Why Is the Summit of Mount Chocorua Bare?

Mount Chocorua’s bare, rocky summit is attributed to a succession of forest fires from the early 19th to early 20th centuries. You can read this history here.

Where Did the Trails Up Mount Chocorua Come From?

One trail is said to have been used by Native Americans before the English arrived on these shores. Some trails began as a road or bridle path, others were created expressly as hiking trails. You can read the history of Mount Chocorua’s trails here.

How Did Chocorua Get Its Name?

Local legend, created by white colonists and their descendants, has it that Mount Chocorua was named for a Native American Chief Chocorua. While the Legend of Chief Chocorua has been written and depicted in many forms, historical evidence does not support the legend or the notion that the mountain is named for any person. Historian Mary Ellen Lepionka has written extensively about this, using historical evidence to debunk the myth, and etymology to speculate about where Chocorua may have gotten its name. You can read her essay online here or download a PDF here.