Hancock Mountains

Trip Summary:
Mt. Hancock, N. Peak Elevation: 4,380 ft
Mt. Hancock, S. Peak Elevation: 4,278 ft
Views: Descent, over treetops
Total Distance: 9.8 miles
Difficulty: Easy, except last 0.6mi Difficult
Estimated Time: 6hrs

Directions: Take I-93N to exit 32 toward Lincoln, then turn left onto Rt-112E (the Kancamagus Hwy). Pass through Lincoln and on past Loon Mountain Ski Resort on your right. Parking for the Hancock Notch Trail is at the Hancock Outlook on the top side of the hairpin turn. It's a small lot, and there's no street parking allowed, so you'll want to get there early. But the good news is that parking is free. The trailhead is at the far end of the parking lot.

Mount Hancock, N. Peak

You will immediately cross over the highway and continue down a man-made staircase for the Hancock Notch Trail.

This first section is pretty straight and easy. At about 1.8 miles, the Hancock Notch Trail will continue straight, but you'll take a left onto the Cedar Brook Trail.

Now you're following yellow stripes. The trail is still only a gradual incline, and crosses over the North Fork brook.

After 0.7 miles, the Cedar Brook Trail continues on straight, but you will take a right onto the Hancock Loop Trail. You're still at only about 1600ft, so most of your elevation gain is still ahead. Cross over the brook and continue up the other side of the ravine.

This section starts to get a little steeper, but not much. The trail is covered in roots, so be careful when wet.

After 1.1 miles, you will reach the Loop. Down to the left goes toward the N. Peak, while up to the right goes toward the S. Peak. You can do it in either direction, but I would recommend hitting the N. Peak first. You will start out going down into a ravine with a runoff brook (if it's been raining) at the bottom.

Go left for the N. Peak or right for the S. Peak	Dry runoff brook bed

On the other side, the last 0.6 miles are very steep. There are some man-made steps, but this section is honestly no joke. (And it doesn't help to go the other direction around because the S. Peak has the same kind of very steep trail.)

Towards the top, when the trees get shorter, it flattens out like a ridge trail. You will come to a little intersection with a sign towards the overlook and a little cairn below. This sure seems to be the summit, although the GPS thinks it's further down the ridge trail (but the trail seems to be doing down at that point??).

The little spur trail takes you out to a nice little overlook above the trees to the south.

Views from Hancock North Peak to the south (click to enlarge)

Mount Hancock, S. Peak

To go over to the S. Peak, go back to the intersection and continue left along the Hancock Loop Trail. This is a fairly easy ridge trail, though the trees do squeeze in pretty close in some places.

After about 1.4 miles, the south summit is marked by a signpost with a small cairn at the base.

You can then go down the east side to a rock outcropping with a lovely viewpoint.

Views from S. Hancock out to the east and south (click to enlarge)

Beware of the gray jays who will try to steal your food!

Once again, the first half mile of descent is very steep. Once you hit the loop intersection, continue straight to retrace your steps back down.

Official Trail Map: (click to enlarge)