The afternoon sun burned hot overhead as we bumped along miles of remote dirt roads, in the far northern corner of New Hampshire. We were aiming for one of the most remote peaks on the “52 with a view” list – Mount Magalloway. This steep-sided peak has a commanding view of the rolling hills of northern New Hampshire, a sparsely populated region that has long been an important source of timber and pulp. A coalition of timber-management companies built this fire tower in 1935, where a fire warden would keep a keen eye out for the emergence of any fires – which could clearly be devastating to their business.
Now its public hiking trails provide access to a popular viewpoint for locals and visitors alike, as it offers views across the North Country, north into southern Quebec, and south to the high peaks of the White Mountains. As three friends and I hiked the short trail – a former access road for the fire warden – it seemed impossibly steep for a vehicle. Unlike my hike of Sugarloaf Mountain, the day before, the skies were clear and the trail was dry. We should have been treated to fantastic views from the tower and the clifftop overlooks.
No such luck. Smoke from distant Canadian wildfires had drifted east, smothering the entire Northeast U.S. in a dense haze. We could barely see the nearby hills, let alone the promised peaks of Canada, Maine, Vermont, and central New Hampshire. Sigh. The irony of climbing a fire tower to catch some views, only to be daunted by wildfire smoke, was not lost on us. Still, it was a lovely hike; see the photo gallery.
Hike stats:
Distance: 1.92 miles (3.1km)
Time: 1h29m including stops
Gain: 773′ (236m)
David Kotz 
2 thoughts on “Mount Magalloway”