Best Summit for Sunrise

[thinkxingu]

Ok, so my fam and I ran up West Rattlesnake for sunrise last year...only to discover that it comes up on the other side of the summit/ledge opening.

Anyone know which summit in the area has the best sunrise?

PS We're in Moultonborough and know Red Hill's fire tower gives 360° views, but I'm not really a tower guy, ya know?

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[camp guy]

A whole bunch of years ago I watched several sunrises (on different days) from the summit of Mt Major. Not a very tall mountain, but a challenge before sun up, but the view of the sunrise was really spectacular. Remember, it can be cold on the summit at sunrise time, so dress accordingly.

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by camp guy

A whole bunch of years ago I watched several sunrises (on different days) from the summit of Mt Major. Not a very tall mountain, but a challenge before sun up, but the view of the sunrise was really spectacular. Remember, it can be cold on the summit at sunrise time, so dress accordingly.

I was just looking at that on CalTopo.

The Bizer map only identifies Mount Rowe, so I wasn't sure which way the best view from Major faces.

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[fatlazyless]

West Rattlesnake Mtn, Holderness NH, about 25-min hike up from Rt 113 has stunningly beautiful ..... ..... sunrise across Big Squam Lake, plus the parking lot is free parking!

[Descant]

When the kids were real young we used to go drifting in the Broads, eat breakfast and watch the sunrise.

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

West Rattlesnake Mtn, Holderness NH, about 25-min hike up from Rt 113 has stunningly beautiful ..... ..... sunrise across Big Squam Lake, plus the parking lot is free parking!

If you read my OP, you'd see that I was looking for alternatives to West Rattlesnake.

Unless the sun has changed its path of travel, it rises behind the trees of the summit, not over the lake—this is it from last year.



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[TomC]

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

Ok, so my fam and I ran up West Rattlesnake for sunrise last year...only to discover that it comes up on the other side of the summit/ledge opening.

Anyone know which summit in the area has the best sunrise?

PS We're in Moultonborough and know Red Hill's fire tower gives 360° views, but I'm not really a tower guy, ya know?

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Check out the Castle summits. I recall a nice east/south view off Turtleback...

[Nautique2001]

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

Anyone know which summit in the area has the best sunrise?

I think I happened on the sunrise watching spot on Rowe a few years ago. There's a short spur to the right off the Ridge trail. The spur led to what might have been a support pad for the old Alpine Slide track. There, someone had set up marked stones as a compass—a sunrise viewing aid, perhaps? The trail starts as a road walk from the Gunstock parking lot, but then veers into the woods.

An easier-in-the-dark option to Mt. Major might be Pine Mtn. It too is very open at the summit with a similar angle of view.

Another idea: The Brooks Fisher Trail goes up the west side of the Squam Range to the Crawford Ridge Trail, then you follow that to an open viewpoint (with bench) that faces Red Hill and the Ossipees. Fairly easy with switchbacks going up, about 4 miles. It might work for sunrise.

[BroadHopper]

Red Hill faces East for sunrise viewing and West for sunset. Mt. Rowe from the top of the old Fletcher Hale trail is also a nice view for sunrise.

The top of Rattlesnake back in the 50s and 60s had a great view, but as someone pointed out the trees and shrubs have grown.

Head to the White Mtns and tackle a 4K! You can't beat spectacular sunrise/sunsets from the peak!

[Nautique2001]

Originally Posted by Nautique2001

Another idea: The Brooks Fisher Trail goes up the west side of the Squam Range to the Crawford-Ridgepole Trail, then you follow that to an open viewpoint (with bench) that faces Red Hill and the Ossipees. Fairly easy with switchbacks going up, about 4 miles. It might work for sunrise.

Revisited Brooks-Fisher this week and pulled out my compass at the bench. It faces due east with an open view. The footing is clear and easy for pre-dawn waking. 4mi roundtrip, well marked, plenty of parking, trailhead is about 30min from the top of Moultonborough Neck Rd. Here's a shot looking slightly NE. It might work for you...

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by Nautique2001

Revisited Brooks-Fisher this week and pulled out my compass at the bench. It faces due east with an open view. The footing is clear and easy for pre-dawn waking. 4mi roundtrip, well marked, plenty of parking, trailhead is about 30min from the top of Moultonborough Neck Rd. Here's a shot looking slightly NE. It might work for you...

I missed this suggestion earlier—thank you kindly!

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