Cardigan Mountain State Park in New Hampshire, USA - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-11-05. Check linked official notices before travel.

Cardigan Mountain State Park in Orange, New Hampshire, is the west-side starting point for a hike to Mount Cardigan’s open granite summit. Take the West Ridge Trail and check your return route before leaving the top. Trails on the other side lead toward the Appalachian Mountain Club lodge.

A summit above the trees

From the exposed granite summit, look toward the White Mountains or across to Vermont. The fire tower is a landmark at the top.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Check the return trail at the summit

Carry the state hiking map. Look for orange blazes on the west-side trails. If you started at the state park, check the signs before following a route down the east side. The two trailheads are about 35 miles apart by road, and there is no shuttle. New Hampshire State Parks advises visitors to have suitable skills and equipment during unstaffed off-season use.

Pack out what you bring

Keep pets on a leash no longer than 6 feet and clean up their waste. State rules prohibit pets in picnic areas from May 1 through September 30. Carry out your trash, and do not launch or land a drone within park boundaries.

Drive to the west-side entrance in Orange

Use 658 Cardigan Mountain Road, Orange, NH 03741. The mountain road takes you to the west-side trails when the gate is open. The lodge marked on hiking maps is on the east side.

Other parks around Newfound Lake

Wellington State Park is on West Shore Road in Bristol. Sculptured Rocks Natural Area is on Sculptured Rocks Road in Groton.

Climb the West Ridge Trail

The West Ridge Trail is 1.5 miles each way and gains about 1,200 feet from the state park. It is the state map’s easiest approach to the summit, but the elevation gain makes this a climb rather than a stroll. Turn back along West Ridge if you want to return to the same trailhead.

Plan a self-sufficient day hike

The park lists a picnic area and restrooms. Carry drinking water; the state hiking map says there is none. Camping is not permitted on the mountain.

Granite, forest and exposed ridges

The 5,655-acre state park includes the west-slope trail approach to Mount Cardigan. Beyond the summit, exposed rock and small wetlands share the ridge.

Fire and lookout history

A fire in 1855 stripped vegetation from the upper mountain. The state hiking guide records a wooden lookout in 1904 and its replacement by a steel tower in 1924.

Plants in the ridge wetlands

Small wetland pockets along the ridge support sphagnum moss, cotton-grass and sundews. The state natural heritage guide describes these habitats along the route toward Firescrew.

Contact New Hampshire State Parks

Use the park office contact on the official park page to check the gate or ask about accessibility.