Pets allowed
Allowed
Elevation Gain
2,669.00 ft (813.51 m)
Trail type
There-and-back
Distance
7.20 mi (11.59 km)
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Explore two summits along this moderate trail to the top of Mount Starr King and Mount Waumbek. The ascent is steady but never very steep, making this route an easier option for summiting a 4,000-foot peak.

Take a peek into the remains of an old springhouse shortly after hitting the trail and enjoy taking in the woodsy scents of the hardwood forest. Just past the summit marker for Mount Starr King, you’ll reach an opening with a view of the Presidential Range and the remains of a fireplace that was once part of a cabin at this site.

The trail continues past the fireplace and eases for much of the last mile before making the final ascent to Mount Waumbek. The summit of Mount Waumbek is wooded and doesn’t have a view; however, a quick 50-yard hike past the summit sign on the Kilkenny Ridge provides a look out toward the Presidentials.

During the 1960s there was a proposal to build the Willard Basin Ski Area, which would have included a tramway and hotel on top of Mount Starr King, a chairlift to Mount Waumbek, and several ski trails. A lack of financial resources prevented this from ever being developed, so today the mountain retains its remote and natural feel. Winter enthusiasts can still enjoy this route as a snowshoe, however.

Logistics + Planning

Current Weather: Powered by Dark Sky

Possible light rain until morning, starting again in the evening.
Tue
74°F
49°
Rain throughout the day.
Wed
66°F
57°
Light rain in the morning.
Thu
66°F
54°
Possible light rain in the afternoon and evening.
Fri
62°F
50°
Partly cloudy throughout the day.
Sat
74°F
50°
Overcast throughout the day.
Sun
75°F
51°
Possible light rain starting in the afternoon.
Mon
72°F
52°

Preferable season(s)

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Congestion

Moderate

Parking Pass

Not Required

Pros

Well-maintained trail. Gradual grade. Spring along trail.

Cons

Very limited views. Seasonal dirt road trailhead.

Trailhead Elevation

1,650.00 ft (502.92 m)

Features

Historically significant
Wildflowers

Location

Nearby Adventures

Nearby Lodging + Camping

Comments

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