Requirement: Traverse, on foot, the entire length of every trail that is required for the Belknap Range Redlining Patch. Trails may be hiked in any order. Travel by vehicle between trailheads is allowed.
Why the Route is Notable: There is already an FKT route for the Belknap Range that links up the range's peaks, but there is currently no FKT route for traversing, on foot, all of the trails in the range. The Belknap Range Trail Tenders (BRATTS) have created a patch for hiking all the sanctioned trails around the range. The requirements for the patch are well defined, and the trails are well established. There have been some minor reroutes during the past few years, but no major changes. It is a natural extension of the challenge to try to complete the requirements for the patch in the minimum amount of time. Doing so requires not only athletic fitness, but also route planning skills to identify an efficient route. There are 65.5 miles of trails, but it is not possible to traverse all the trails without repeating portions of some trails. My route was approximately 80 miles with approximately 20,000 feet of positive elevation gain. Most of the trails are technical, single track trails. The effort level required to complete the challenge is similar to the effort level required to complete many 100 mile races.
The requirements and workbook for the Belknap Range Redlining Patch are posted on the Belknap Range Trail Tenders website here: https://www.belknaprangetrailtenders.org/redlining.php
Route Description:
Start: Summit of Swett Mountain
Swett Mountain Trail to Vista Trail
Vista Trail to Piper-Whiteface Link
Piper-Whiteface Link to Piper Mountain Trail
Piper-Whiteface Link to Whiteface Mountain Trail
Whiteface Mountain Trail to Whiteface Mountain Summit
Whiteface Mountain Trail to Belknap Mountain Road
Drove to Locke's Hill Parking Lot
Quarry Trail to Locke's Hill Summit
Missed turn onto Lakeview Trail in the dark and ran down the wrong trail. Backtracked to summit. 10 minute detour.
Lakeview Trail to Locke's Hill Parking Lot
Drove to Mt. Major Parking Lot
Boulder Loop Trail to Jesus Valley-Beaver Pond Trail
Jesus Valley-Beaver Pond Trail to Straightback-Major Link
Straightback-Major Link to Mt Major Summit
Straightback-Major Link to Quarry Spur Trail
Quarry Spur Trail to Dave Roberts Quarry Trail
Dave Roberts Quarry Trail to North Straightback Link
North Straightback Link to Brook Trail
Brook Trail to Straightback-Major Link
Brook Trail to Mt. Major Trail
Mt. Major Trail to Mt. Major Parking Lot
Boulder Loop Trail to Mt. Major Summit
Mt. Major Trail to Mt. Major Parking Lot
Drove to Avery Hill Road Parking Lot for Pine Mountain Trails
Avery Hill Road and Alton Mountain Road to Mary Jane Morse Greenwood Trailhead (on foot)
Mary Jane Morse Greenwood Trail to Pine Mountain Summit and junction with Arlene Frances Morse Trail
Mary Jane Morse Greenwood Trail to Robert A. Greenwood Sr. Loop
Robert A. Greenwood Sr. Loop to Arlene Frances Morse Trail
Arlene Frances Morse Trail to Pine Mountain summit and junction with Mary Jane Morse Greenwood Trail
Arlene Frances Morse Trail to Avery Hill Road (including little loop shown on the map)
Avery Hill Road to Avery Hill Road Parking Lot (on foot)
Drove to parking lot at Blueberry Pasture Trailhead
Blueberry Pasture Trail to Straightback Mountain Trail
Straightback Mountain Trail to Jesus Valley-Beaver Pond Trail
Straightback Mountain Trail to Straightback-Major Link
Straightback-Major Link to Quarry Spur Trail
Straightback-Major Link to Anna-Straightback Link
Anna-Straightback Link to Dave Roberts Quarry Trail
Dave Roberts Quarry Trail to Marsh Crossing Trail
Marsh Crossing Trail to Anna-Straightback Link
Anna-Straightback Link to western junction with Precipice Path
Anna-Straightback Link to Dave Roberts Quarry Trail
Anna-Straightback Link to eastern junction with Precipice Path
Precipice Path to Anna-Goat Pasture Hill Trail
(Note: I'm not sure if covering short link between the Precipice Path and the Anna-Goat Pasture Hill Trail is required, but I traversed it as an out-and-back.)
