North Moat Mountain sits at the northern end of the Moat Mountain Range in Carroll County, near North Conway. The Moat peaks are built from Jurassic-era volcanic rock of the White Mountain Igneous Suite, which gives them their signature character: bare granite slabs, open ledges, and a ridge that stays exposed well below the 3,203-foot summit. Of the three Moat peaks, North Moat offers the most expansive panorama, with the full Presidential Range visible to the north: Washington, the Willey Range, Crawford Notch, and Montalban Ridge all come into view from the rocky top, along with Chocorua to the south.
The North Moat Mountain Trail from the Diana's Baths trailhead on West Side Road is the primary approach, roughly 9.3 miles round trip with about 3,100 feet of elevation gain. The first two miles pass through forest with easy stream crossings near Diana's Baths, a popular cascade area. Beyond that, nearly every step involves rock: slabs marked by cairns and yellow blazes, steep scrambles through forest, and multiple exposed ledges before a final push to the open summit cone. A full traverse continuing south over Middle and South Moat to a Passaconaway Road trailhead makes for a classic ridge day with a car shuttle.
The slabs and ledges that reward hikers in fair weather become genuinely treacherous when wet. Save this hike for dry conditions; afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer, and the open ridge offers no shelter from lightning.
