Kearsarge North rises 3,268 feet on the eastern fringe of the White Mountains above North Conway, offering a complete panorama that sweeps from the Presidential Range to the lakes region. The summit is crowned by the Pequawket Fire Tower, built in 1913 and staffed jointly by the state and the U.S. Forest Service until 1960. Before the tower stood a hotel, twice built on the summit and twice destroyed by storms; the Appalachian Mountain Club eventually granted the ruins to the New Hampshire Forestry Commission for use as a fire lookout post. The tower was added to the National Historic Lookout Register in 1991 and remains open to visitors, who are asked to sweep it out before leaving.
The Mount Kearsarge North Trail ascends 3.1 miles and roughly 2,600 feet from Hurricane Mountain Road near Intervale, following a sustained grade through northern hardwood and boreal forest before a rockier push to the open summit. A second option, the Weeks Brook Trail, covers 4.7 miles and about 2,740 feet from Chatham, approaching from the quieter eastern side with far less traffic.
The summit is largely open rock with wide sightlines in every direction. Snow can linger into spring and early winter conditions arrive by October; traction devices are strongly recommended outside the summer season. The trail sees heavy use throughout autumn for foliage views, and overnight stays in the fire tower cab are permitted on a first-come basis.
