lot. It is marked by yellow stripes and pink flags. It is a steady, gradual incline, but it could get pretty wet and muddy during rainy weather. The lovely, cascading Hale Brook flows off to your right, which you then cross over. It flattens out along the side of the mountain with the Hale Brook down the hill to your left. After a few switchbacks, the trees get shorter and you can view the opposite ridge to your left through the trees. Then shortly the trail opens to a little field with the cairn marking the summit. With trees all around, there are no views from here.

To continue on to Zealand Mountain, you will find the Lend-a-Hand Trail not straight across from where you entered the field, but a little off to the left. This trail is marked with blue stripes.

This trail descends quite a bit over the 2.7 miles. About halfway down there are some rocks where you can see the Zealand ridge straight ahead, Mt. Hale South nearby, and the Twin ridge off to the right.

Views from Lend-a-Hand Trail to the South (click to enlarge)

The trail is a mix of descents and flat sections, as well as a few swampy sections with planks. You'll cross over another brook and then you're almost to the end where the trail T's into the Twinway Trail.

Looking right up the Twinway Trail

Zealand Mountain

Trip Summary:
Zealand Elevation: 4,260 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Views: None from the wooded summit; but excellent 180 views from nearby Zeacliff
Distance: 5.6 miles from Hale summit; 5.6 mile descent
Estimated Time: 7-9 hours

Twinway Trail is part of the Appalachian Trail, so you will now come across many more hikers. At this point, I recommend taking the brief detour to your left for 0.1 miles to the Zealand Falls Hut where you can top up your water bottles. You're gonna need it. You can also take a moment to enjoy the cascading waterfalls nearby.

Continue back up the Twinway Trail, passing where you joined in from the Lend-a-Hand Trail, crossing over a cascading brook. As you continue on, just off the trail to the left will be quite a nice section of Zealand Falls.

Back on the trail you will cross over this stream above the Falls. Much of this trail, marked by white stripes, is rock hopping or manmade rock stairs as you ascend to Zeacliff. After about a mile, the trees start to thin out and you will see a sign pointing to the left toward the view. This is a fine spot for a rest break, but don't linger here yet. Photos will be better in the later afternoon light.

Spur trail to the Zeacliff viewpoint

This spur trail loops around to join the main trail, so you don't need to backtrack. Back at the Twinway Trail, stay left to head toward the summit. The Zeacliff Trail will spur off to the left into the Pemigewasset Wilderness, but stay straight toward the Bondcliff Trail.

Looking down the Zeacliff Trail entrance

Shortly ahead there is another spur off to the left if you like, which will take you all of 0.1 miles down hill to the Zealand Pond with Carrigain peeking up on one end and the looming Zeacliff above you on the other.

Zealand Pond with the peak of Carrigain

The next section of trail is the bulk of the ascent, at one point it's steep enough that you need a ladder to help you out. Then you'll come to a flat rocks section with a view back toward Mount Hale.

From here it's basically a ridge trail with minimal incline, but the distance feels a lot farther than you would think. Eventually you will see the sign for the spur off to the right toward the Zealand summit. There are no views from here amidst the tall trees, but simply a pile of rocks around a sign marking the peak.

Retrace your steps along the ridge trail to head back down. Now is when you will want to stop off at Zeacliff for the gorgeous views. The later afternoon sun descending in the west is ideal for lighting the eastern and southern mountains.

Views from Zeacliff to the East and South (click to enlarge)

Zoomed in to the Presidential Range: Eisenhower to Washington

Return down to the Zealand Falls Hut. On the far side of the hut is a rock staircase and a sign pointing toward the Zealand Trail.

There is a steep but short descent. At the first fork, take the Zealand Trail to the left.

Ethan Pond Trail to the right; Zealand Trail to the left

From here on out, this is a flat, easy trail with quite a few little bridges over ponds and streams. The A-Z Trail splits off to the right, but stay straight following the blue stripes.

There are a few sections with rocks, but this may well be the easiest 2.3 mile trail in all the Whites, a nice way to end a long day. At the Zealand Trail parking lot you'll need to catch a lift or follow the road for about a mile back to the Hale Brook parking lot.

Official Trail Map: (click to enlarge)