The loop over Red Rock Mountain, one of the best hikes in the Caribou-Speckled Mountain Wilderness, is little-known to most hikers. Though it never rises above 2,240 ft., this 10.3 mile trek packs a punch with 2,900 ft. of elevation gain accomplished with many ups and downs. The centerpiece is the airy viewpoint atop the great south-facing cliff of Red Rock Mountain. Along the way there is a traverse through the wild terrain of Miles Notch, two miles of ridge walking through varied forest, additional views at the ledgy summit of Red Rock, and a steep descent through the valley of Great Brook. Solitude is likely in this remote country; I saw no one on the entire full day hike. My last trip over this loop was on a glorious spring day 15 years ago, in the good company of John Gutowski and John "1HappyHiker" Compton. I was overdue for a re-visit, and I also needed to check out a report on newenglandtrailconditions.com of difficult trail-finding on Miles Notch Trail due to recent logging.
Starting on the south end of Miles Notch Trail from the "out there" trailhead on Hut Rd.
The area affected by last winter's logging is where the trail descends 400 ft. into the Beaver Brook valley after a 500-ft. ascent over a ridge. (Talk about a PUD!) The trail is indeed hard to follow here as it crosses and recrosses a skid road in the logged area. This section is about 0.1 mile long. A few new blazes will help greatly. (Overall, the trail is very well blazed up to the Wilderness boundary on the north side of Miles Notch.)
Nice easy climb up the lower part of Beaver Brook valley.
Beautiful mature hardwood forest, higher in the valley.
The trail runs under the impressive cliffs on the west side of Miles Notch. In summer you get only veiled glimpses of them. Much better looks when the leaves are down.
The floor of Miles Notch is a wild place.
Another peek at the cliffs.
Boulder with a ferny coat.
A gorgeous hardwood glade on the north side of the notch.
Into the Wilderness. Oddly, while the ridge on the west side of Miles Notch is within the Wilderness boundary, the cliffs and floor are not.
Onto the Red Rock Trail, a longtime favorite.
Crossing a headwater of Miles Brook.
Ascending the north slope of Miles Knob through more nice hardwood forest
On to the crest of the ridge in wild spruce woods.
A very steep little drop to the Miles Knob-Red Rock Mountain col.
Climbing to the east knob of Red Rock Mountain and the hike's biggest reward.
Since I was last here 15 years ago, the side path down to the perch atop the Red Rock cliffs has become much more obvious.
When you get lower down on the ledge, there's an amazing close-up of the cliff that gives the mountain its name.
Looking back up the ledge.
A pretty fine view to the south, looking down the valley of Red Rock Brook. Kezar Lake sprawls in the distance, with Pleasant Mountain on the left.
Looking SW to Durgin and Speckled Mountains. The Red Rock Trail passes over Durgin and ends at Speckled.
A zoomed view in this direction of Carter Dome, Mt. Hight, Mt. Washington and the Royces.
A more southerly zoomed view to Kearsarge North, Chocorua, North Moat, Big Attitash, Passaconaway, Bear, the Sleepers and the Doubleheads.
Looking SE to Miles Knob, which has its own set of south-facing cliffs (off-trail).
Hanging out on a gorgeous early summer day.
A last look down before heading out.
From the side path to the cliff, the Red Rock Trail makes a short down-and-up to the ledgy true summit of Red Rock Mountain (2,143 ft.)
The views here are not panoramic, but there are partial northward vistas, including this look at Caribou Mountain.
A more distant view to peaks in the eastern Mahoosucs and Puzzle Mountain. Tyler Mountain in the foreground.
More ledges while descending to the west.
Butters Mountain looms ahead.
An old USFS metal arrow sign in the Red Rock-Butters col.
Spruce ridgerunning across the long, flat crest of Butters.
Near the summit of Butters Mountain (2,249 ft.) I bushwhacked across the broad ridgecrest to visit a longtime favorite view ledge.
Tucked in amidst scrubby spruces, this ledgy opening offers a unique view across the valley to Caribou Mountain and the Haystack Notch area.
The full spread of Caribou, measuring nearly three miles from stem to stern.
Wheeler Mountain in the eastern Mahoosucs looms through Tyler Notch.
A distant western view takes in North Carter, Adams and Madison, the three Moriah summits, North Weeks, Black Crescent, Cabot/Bulge/Horn, and Unknown Pond Peak.
Back on the trail, more nice ridge walking.
A beautiful fern glade by the Great Brook Trail junction.
New signage.
Jointed ledges near the top of Great Brook Trail.
The upper part of Great Brook Trail descends steeply with poor footing.
Below the steeps there's a nice cascade beside the trail.
The lower section of the trail follows old woods roads, passing the cellar hole of the mid-1800s Butters family homestead. The mountain along the Red Rock Trail was named for this family.
Grave site in front of the cellar hole.
Where the Great Brook Trail begins on a brushy woods road.
Ledgy cascade on Great Brook by the trailhead. From here it was an easy 0.8 mile walk along Hut Rd. to complete the loop.
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