Smarts Mountain
Encyclopedia
Smarts Mountain is a mountain
located in Grafton County
, New Hampshire
. Smarts is flanked to the north by Mount Cube, at 2909 feet (886.7 m), and to the southwest by Holts Ledge, at 2110 feet (643.1 m). Although of only moderate elevation, Smarts is separated from the southwestern White Mountains
by Oliverian Notch, a fairly low pass traversed by New Hampshire Route 25
southwest of Mount Moosilauke. That gives Smarts a relative height of 2190 ft (667.5 m), which makes it one of twelve mountains in New Hampshire with a prominence
over 2000 ft (609.6 m).http://www.peaklist.org/USmaps/newenglandsummits.gif
The northwest and south sides of the mountain drain by several brooks into the Connecticut River
and thence south into Long Island Sound
in Connecticut
. The northeast side drains east into the South Branch
of the Baker River
, and thence via the Pemigewasset
and Merrimack
rivers into the Gulf of Maine
in Massachusetts
.
Smarts Mountain is the southernmost significant mountain in New Hampshire on the Appalachian Trail
, a 2,170-mile (3,500-km) National Scenic Trail
from Georgia
to Maine
. Smarts is outside the White Mountain National Forest
, but the trail runs through a narrow corridor along the ridges which is administered by the Forest Service
.
There was a Learjet plane crash
near the mountain in 1996.
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
located in Grafton County
Grafton County, New Hampshire
Grafton County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Hampshire. As of the 2010 census, the population was 89,118. Its county seat is North Haverhill, which is a village within the town of Haverhill. Until 1972, the county courthouse and other offices were located in downtown Woodsville, a...
, New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
. Smarts is flanked to the north by Mount Cube, at 2909 feet (886.7 m), and to the southwest by Holts Ledge, at 2110 feet (643.1 m). Although of only moderate elevation, Smarts is separated from the southwestern White Mountains
White Mountains (New Hampshire)
The White Mountains are a mountain range covering about a quarter of the state of New Hampshire and a small portion of western Maine in the United States. Part of the Appalachian Mountains, they are considered the most rugged mountains in New England...
by Oliverian Notch, a fairly low pass traversed by New Hampshire Route 25
New Hampshire Route 25
New Hampshire Route 25 is a long east–west state highway in New Hampshire. It runs completely across the state from Vermont to Maine.The western terminus of Route 25 is at the Vermont state line on the Connecticut River in Piermont, where the road continues west as Vermont Route 25...
southwest of Mount Moosilauke. That gives Smarts a relative height of 2190 ft (667.5 m), which makes it one of twelve mountains in New Hampshire with a prominence
Topographic prominence
In topography, prominence, also known as autonomous height, relative height, shoulder drop , or prime factor , categorizes the height of the mountain's or hill's summit by the elevation between it and the lowest contour line encircling it and no higher summit...
over 2000 ft (609.6 m).http://www.peaklist.org/USmaps/newenglandsummits.gif
The northwest and south sides of the mountain drain by several brooks into the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
and thence south into Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, located in the United States between Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound. On its western end the sound is bounded by the Bronx...
in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. The northeast side drains east into the South Branch
South Branch Baker River
The South Branch of the Baker River is a river located in western New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Baker River, part of the Pemigewasset River and Merrimack River watersheds....
of the Baker River
Baker River (New Hampshire)
The Baker River, or Asquamchumauke, is a river in the White Mountains region of New Hampshire, the United States. It rises on the south side of Mount Moosilauke and runs south and east to empty into the Pemigewasset River in Plymouth. The river traverses the towns of Warren, Wentworth, and...
, and thence via the Pemigewasset
Pemigewasset River
The Pemigewasset River , known locally as "The Pemi", is a river in the state of New Hampshire, the United States. It is in length and drains approximately...
and Merrimack
Merrimack River
The Merrimack River is a river in the northeastern United States. It rises at the confluence of the Pemigewasset and Winnipesaukee rivers in Franklin, New Hampshire, flows southward into Massachusetts, and then flows northeast until it empties into the Atlantic Ocean at Newburyport...
rivers into the Gulf of Maine
Gulf of Maine
The Gulf of Maine is a large gulf of the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast of North America.It is delineated by Cape Cod at the eastern tip of Massachusetts in the southwest and Cape Sable at the southern tip of Nova Scotia in the northeast. It includes the entire coastlines of the U.S...
in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
.
Smarts Mountain is the southernmost significant mountain in New Hampshire on the Appalachian Trail
Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the AT, is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. It is approximately long...
, a 2,170-mile (3,500-km) National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail is a designation for protected areas in the United States that consist of trails of particular natural beauty.National Scenic Trails were authorized under the National Trails System Act of 1968 along with National Historic Trails and National Recreation Trails...
from Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
to Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
. Smarts is outside the White Mountain National Forest
White Mountain National Forest
The White Mountain National Forest is a federally-managed forest contained within the White Mountains in the northeastern United States. It was established in 1918 as a result of the Weeks Act of 1911; federal acquisition of land had already begun in 1914. It has a total area of...
, but the trail runs through a narrow corridor along the ridges which is administered by the Forest Service
United States Forest Service
The United States Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass...
.
There was a Learjet plane crash
1996 New Hampshire Learjet crash
The 1996 New Hampshire Learjet crash involved a Learjet 35A which disappeared on Christmas Eve 1996 near Dorchester, New Hampshire. The crash created the longest missing aircraft search in the state's history, lasting almost three years...
near the mountain in 1996.