The Moosilauke Ravine Lodge is an excellent starting point for outdoor adventures in the White Mountains. The lodge is located at the base of Mount Moosilauke near Warren, New Hampshire. It is owned and run by Dartmouth College, with college alumni staffing the operation. The lodge is open from May to mid-November; however, it is reserved for two weeks at the end of August for the outdoor orientation trips for first-year students at Dartmouth. The rest of the time, the lodge facilities are open to the general public as well as the Dartmouth community.
Mount Moosilauke at 4802 ft. is the tenth highest and most southwesterly of the revered 4000 ft. summits in the White Mountains. The word Moosilauke is derived from the local language of the Abenaki people.
Back in the 1990s I used to take my Outdoor Leadership class winter camping at the base of Mount Moosilauke. We would climb the mountain in stunning winter conditions. At the top, we emerge from the frost-covered stunted trees onto the icy summit.
My students and I climbed the mountain from the other side on the Glen Cliff trail. Therefore, I had never seen the much talked about Moosilauke Ravine Lodge. However, recently, with a new baby in the family, my daughter decided a trip to the Moosilauke Ravine Lodge was in order. I was invited along to play adventurous grandma.
I share my impressions of the lodge facility and the surrounding trails for you to plan your own trip to this spectular part of the White Mountains.
Posts may contain links to products and services I love. I may make a small commission from them, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog.
Moosilauke Ravine Lodge Accommodations
The Moosilauke Ravine Lodge was originally built in 1938 as a ski lodge. It was hard to heat so fell out of use for skiing. The Dartmouth College used the property to host its outdoor trips for first-year students.
In 2016, it was rebuilt in a feat of construction mastery. A great room with a massive granite fireplace is the centerpiece of the property. Huge cedar logs in their natural shapes hold up beams. One looks like giant slingshot, while another like a saguaro cactus.
The property offers rustic accommodations in the main lodge and in five bunkhouses that can sleep between 20 and 30 people each. There are three accessible rooms in the main lodge. Guests use an elevator to access them. Restrooms with flush toilets and showers are available to all in the lodge.
Each of the five bunkhouses has a different configuration, but all have a nearby composting privy and a community campfire ring (you can buy s’mores fixin’s there). A wood stove-heated common area with couches is a great place to meet other hikers.
The beds are simple mattresses with a pillow. You need to bring your own sleeping bag or linens or rent them from the lodge. They offer you a pillowcase for free. Bunks are clustered in rooms or curtained alcoves of about 3 or 4 beds. Family rooms have a double bed and 3 bunks.
As non-Dartmouth-connected guests, we paid $60 per night for a bunk. Dinner was $20, and breakfast was $12.
Food at Moosilauke Ravine Lodge
Meals are served family-style in the spacious dining hall in front of the mammoth field stone fireplace. Dinner is at 6:30 pm and breakfast at 7:30 am.
The staff is very proud of their food service. However, I found it to be basic, carb heavy camp food. On the positive side, it was abundant for hungry hikers. Dinner was salad, lentil soup, pasta with red sauce, sweet potatoes, yummy warm bread, and a homemade cookie for dessert. Breakfast was juice, oatmeal, scrambled eggs, pork sausage, and homemade biscuits. Coffee, tea, and cocoa were available. Sensitivity to special diets was honored.
Family-style dining allows for some wonderful conversations and interactions with other guests. There was also an after-dinner talk on the alpine plants of Mount Moosilauke that was quite interesting.
Hiker Resources at the Lodge
Day hikers also have free access to the lodge. They can park along the entrance road to get to the trails. There is a mud room, lounge, and library in the downstairs of the lodge that they can use to relax. There are also public restrooms and showers. Hikers can purchase meals at the lodge in advance.
Related post-> The Best Monadnock Region Outdoor Adventures
Moosilauke Ravine Lodge is Dog-Friendly and Family-Friendly
Dog-Friendly Property
Dog are welcome at the lodge and on the trails. Consequently, many hikers and visitors bring their friendly dogs to the facility. Dogs should be leased on the trails. Additionally, they are not allowed in the main room during meal service. If your dog is sleeping with you in the bunkhouse, it’s a good idea to rent the whole bunkroom.
Be extra careful with dogs on the summit of Mount Moosilauke. The fragile summit environment is vurnerable to dogs (and humans) stepping on alpine plants. Therefore, make sure your dog is leashed and walks on rocks rather than the fragile vegetation.
