The Rose Mountain Preserve Trails at Rose Mountain Preserve in Lyndeborough, New Hampshire is a moderate 4.5-mile loop hike that features beautiful views while bringing hikers to three different mountain summits - The Pinnacle, Lyndeborough Mountain, and Rose Mountain.
Trail name: Pinnacle Mountain Trail (also called Helen’s Trail), Lyndeborough Mountain Trail and Rose Mountain Trail
Location: Mountain Road, Lyndeborough NH, Rose Mountain Preserve
Allowed activities: Hiking, geocaching, Mountain biking, horseback riding, snowmobiling, cross country skiing
Trail Restrictions: no motor vehicles are allowed, no camping, no fires
Hours: There are no posted hours of use at the trailhead
Fees and Parking: There is no fee to park or use the trails. The parking is roadside and very limited. There is no signage marking the trail
Pets: Dogs are allowed on the trails and are supposed to be leashed at all times.
Accessibility: The trails are not wheelchair accessible.
Sanitation: There are no restrooms or trash bins at the trailhead or along the trail. Please carry out all trash.
Length and Trail information: The hike was done as a loop with an out and back side hike of Lyndeborough and Rose Mountain added. The hike was 4.53 miles long and considered moderate. The trail is marked by yellow blazes that start off few and far between, but increase in placement as the hike progresses. The Piscataquog Land Conservancy has stewardship of this 189 acre Rose Mountain Preserve and hikers will occasionally notice their trail signs as well as some white markers and wooden trail signs along the hike. Local Snowmobile clubs also use these trails in winter and their orange signs are also visible and assist hikers to stay on the trail.
There is no kiosk at the trailhead. There is a map nailed to a tree at a trail junction about halfway up the Pinnacle Mountain trail, however the trail map has been damaged by water and part of the map can no longer be read. Hikers can download a map by following the link below:
https://plcnh.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/RoseTrail-Map1.pdf
The trail started off much like a wide old logging road and climbed steadily upward through the forest. The trail narrowed as it headed up the side of the mountain. For some added fun, there are three well maintained geocaches to hunt for along the trails.
The Rose Mountain Preserve property includes the summit of Pinnacle Mountain with an open rocky ledge area and great views, Lyndeborough Mountain and Rose Mountain. Lyndeborough and Rose Mountain once offered beautiful views, however tree growth has obscured most of the views from these two summits but they are still a lovely addition to the hike. The area leading up to each summit is loaded with low bush blueberries and juniper berry bushes and the mixed forest is full of wildlife and birdsong. On the day of our visit we were able to watch about five turkey vultures soaring above the summit.
