Whiteface Mountain takes its name from the pale cliffs that flank its southern face, visible from the Gilmanton side of the range. At 1,664 feet, it is one of the southernmost summits of the Belknap Range, the compact cluster of hills rising above New Hampshire's Lakes Region, and counts among the twelve peaks of the Belknap Range challenge.
The blue-blazed Whiteface Mountain Trail departs from the end of Belknap Mountain Road in Gilford, initially crossing Lakes Region Conservation Trust land on easy, forested terrain before the path widens into an eroded jeep road, rough from past ATV use. The route covers 1.6 miles and roughly 700 feet of gain to the summit. Shortly below the top, open ledges on the north side deliver excellent views of Lake Winnipesaukee and the White Mountains beyond; the broad clearing at the true summit adds a southerly perspective.
The southern cliffs for which the mountain is named lie on the Gilmanton side and were noted in the state's first geological survey in 1844. These dramatic vertical ledges, dropping sharply above forested slopes with a sight line extending roughly 60 miles south to Mount Monadnock, have become a recognized rock-climbing venue. A connector, the Piper-Whiteface Link, lets hikers extend the trip to neighboring Piper Mountain, adding roughly 1.3 miles and 520 feet.
