TRIP REPORT - Kilburn Crags (Littleton, NH)

    There aren’t much for hikes in Littleton NH, in fact, for years I thought there were none. With there being such spectacular views in the area, including leaving town on the highway or driving down Main Street in neighboring Bethlehem, you would expect some kind of view from the quaint little village of Littleton. Well it turns out there is.

    Kilburn Crags, a spot popular with locals and people in the know, is seldom visited by your average vacationers. Its trailhead is too hidden in plain sight to catch the eye of those not looking for it, plus, unless you’re heading to the hospital you wouldn’t even drive by it. Unfortunately there are only a couple of parking spots in the tiny lot but on a brighter note it is clearly marked so you’ll know you’re in the right place.

    The easiest way to get there, go to the hospital in Littleton. Just follow the signs. From downtown you’ll want to go up Main Street, stay straight at the funky little Y shaped intersection and continue along Route 18. If you’re on I-93 then simply take Exit 43 and follow the signs to the hospital, it’s located only a short ways off the interstate. Whichever way you get there, just follow the hospital signs and there’s no getting lost. The small dirt parking area will be on the left just a half mile down Route 18/135, also called the St Johnsbury Road. If you pass the hospital, you’ve gone too far.

     The parking area seems really random, just a small gravel pull off located between a couple farmhouses, but there is a big sign letting you know you’re at the Kilburn Crags and the trail is 0.7 mile taking roughly 30 minutes one way. A clear path leads up the far left side of the field heading towards the woods. I’m not going to lie, it’s steep, and it’s kicked my ass a couple times. Be prepared for some heavy breathing.


      The whole trail can really be broken into five different sections. The first part being the steep field, followed by the steep path through the woods, then onto the flatter section where it levels off and gets wet and muddy, then another more gradual uphill, and lastly a downhill portion which brings you to the lookout. The 0.7 mile trail is a wide road used for farming equipment and possibly logging trucks, there are even a couple benches along the way conveniently located after the steepest sections. The lookout at the top is frequently logged in order to open the expansive view and it’s even equipped with a picnic table.

     The view from Kilburn Crags is breathtaking, and I do mean that literally. The first time I came over that hump and looked out over Littleton, I was completely blown away. From the entire Presidential range, past the Twinway, all the way to Garfield and the Franconia Ridge, the Cannon ski slopes, it is truly spectacular. On top of that, you also get an aerial view of downtown Littleton. There are no steep ledges or drop offs so you don’t need to worry about the kids like you normally would in places with views like this. The wet portion of the trail can be a little slippery, especially on the way down, but this is a nice straight forward walk to a must see view. It is more than worth the steep ascent you face early on.