Mount Moosilauke Lookout

Status: Former Lookout (AMC Peak)
Elevation: 4,802 feet
Prominence: 2,932 feet
State: New Hampshire
County: Grafton
AT Access: Trail over the summit

In 1860, a hotel building was built on top and called the Prospect House. It was mostly a stone structure at that time.

In 1872, a story and a half addition of wood were erected containing the office, parlor and more sleeping rooms. Even more alterations in 1881.

In 1910, since there was a summit hotel, telephone line and carriage road, the New Hampshire Timberland Owners contributed to building and equipping a lookout.

In 1913, the location was discontinued as when other stations came into use.

In 1920, the building and top 50 acres were purchased by E.K. Woodworth and Charles Woodworth who then donated it to the Dartmouth Outing Club. The club renamed the hotel Summit Camp. It was equipped to sleep 50 people in bunks and they staffed it with students from the College. Additional land purchases eventually brought the ownership total holdings to more than 4,000 acres, the largest privately owned tract in the White Mountain National Forest.

In 1927, the Dartmouth Outing Club held the first modern alpine ski race in the United States down the winding Carriage Road.

In 1930, the Dartmouth Alumni Magazine stated that with a phone line up to the building, that Summer Camp was rated as a secondary fire lookout station in the US Forest Service fire preparedness organization.

In 1942, the Summit Camp burned down.

Today, the Dartmouth Outing Club maintains the 50-mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail between the summit and Hanover.

Moosilauke is the tenth highest mountain in the state and most southwesterly of the 4,000 foot summits in the White Mountains. Moosilauke is also ranked 9th on the New England Fifty Finest peaks. Historians believe an Abenaki chief named Waternomee made the first ascent of the mountain in 1685. Hiking up the AT on eithor side is steep and very rocky. More of a route than a trail.

Eleanor Hastings and Margaret Powers August 1931

Several books have been written by Robert W. Averill

Showing the Appalachian Trail as it crosses over Mount Moosilauke

1929 map showing Tiptop House

1932 map showing Tiptop House

Taking the AT (Glencliff Trail) up Moosilauke

Passing the 1800 mile mark on the AT

Carriage Road (trail) on the ridge.

First views of the summit

Me on the summit letting my sleeping bag dry out.

The Appalachian Trail across the summit.

Remaining foundation rocks