west rattlesnake mountain

968paulaf

Rattlesnake is a favorite hike for my husband our dog and myself, our adult children enjoy as well. The trails are well maintained and fairly easy to hike. Once you reach the top you will loose your breath because the view is simply spectacular. This view will allow you to see the vastness of the lake and the stunning landscape around it...

312suel

This is an easy, well marked, wide and trail, only a couple of spots that are a little tricky. Doesn't take very long to get to the top, comfortably a half hour. The view from the summit is absolutely awesome, it's my background on my phone so I can look at it anytime I want. Stunning and well worth the very slight effort.

Ozless

The trail is very easy and when we visited there were young kids & elderly enjoying the hike. We visited during foliage season and both the walk and the view at the top were amazing. The walk takes about 30 minutes and once at the top you can sit and enjoy the view for as long as you like. The most difficult part is finding the car park with trail head.

LucyLou2012

Hiked many times with kids, dogs, alone and with "non"hikers, easy trail with gradual incline to the top.Incredible view!! Bring a picnic lunch or snack and spend some time. Just watch youngsters that like to run, ledges are close at the top, I have done with my kids since they were 3. Busy during holiday times, early am or late afternoon is better. For an extended hike, do the trail down to Five Finger Point. This trail is more challenging, I would do it with kids but not my non-hiker friends. When you get down to the lake there are several very small, private areas to swim, a couple nice sandy spots. Very peaceful, I like to find hikes near the water and this Incorporated lake/hike perfectly. Also, if you are hiking with a dog it is nice to have a place to swim for both of you that is private.

alidaylily

We have hiked this several times. It is an easy hike/walk with lovely views. We take lunch along to enjoy at the top. We have brought visiting family here as well and they loved it too! It can get crowded because it is such an easy trail.

KarenG844

Such a great hike. I did it with my 4 year old. Love looking down and viewing beautiful Squam Lake. Cant wait to do it again!!

734jackiei

We hiked right before the sun set. It was beautiful! The views were astounding. We saw people of all ages on the trail. It was quite a hike going up, but wasn't steep. There are a lot of roots, stumps, stones and rocks, so wear comfortable shoes. We went mid-September on a Monday evening and there were no bugs and barely anyone around.

T_Abbey_Cat

Mid to late afternoon hike was easy, pleasant, with the rewarding views from the rock outcroppings. Only wished we had taken along some bug spray. The gnats were a slight nuisance as it got later, and the skeeters got me in two spots on my arms. Glad I was wearing long pants. Be sure to pay attention to the trail signs at the top and don't start off on another trail that intersects, if that's not your intention.

rt_hiker

Good for small children, but excellent scenery makes it nice for anyone. Well maintained path up, stepped in the steeper sections. Can be busy in the summer, weekends, etc.

doclou247

This short and relatively easy hike to the top of West Rattlesnake Mountain provided us with some of the most amazing and beautiful views I have ever seen. The view of Squam Lake simply took my breath away. There are two car parks at the start of the hike on either side of the road. There is a trail starting on either side of the road, so be sure to take the correct route and climb West Rattlesnake Mountain. Take a picnic and sit and enjoy the scenery from the top of the Mountain. This is simply a view not to be missed.

coyotepack5

While visiting Squam Lake, we climbed Rattlesnake Mountain. It was an easy climb. We passed many families with young children, either walking or being carried in packs. It is a climb, but can be done by all ages. It is worth the climb. The views of Squam Lake will take your breath away. Take a drink or snack and sit and enjoy the view!! Recommend!

M7702EBjennifera

Plenty of parking and a well traveled and well marked trail- bit of a huff and puff on my part (I hike very rarely) and absolutely stunning views!

TimothyF882

A lot of reviewers have said that this hike is very easy. I am in good shape and love to hike so for me it was a great experience. The way up is almost all uphill with a lot of steps and roots to navigate around. I would say that if you are not in the best of shape, you might want to take it slow. we had a good size party and some were definitely gassed going up. Also my 80 year old mother in law fell while climbing some high steps and hurt herself. I can tell you that the views at the top are magnificent! Squam Lake can be seen in its entirety spread out before you. Definitely got some breathtaking photos. So I would say go for it but keep in mind your own physical limitations if any and plan accordingly.

natron06

Did this with my 5 year old daughter. For the most part it was a pretty easy hike to an awesome view of Squam Lake and the surrounding area. The trail is pretty well maintained, however, there were a ton of exposed roots. We left the mountain with a skinned knee and some tears but nothing serious. If we ever get back to the area I'd definitely consider doing this hike again.

jasonn745

I've hiked Rattlesnake Mountain in Holderness many times over the years, having grown up in New Hampshire. It is a very easy hike for all ages and experience levels. It's about a 450 ft elevation gain, very gradual. It can be very crowded on the weekends as it is a popular "tourist" mountain, so if you don't like "highway hiking" I'd recommend a different trip on the weekend. The parking lot is on the same side of the mountain and across the street is another parking lot for Mt. Morgan, both of which fill up quickly, so don't be surprised if you have to park on the side of the road.Be sure to check out some of the other trails that lead off the peak, some are quite a bit more challenging than the actual hike itself.