Precipice Path to Anna-Straightback Link
Anna-Straightback Link to Anna-Goat Pasture Hill Trail
Anna-Goat Pasture Hill Trail to Red Trail (Anna-Goat Pasture Hill Trail South)
Red Trail (Anna-Goat Pasture Hill Trail South) to Yellow Trail
(resupplied from cache)
Yellow Trail to Shannon Mt. summit and Blue/Yellow Trail
Blue/Yellow Trail to Blue Trail
Blue Trail to Red Trail (Anna-Goat Pasture Hill Trail South)
Blue Trail to Anna-Old Stage Road Link
Anna-Old Stage Road Link to Mack-Anna Trail
Mack-Anna Trail to Round Pond-Mt. Mack Trail
Round Pond-Mt. Mack Trail to junction with Mack Ridge Trail at Round Pond
Mack Ridge Trail to Mack Ridge Trail (South)
Mack Ridge Trail (South) to Yellow Trail
Yellow Trail, full loop, clockwise over Shannon Mountain and back to Mack Ridge Trail (South) junction
(resupplied again from cache at Yellow Trail - Red Trail junction)
Yellow Trail to Scout Camp Roads
Scout Camp Roads to Round Pond Trail (South) (on foot)
Round Pond Trail (South) to Piper-Round Pond Link
Piper-Round Pond Link to Round Pond Trail
Round Pond Trail to Gunstock Ski Area Parking Lot
(resupplied from cache)
Trail around north side of pond to Ridge Trail
Ridge Trail to Mt. Rowe Trail
Mt. Rowe Trail to GES Nature Trail
GES Nature Trail to Gilford Elementary School
Gilford Elementary School to Mt. Rowe Trail
Mt. Rowe Trail to Benjamin Weeks Trail
Benjamin Weeks Trail to Ridge Trail
Benjamin Weeks Trail to North Spur Trail
North Spur Trail to Mt. Rowe Trail
Mt. Rowe Trail to Yellow Trail
Down Yellow Trail to Mt. Rowe Trail
Up Yellow Trail to Mr. Rowe Trail
Mt. Rowe Trail to Ridge Trail
Ridge Trail to Gunstock Mountain Summit
Brook Trail to Gunstock Ski Area Parking Lot
(resupplied from cache)
Cross country trails (main road) to Round Pond Trail
Round Pond Trail to Overlook Trail (~150 yards)
Overlook Trail to Blue Trail
Blue Trail to Green Trail (Warden's Trail)
Green Trail (Warden's Trail) to Blue Trail
Blue Trail to Red Trail (very short)
Red Trail to White Trail
White Trail to Carriage Road
Carriage Road to Belknap Mountain Parking Lot
Wayne's Way from parking lot to overlook and then east to road by the old garage
Blue Trail to Saddle Trail
Saddle Trail to Ridge Trail
Ridge Trail to Gunstock Mountain Trail
Gunstock Mountain Trail to Gunstock Winter Shortcut
Gunstock Winter Shortcut to Ridge Trail
Gunstock Winter Shortcut to Gunstock Mountain Trail
Gunstock Mountain Trail to Carriage Road
Carriage Road to Piper Mountain Trail
(resupplied from cache)
Piper Mountain Trail to Old Piper Trail
Old Piper Trail to White Trail
Old Piper Trail to Piper-Round Pond Link
Piper-Round Pond Link to Round Pond Trail
Piper-Round Pond Link to Boulder Trail
Boulder Trail to East Gilford Trail
East Gilford Trail to White Trail
East Gilford Trail to Wood Rd. Parking Lot
(resupplied from cache)
East Gilford Fire Road to Round Pond Trail
Round Pond Trail to Piper-Round Pond Link
Piper-Round Pond Link to Klem-Mack Loop
Klem-Mack Loop to Klem Summit Spur
Klem Summit Spur to Mt. Klem Summit
Klem Summit Spur to Klem-Mack Loop
Klem-Mack Loop to Mack-Anna Trail
Klem-Mack Loop to Dave Roberts Quarry Trail
Dave Roberts Quarry Trail to Reed Road Trail
Reed Road Trail to gate at Reed Road Trailhead