Scar Ridge East Peak is the easternmost of three summits on the trailless Scar Ridge, sitting at 3,619 feet in the Sandwich Range of New Hampshire's White Mountains. The ridge lies between Loon Mountain to the west and Mount Osceola to the east. The summit is entirely forested in dense spruce-fir, crowded with blowdown, and offers no views; the actual highpoint sits on the northeast side of the wooded ridge and is marked only by a canister and sign.
Reaching the summit requires a bushwhack, as no maintained trail leads here. The shorter approach follows the East Pond Trail from a Tripoli Road trailhead for roughly 3 miles before breaking into sustained off-trail travel; an old logging road near 3,200 feet eases the middle portion before the final push through very thick fir. A longer route begins at Loon Mountain's ski area, ascending ski trails to North Loon Mountain before following a herd path and starting the bushwhack; this approach covers 8 to 10 miles and is often used to bag West and Middle Scar Ridge in the same outing. Navigation is rated very difficult on either route, with the upper 100 feet particularly dense and prone to disorientation.
Late-season snow lingers in the shaded fir canopy into spring, and wet branches, mossy blowdown, and deep duff make footing uncertain. A GPS with a saved track significantly aids in locating the inconspicuous summit.
