Middle Sister Trail

Middle Sister Trail (USFS)

This trail begins on the Carter Ledge Trail 1.1 miles from the White Ledge Campground, climbs over the Three Sisters, and ends up at the Champney Falls Trail in the saddle between the Sisters and Mount Chocorua. It provides good views.

Maintenance: The Middle Sister Trail is maintained by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).

Trail distances & estimated hiking times from Carter Ledge Trail (1100'):

• to Middle Sister summit (3340'):  3.6 mi., 2250 ft., 3 hr.

• to Champney Falls Trail (3200'):  4.1 mi., 2400 ft., 3 hr. 20 min.

• to Mount Chocorua summit (3490'):  4.7 mi., 2700 ft., 3 hr. 50 min.

Trail details: Leaving Carter Ledge Trail, the Middle Sister Trail ascends through mixed hardwoods and softwoods and crosses Hobbs Brook at 1.3 miles, then skirts an area severely damaged in the December 1980 windstorm. At 1.8 miles it joins the former route of the trail and climbs more steeply to the col between the Three Sisters ridge and Blue Mountain at 2.4 miles, where the trail turns sharp left and ascends the northeast spur of the Third Sister, with several good outlooks.  At 3.3 miles, the Carter Ledge Trail enters on the left, and the Middle Sister Trail crosses the ledgy summit of Third Sister and a small dip beyond, then reaches the summit of Middle Sister at 3.6 miles. The trail continues across ledges marked by paint, passes the Middle Sister Cutoff right, and continues ahead over First Sister to its terminus on the Champney Falls Trail. Here it is 80 yards (left) to the Piper Trail, then 0.6 miles to the summit of Mount Chocorua.