2nd Steepest Mile on Entire Appalachian Trail is in New Hampshire: Mt. Moosilauke
If you are not fully aware of the Appalachian trail, it is a 2,190+ mile trail that travels through 14 states, starting in Georgia and ending in Maine.
Of that enormous 2,000+ mile journey, I learned recently that the steepest mile of the whole thing is in New Hampshire. I wrote an article on that single steepest mile after I completed it myself, and you can view it here.
Interestingly enough, I wanted to see where the next steepest mile on the Appalachian trail is. Turns out the SECOND steepest mile of the entire 2,000-mile stretch is also in New Hampshire, along the Beaver Brook trail on Mount Moosilauke.
You climb 2,200 feet in less than 1.7 miles. Of that 2,200 feet, 930 of them are in one half-mile stretch. That is a serious incline.
A large majority of the steep portion comes in staircase form; wooden stairs along a steep rock face.
Check out a full review of the mile below.
For those interested in that exact hike, the trail description from All Trails is below:
Discover this 7.9-mile out-and-back trail near North Woodstock, New Hampshire. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 5 h 38 min to complete. This is a very popular area for hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. The best times to visit this trail are March through October. You'll need to leave pups at home — dogs aren't allowed on this trail.
So, if you are wondering if you could complete the Appalachian trail, you could find out easily by training in New Hampshire.
We proudly claim the steepest two miles out of over 2,000 miles and 14 states.