We wondered at first how the several dogs in our party would be received. Likewise, many other guests and day hikers brought their dogs. As it tuned out, the place was a dog mecca with a vibe of welcomeness for all humans and canines.
Family-Friendly Property
The Moosilauke Ravine Lodge and trails surrounding it are a perfect place for families of all ages to explore nature. Kids can play in the stream or take out any of the outdoor toys they have available. There are gentle trails for little legs.
A child’s bunk is $50, and meals are reduced for kids under 12. Children under three eat dinner and breakfast free.
My infant grandson had his first hut experience and summit climb. The vibe for kids is very positive at the lodge. In short, it’s a comfortable way to introduce kids to the peaks of the White Mountains.
Trails near Moosilauke Ravine Lodge
The most popular trail to the summit of Mount Moosilauke is the Gorge Brook Trail. Consequently, you will see a stream of hikers on the 3.5-mile trail to the summit. It takes between 4-6 hours to complete the entire hike.
While the rest of my party took the Gorge Brook Trail to the summit, I opted for a quieter route by hiking a 4-mile loop along the Hurricane Trail to the Carriage Road and down. I ascended the less steep Carriage Road and descended on the Snapper Trail and the Gorge Brook Trail back to the lodge. I saw no one on the first two legs of the hike and enjoyed the solitude. On the other hand, scores of hikers descended Snapper and Gorge Brook trails with me. Due to the heavy use, these trails are quite rocky and uneven. I highly recommend hiking poles.
Related Post-> Free Cross Country Skiing near Hanover, New Hampshire
Camping on Mount Moosilauke
photo credit: K.McLaughlin
The Appalachian Trail goes over Mount Moosilauke; as a result, there are camping options around the mountain. There are several campites near Mount Moosilauke to use while backpacking on the trails.
Dispersed camping sites are off the Tunnel Brook Trail on the west side of the mountain. Tunnel Brook offers a handy water source for camping on the flat sites off the trail. You can then climb Mt. Moosilauke on the Benton Trail.
If you approach from the east side of the mountain, you can camp at the Beaver Brook Shelter. It’s a half-mile hike in from the parking lot at Kinsman Notch. From here, you can follow the Beaver Brook Trail to the Asquam Ridge Trail to the summit. You will travel over Mt. Blue, a 4000-footer east of the Moosilauke summit.
Gear for Hiking on Mount Moosilauke
Hiking Poles
The trails up Mount Moosilauke are strewn with sizable boulders. Therefore, a sturdy pair of hiking poles is important. Not only do hiking poles reduce stress on knees and hips, but they also help with balance. If you want to invest in trekking poles, look for adjustability, light weight, and foam grips. A sturdy pair of poles will last your whole hiking lifetime, so don’t skimp.
I recommend Black Diamond trekking poles. I’ve used mine for years on climbs ranging from Kilimanjaro to the Italian Alps to winter ascents of Mount Moosilauke.
Hiking Socks
Your feet are the most important part of your body on a strenuous hike. The right hiking socks will cushion your feet and prevent blisters. I’m in love with my Farm to Feet hiking socks. Unlike many hiking socks, Farm to Feet socks have padding in several places on your foot. I especially like the padding on the top of the sock. This type of padding is essential when your foot is moving around in your boot on a rocky trail.
Wrap Up of Moosilauke Ravine Lodge
Mount Moosilauke is a gem in the White Mountains of New Hampshire for hiking and camping adventures. For those wanting overnight accommodations, the family and dog-friendly Moosilauke Ravine Lodge is a perfect hut experience without having to backpack into an AMC hut.
The lodge has an elevator to the second floor rooms. You can also drive your car near the bunkhouses to unpack. These accessibility features make the Moosilauke Ravine Lodge a marvelous space for all.
Pin it!
5 Comments
lisa · September 3, 2025 at 11:21 pm
What a beautiful part of the world!
Valeriya · September 4, 2025 at 2:39 am
Sounds like a fantastic hike! I’d love to visit some day with my daughter.
Kitti · September 4, 2025 at 2:54 am
Looks like a beautiful place to stay on a hiking trip.
Rosemary · September 4, 2025 at 7:15 am
I would love to visit NH and this looks exactly like where I would want to stay.
Em · September 6, 2025 at 2:41 pm
This looks like a really unique experience!