{{Short description|Mountain in New Hampshire, United States}} {{Use American English|date=January 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox mountain | name = Mount Cardigan | image = MtCardigan.jpg | image_caption = Mount Cardigan from the south | elevation_ft = 3155 | elevation_ref = <ref name="loj">{{cite loj |id=100727 |name=Mount Cardigan |accessdate=2013-02-02}}</ref> | prominence_ft = 1925 | prominence_ref = <ref name="loj"/> | map = USA New Hampshire | map_caption = Location in New Hampshire | map_size = 180 | label_position = bottom | location = [[Orange, New Hampshire|Orange]] / [[Alexandria, New Hampshire|Alexandria]], [[New Hampshire]], U.S. | range = | coordinates = {{coord|43.6497949|N|71.9148048|W|type:mountain_region:US-NH_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | range_coordinates = | coordinates_ref = <ref name="gnis">{{cite gnis |id=865998 |name=Mount Cardigan |access-date=2013-01-17}}</ref> | topo = [[United States Geological Survey|USGS]] ''Mount Cardigan'' | type = | age = | first_ascent = | easiest_route = West Ridge Trail }}
'''Mount Cardigan''' is a prominent bare-rock summit in the towns of [[Orange, New Hampshire|Orange]] and [[Alexandria, New Hampshire|Alexandria]] in western [[New Hampshire]], United States. While its peak is only {{convert|3155|ft}} above [[sea level]], it has extensive areas of bare granite ledges and alpine scrub, giving it the feel to hikers of a much higher mountain. Most of the summit area was denuded by devastating forest fires in 1855.
The [[Civilian Conservation Corps]] helped develop the alpine ski trail network, still used today on the mountain's east side.
The mountain is in the {{convert|5655|acre|km2|adj=on}} [[Cardigan Mountain State Park]].
The Cardigan Lodge, operated by the [[Appalachian Mountain Club]] since 1934, is located to the east at the foot of the mountain and is often used as a base for day hikes in and around the mountain.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.outdoors.org/publications/appalachia/2009/cardigan-lodge-history.cfm| title=The Cardigan Chronicles: Build It, and They Will Come: Cardigan Reservation's 75th anniversary| author=Peter Bronski| publisher=Appalachian Mountain Club, Appalachia| year=2009}}</ref> Many schools from around New England have overnight field trips to the mountain during the autumn and spring.{{Citation needed|date=November 2011}}. The mountain is also a popular destination for Boy Scout troops.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://mikecooney.net/mount-cardigan/|title=Mount Cardigan - My Favorite Mountain - Mike Cooney Creative|date=2017-11-16|work=Mike Cooney Creative|access-date=2017-11-16|language=en-US}}</ref>
==Geology== The bedrock of Mount Cardigan is the upper member of the Lower [[Devonian]] [[Littleton Formation]] (a light grey meta-[[turbidite]]) on its west flank (seen on lower parts of the West Ridge Trail). On the summit and to the east on the Clark Trail, the bedrock is the Kinsman Granodiorite of the Early Devonian [[Cardigan Pluton]] (a foliated granitic body with large [[megacryst]]s of [[orthoclase|potassium feldspar]]).<ref>Lyons, J.B., Bothner, W., Moench, R., Thompson, J.B., 1997, Bedrock Geology of New Hampshire. Map Sheet.</ref> The Cardigan pluton has been dated by the [[rubidium-strontium dating|Rb/Sr]] method at 411 +/- 19 MA.<ref>Lyons and Livingston, 1977</ref> The metamorphic rocks of the Littleton Formation that make up the west flank are at middle amphibolite [[metamorphic rock|metamorphic]] grade. The Littleton Formation rocks were once deep water sediments of the [[Bronson Hill Island Arc]] and were deformed and metamorphosed during the [[Acadian orogeny]].
==Hydrology== Mount Cardigan lies on the divide between the [[Connecticut River]] and [[Merrimack River]] [[drainage basin|watersheds]]. The western slopes of the mountain drain to Orange Brook towards the town of [[Canaan, New Hampshire|Canaan]], then via the [[Indian River (New Hampshire)|Indian River]] to the [[Mascoma River]], the Connecticut River, and ultimately [[Long Island Sound]]. The south slopes of the mountain flow via Mill Brook to the [[Smith River (Pemigewasset River)|Smith River]], a tributary of the [[Pemigewasset River|Pemigewasset]] and Merrimack rivers, ultimately flowing to the [[Gulf of Maine]]. The eastern slopes of Mount Cardigan drain via Brock, Clark, and Davis brooks to the [[Fowler River]], then via [[Newfound Lake]] and the [[Newfound River (New Hampshire)|Newfound River]] to the Pemigewasset. Atwell Brook flows off a northeastern ridge of the mountain, draining via the [[Cockermouth River]] to Newfound Lake. The farthest north ridge of Cardigan is drained by the [[South Branch Baker River|South Branch of the Baker River]], with water flowing north to the [[Baker River (New Hampshire)|Baker River]] in [[Rumney, New Hampshire|Rumney]] before turning east to reach the Pemigewasset in [[Plymouth, New Hampshire|Plymouth]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.topoquest.com/map.asp?lat=43.6498&lon=-71.9148&datum=nad83&u=4&layer=DRG&size=l&s=100 |title=Mt Cardigan, NH |publisher=TopoQuest.com |access-date=2008-06-29}}</ref>
==External links== * [http://outdoors.dartmouth.edu/activities/hiking/hikes/cardigan.html Dartmouth Outing Club Guide to Mt. Cardigan] * [http://www.franklinsites.com/hikephotos/NewHampshire/mtcardigan.php Mt. Cardigan - FranklinSites.com Hiking Guide] * [http://www.nhmountainhiking.com/cardigan.html Cardigan - NHMountainHiking.com] * [http://hikethewhites.com/cardigan.html hikethewhites.com: Mt. Cardigan] * [http://www.newenglandskihistory.com/cccskitrails/NewHampshire/mtcardigan.php Mt. Cardigan - New England's Alpine CCC Ski Trails]
== References == {{portal|New Hampshire}} {{commons category}} {{reflist}}
{{Mountains of New Hampshire}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cardigan, Mount}} [[Category:Mountains of Grafton County, New Hampshire]] [[Category:Mountains of New Hampshire]] [[Category:Appalachian Mountain Club]]