Sanguinary Summit Trail (#53)

Dogs Unknown

Features Birding · Commonly Backpacked · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

This trail is easiest to find off Sanguinary Ridge Trail (#58), in Dixville Notch. It runs northward along the Sanguinary Ridge, through a forest of Ferns and Birches. The trail passes by a junction with a sign for the hotel (to the left). This spur to the hotel is a dead trail that is no longer maintained.

The forest changes over to Spruce and Fir and gets swampy. The trail passes over the true summit of Sanguinary Mountain (underfoot) and turns left. It follows a singletrack through the woods, then turns right (downhill) onto an old grassy road. It follows this until it comes out to an open gravel road and continues straight.

The trail turns left (downhill), at the doglog, then takes an immediate right (into the woods). It passes by a small piped brook (on the right) before reaching Panorama Shelter. This shelter's name is misleading because it doesn't actually have 360 degree views.

The shelter actually gets its name from a nearby golf course under the same name. The trail turns right and travels through a mushy area with broken bog bridges. It travels over the top of Mud Pond Mountain and turns left downhill. It crosses over a rough and rocky OHV road and continues to descend.

When you reach the next grassy road, look left (on a tree) for the Trail #42 marker. Sanguinary Summit Trail ends, here, at Trail #42.