Trying to climb the 4000-footers in one year makes it tough to sync up with friends to do the climbs with. As such, most of my climbs were solo missions over long stretches. But for Carrigain, I got to climb with my old buddy Jonathan, and the two of us made good time on what was and absolutely beautiful day in the White Mountains. Because of the quick clip of our pace, I didn’t take many pictures until we arrived at the summit, but I can tell you that the first couple of miles are a nice, easy grade. After that it gets a bit challenging, but if you’ve climbed a bunch of the 4000-footers, it won’t be a problem. Carrigain feels like a good one to tackle around the halfway point of your list.
The Signal Ridge Trail
The way up to Carrigain is a straight shot up the Signal Ridge Trail. Running about 5 miles in length, it’s longer than plenty of single mountain ascents in the Whites, but easier on the legs than, say, Lafayette or Madison. This one is on my return-to list.
Maybe it was because of the beautiful weather or maybe it was because I was finally getting to share a 4000-footer summit with a friend, but the view from Carrigain had me staring. I’d rank it in the top five summit views I experienced over the course of the yearlong journey.
Observation Deck on Mount Carrigain
At the summit of Carrigain is a grand observation deck, which would be a cool place to sleep out on overnight. The thought occurred to me when I was standing on it, and I later read multiple accounts of people doing it. Hopefully, someday I’ll make it back to try it. This trip, combined with my recent climb up Monadnock with my daughter, gave me a much-needed boost of energy for the remaining hikes on the list. Much-needed because the biggest ones were ahead of me: an unbelievably long hike up Cabot that didn’t go as planned, the hardest climb I’ve ever had in New Hampshire over the Carter-Moriah Range, the Presidential Traverse in one day, and two separate efforts to Mount Isolation. I had a long way to go.
🧭 Ascent Details: Mount Carrigain (4,700′)
Route: Signal Ridge Trail (out and back)
Distance: 10 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: ~3,200 feet
Trailhead: Sawyer River Road (seasonal access)
Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous
Trail Features: Gradual start, steep final push, open ridge traverse before summit
Summit: Observation Deck with stunning 360° views—one of the best panoramas in the Whites
Notes: Sawyer River Road is gated in winter; adds extra miles if hiking from Route 302
Exploring Mount Carrigain: Trail Reports & Peakbagging Resources
This climb feels longer than some other 10-milers for some reason, but not because it’s more difficult. I think it might be that you spend so much time in the forest below. Whatever the reason, here are a few key resources to help through the hike:
- Peakbagger.com – Mount Carrigain – A great place to track your 4000-footer progress, log summits, and see detailed elevation data.
- 4000footers.com – I used this site a lot when learning routes for my first ascents of the 4000-footers. It provides clear details about the trail, how to get there, and a small map showing you the route.
- AMC Trail Maps – I have different versions that came with a more detailed trail book, but it’s always good to have a reliable map.
Want to Learn More About the White Mountains?
If you like reading about mountains, the 4000-footers, and the ups and downs of getting “out there,” come check out more stories at 4000s by 40.
Looking for photos of more 4000-footers? Head back to the 4000s by 40 Visual Companion to explore the other peaks.