August 19, 2020
In the heart of the White Mountains off the popular Kancamagus Highway (NH 112) is this gem of a hike. The main appeal is the location in one of the most scenic parts of the northeast, and the views that this low summit (2691 feet) gives of the eastern side of the White Mountains are awe-inspiring. The hike is two miles one-way to the summit, with an elevation gain of 1387 feet. The trailhead is off the eastern side of the Kancamagus highway, at the turnoff to the UNH trail which is also labeled as Potash Mountain on the road sign.
We started out somewhat late (around 3PM) because of weather, but are very glad that we ended up doing the hike. The trail starts out at a low gradient and then progressively gets steeper and rockier toward the summit. There is a river crossing not far from the trailhead, which is generally straightforward but might become more of a challenge in higher water. After a climb up some rocky slabs on the trail, it opens up into an expansive view toward the east which is a nice tease for the summit views. Don’t stop at this false summit, though, because the trail continues to the true summit for excellent views in the other direction. The last part gets much more rugged and steep than the first parts of the trail. In late afternoon, we had the summit to ourselves and took in the views and rested. I had quite tired legs from hauling our four-year-old up in a kid-carrier backpack. Our older daughter Hanna enjoyed the wild blueberries at the top.
I would rate this hike as excellent for rewarding views without having to reach a 4000-foot summit. Hiking up some of the rocky slabs was also fun, and the views along the way up made it even better. Highly recommended for a quick half-day hike!
This is what the trail looks like about half way 
And this is close to the top
Mount Willard, New Hampshire