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North Moat Mountain

Franconia Area - NH52 With a View peak guide

1,200 ft Franconia Area
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3,203 ft

North Moat Mountain

Mountain Overview
North Moat Mountain is a 3,203-foot member of the New Hampshire 52 With a View list.
General Info
Elevation
3,203 ft
Prominence
1,200 ft
Range
Franconia Area
Trail type
Out & back
Difficulty
Difficult
Exposure
Medium - sustained ledge walking near ridge with drop-offs in spots.
Typical time
4.9–6.8 hours (derived estimate)
Best seasons
Apr–Oct; winter requires traction and comfort on icy ledges.
Water availability
Yes - Lucy Brook early; little/no reliable water on upper ridge.
Cell reception
Spotty - occasional signal on ledges; weak in valleys.
List status
Current — 2025-06 revision
First Photo & Camera
Mountain
North Moat Mountain
Photo
Photo metadata unavailable
Description
North Moat Mountain is a 3,203-foot member of the New Hampshire 52 With a View list.
Camera
Camera metadata unavailable
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Area Map

NH52WAV area map with summit marker and available nearby trail geometry.

Peak area map

Static map preview

North Moat Mountain: summit area with linked trail context.

Summit: 44.0431, -71.2146

Trails: West Side Road > Moat Mountain Trail

Trails

Route details

West Side Road > Moat Mountain Trail
Distance
8.3 mi
Elevation gain
2650 ft
Difficulty
Difficult
Trail type
Out & back

Current Summit Weather

NOAA / NWS point forecast for this summit location.

Astronomy

Sun and moon timing for this peak.

USNO Snapshot unavailable

Astronomy timing is temporarily unavailable.

Monthly Weather Averages

NOAA/NCEI nClimGrid · summit-specific grid cell
Summit-area climate context

These 1991–2020 gridded normals use the nearest NOAA cell to this summit. They describe regional climatology, not exact summit observations or a forecast.

Winter

Spring

Summer

Fall

0 / 3
Sources & method

Climate reference: NOAA nClimGrid cell nearest North Moat Mountain · 1991-2020 · 0.041666666666666664° grid

Solar reference: North Moat Mountain · 2026

Wind is not displayed: January hourly coverage is below the 80% threshold.

NOAA/NCEI · nClimGrid Monthly Gridded Climate Normals 1991-2020

Climatology describes typical conditions, not a forecast.

Parking & Access

Moat Mountain Trailhead on West Side Road
Trailhead
Moat Mountain Trailhead on West Side Road
Parking notes
Use established West Side Road trailhead parking; summer/foliage weekends fill early. Follow posted WMNF fee/pass signage.

Difficulty Metrics

Difficulty class
Difficult
Typical completion time
4.9–6.8 hours (derived estimate)
Route options
1

Risk & Preparation

Exposure
Medium - sustained ledge walking near ridge with drop-offs in spots.
Weather exposure
Medium - exposed ledges can be windy/icy; forested climb is sheltered.
Water availability
Yes - Lucy Brook early; little/no reliable water on upper ridge.
Cell reception
Spotty - occasional signal on ledges; weak in valleys.
Emergency bailout
Out-and-back easiest; ridge/traverse routes can descend via junctions back to West Side Rd/Route 16 corridors.

Wilderness Safety

Data TBD for this route.

Trail & Terrain

Terrain
Long climb; rocky/ledgy near top with slab and boulder sections.
Scramble sections
Minor - short hands-on ledge steps near viewpoints.
View type
Partial - wide ledge views; summit/ridge partly wooded.
Summit marker
Small cairn/sign; best views from nearby ledges.
Flora / environment
Hardwoods low; spruce-fir near ridge; lichen/low shrub on ledges.

Conditions & Access