The Kearsarge Fire Tower is one of the last remaining fire towers in the White Mountains. At 15 feet tall, it boasts a 360 degree view of the surrounding mountains, giving an experience like no other in the Whites. It sits on the peak of Mount Kearsarge North, which was originally named Pequawket Mountain but changed in 1957. [1] Originally, the structure at the summit was intended to be used as an inn, but in 1909, after it was destroyed twice by storms, the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC), granted the New Hampshire Forestry Commission use of the destroyed hotel for a fire lookout. [2]
How to Get There
The fire tower can be accessed through one of two trails; the Kearsarge North Trail, or the Weeks Brook Trail. The more popular route is the Kearsarge trail located just north of North Conway.
There is a small lot at the trailhead with additional room for parking along the side of the road. In winter, parking is much more limited due to snow accumulation, so you may want to consider going earlier in the day to make sure you can get a spot in the provided lot.
The Trail to the Fire Tower
The Kearsarge North trail is a 6.4 mile (according to All Trails, we didn’t track) out and back trail with an elevation gain of just over 2,500 feet. The trail is rated hard and can get pretty technical at times. There are some incredibly steep sections which we definitely noticed while carrying our overnight packs. The first section of the trail is in a wooded area with decent shade and only a moderate incline. Once the tree cover started to open up we were met with a much steeper slope, which to be honest, was only made pleasurable by the cluster of butterflies that followed us along the trail for a bit. By this point I was struggling and very ready to take my pack off so it was a relief to see that we were nearing the top.
Near the summit there is a sign informing you that you’ve entered a forest protection area (FPA). After this point the only allowed camping spot on the mountain is inside the fire tower.
The Fire Tower
There isn’t much included in the tower except for a small table and a spot for hanging a hammock. The windows that wrap around the room all open and close, which help regulate the temperature but there isn’t any additional heating. We went during the summer and had gorgeous weather on the way up, but there was a large temperature drop that night. Even without heating, we still stayed very warm. There’s no way to make reservations, the tower is only available on a first come, first serve basis. We headed up early hoping to avoid any crowds and secure a spot, but we didn’t really encounter too many other groups of people throughout the day. (Keep in mind this was on a weekday, it would likely be much busier on the weekend.)
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What to Pack for an Overnight
Clothes
This will of course change depending on the season, but in New England where we have notoriously unpredictable weather, (I’ve been in the whites and seen it snow in June before) it’s always best to pack with caution. You’ll definitely want at least one full change of clothes so you won’t have to stay in sweaty clothes after your hike. For staying warm, wool is always a great option as well as windbreakers and other similar lightweight body heat retaining materials. You can read more about layering for hiking here.
Bedding
We each brought a sleeping pad and sleeping bags to sleep on the floor of the fire tower. As if the views weren’t enough, an added benefit of having the shelter is that we didn’t have to carry a tent up the incline, which was very much appreciated!
Food
When planning your meals, it’s important to keep in mind that because the tower is located in a forest protection area, campfires are not allowed, so you will need to make sure to pack accordingly. We brought a jetboil to cook with and freeze-dried meals for dinner and breakfast, along with other snacks. You can typically find these at any camping store, or at WalMart which often carries Mountain House brand. There are no water fill areas on the trail, so make sure to pack enough to drink and to cook with for the entire time you’re there.
Trash
There are no trash bins anywhere on the mountain so you will need to carry out what you carry in. Make sure to bring an extra baggie for any trash accumulated.
Facilities
There is an open air toilet on top of the mountain, however, when we were there it was locked. It’s possible this was due to COVID practices at the time but to be on the safe side, prepare to not have a toilet available. We usually bring a roll of toilet paper and a Ziploc bag with us on overnight trips to carryout any toilet paper or other bathroom products that were used. If you are unfamiliar with leave no trace practices you can reference their recommended bathroom practices here.
Sunrise
One of the best parts of sleeping on top of a mountain is, of course, the sunrise that follows the next day! Although we got a little unlucky the night before with our stargazing plans stifled by the fog that rolled in, we woke to one of the most beautiful cloud inversions I have ever seen. I’m not at all a morning person but I have never been so awake at 5 AM as I was having the fire tower heated by sunlight and waking up to see that view.
After we had finally mustered up the energy to pack up our bags at around 9AM we started back down, running in to a couple of sunrise hikers on the way and feeling a little bit like Jello. After the early wakeup I ended up napping for the entire rest of the afternoon, but we can still call it a productive day.
Final Thoughts
If you’re planning on doing this hike there are a few things to keep in mind. Although the peak isn’t as tall as others in the area, there are quite a few steep areas and sections of rock scrambles and technical spots that can get slippery depending on the weather. And as always, be sure to practice leave no trace so that others can enjoy the privilege of this beautiful location. Happy hiking!
Leave No Trace: When visiting these beautiful places in nature please remember to always leave no trace. If you are unfamiliar with these principles you can check them out here.
Land Acknowledgement: Land of the Pequawket, Abenaki, Wabanaki Confederacy People. You can learn more about whose land you’re using by referencing the Native Land app. Please consider taking some time to look into the history of the area, and if you’re able, donating to local indigenous organizations.
Trail: Kearsarge North (recommended)
Length: 6.4 mile out and back
Difficulty: Hard
Parking: Limited roadside parking available at trail head
Directions: Click here for Google Maps
Camping: Only allowed inside the fire tower
References
- https://geonames.usgs.gov/apex/f?p=GNISPQ:3:::NO::P3_FID:872126
- https://www.nh.gov/nhdfl/natural-heritage/fire-towers/fire-tower-history.htm