Mt. Hancock and South Hancock – New Hampshire
In pursuit of hiking the 48 4,000-footers of New Hampshire, it’s always nice to bag multiple peaks in one hike. The hike to Mt. Hancock and South Hancock knocks off two summits in under 10 miles and without a tremendous level of difficulty. There are definitely very steep sections, but the first 3 miles is relatively flat, making this a moderate hike overall. There are excellent views from various overlooks near the summits, but the summits themselves are totally tree-covered. The hike doesn’t rank among the elite hikes in the White Mountains (Franconia Ridge, Presidentials, etc.), but it’s a solid day hike with some nice views and won’t leave you too banged up by the end of the day.
Trail Summary
Miles: ~9.5 mi
Elevation Gain:Â 2,638 ft.
Summit Elevation:Â 4,420 (Hancock); 4,319 (South Hancock)
Difficulty:Â Moderate
Time:Â 5-7 hours
Getting There
The trailhead is located directly across the Kancamagus Highway from the Hancock Overlook parking area at the famous hairpin turn. It is about 10 miles east of Lincoln and 25 miles west of Conway. There’s an amazing view from the parking area, and as such, cars are continuously coming and going throughout the day.
The Hike
The first 1.8 miles of the hike follows the Hancock Notch Trail which runs alongside the North Fork of the Hancock Branch of the East Pemigewasset River. There are several stream crossings and the trails is mostly flat throughout this section.
The trail branches left after 1.8 miles onto the Cedar Brook Trail and then right after another 0.7 miles. The first 3 miles of the hike are very gradual so you can hike at a good pace for about 6 of the 9.5 total miles. You will reach a junction with the Hancock Loop Trail after another 1.1 miles, at which point you can choose between ascending Mt. Hancock or South Hancock first. Summiting Hancock first (clockwise loop) is most common since it is steeper and less desirable for descent. The roughly 0.7-mile ascent of Mt. Hancock is a steep slide which gains roughly 1,100 feet over the final half-mile. This is by far the most challenging section of the hike. The trees begin to thin about in the final approach to the summit, but the summit itself has no views. If you hike 0.1 to the left of the summit, there is a rocky overlook with some impressive south and west-facing views of the surrounding mountains including Mt. Osceola.
After another ~1.4 miles of mostly flat hiking along the Hancock Loop Trail, you will arrive at the summit of South Hancock. The trail technically crosses over Middle Hancock, but this is not part of the 48 4,000-footers list and you would never know you were on a summit anyway. Like Hancock, there are no views from the tree-covered peak of South Hancock. Again, there is an overlook close by that offers some rewarding views, mostly to the east.
The descent from South Hancock is very steep, but clearly preferable to descending Hancock. The first half-mile of the descent is particularly tough on the knees, but fortunately the last 3 miles is a breeze.