The Bulge is a 3,950-foot summit in the Pilot Range of northern New Hampshire's Coös County, sitting along the Kilkenny Ridge Trail between The Horn to the northeast and Mount Cabot to the southwest. The summit is densely wooded and offers no views, marked only by a rock cairn; its appeal lies in the remote, uncrowded character of the northern Whites and its place on the New England Hundred Highest list.
Most hikers visit The Bulge as part of an 11.5-mile loop with The Horn and Mount Cabot that gains roughly 3,200 feet. The route begins on the Unknown Pond Trail, climbing gradually through birch and spruce forest to a quiet backcountry tarn with a nearby campsite, then joins the Kilkenny Ridge Trail for the ridge traverse. From the junction at The Horn, it is 0.3 miles along the ridge to The Bulge, a gentle rise that passes almost unnoticed. Trails in this area receive less maintenance than those farther south and can be heavily overgrown with ferns and tall grass, particularly at the trailheads; wet footing, blowdowns, and faint blazing are common throughout.
Wildlife encounters are frequent in the densely vegetated lower sections, and making noise is wise. Hikers visiting in early season should expect lingering snow and mud on the ridge. The unmaintained Mount Cabot Cabin sits nearby on the descent and offers basic shelter for those splitting the loop into an overnight.
