Prospect Mountain

Length: 1.6 miles out-and-back

Difficulty (click for info): Easy

Elevation Gain: 400 feet

Rating (click for info): 6/10

Elevation: 2201'

Prominence: 331'

Driving Directions:
Trailhead and parking area are on Danforth Road in Pittsburg, NH. To get there, take Danforth Road, a dirt road, off Rt. 3, 5.6 miles north of Rt. 145. Bear right twice to stay on Danforth Road. After 1.0 mile, the road turns sharply to the left and climbs up a very steep but short hill. Use caution; small cars and/or two-wheel drive vehicles may not be able to climb this hill. Continue up the dirt road 0.2 miles, passing a driveway on the right, until the road ends at a fork. Drive up the right fork (actually a private driveway) a short distance to a small pull-off on the right, marked with a brown parking sign.

About the Hike:
Prospect Mountain is a little-known hiking destination traversed by the 165-mile Cohos Trail. Although unattractive itself, a clearing at the top yields a wonderful lake and mountain vista. From the small parking spot, walk back down the road to the fork, and proceed up the other fork to a hidden trail sign on the right side. This trail (Boundary Line Trail) climbs through the woods parallel to the driveway. In 0.1 miles, the trail turns left, away from a house at the top of the driveway, and travels a short distance to an ATV trail. Turn right as the trail joins the ATV trail. The climb is moderate and just over half a mile long, with switchbacks on the upper part. At the summit, follow an unmarked spur on the right (marked with three yellow dots just before a sign for the Cohos Trail) through a patch of trees to a gravel lot. The clearing has a 180-degree view to the east, overlooking the First Connecticut Lake. Directly across the lake is Magalloway Mountain, the most easily recognizable peak in the area. To the northeast of Magalloway are Diamond Ridge and Stub Hill, and to the north are the Boundary Mountains. In the other direction, the view extends southwest to Vermont.

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