By Marty Basch

Hikers looking for a summer to-do list should head to the Lakes Region.

The mountains aren't four-thousand footers; instead they range from 1,664-feet in elevation to 2,382 feet. There certainly are views extending to the state's largest lake—Lake Winnipesaukee—and beyond to Mount Washington

Hike 12 peaks in the Belknap Mountain Range and get a Belknap Range Hiker Patch from the Belknap County Sportsmen's Association. Based on the honor system, download the check-off list from the club's web site, do the day hikes, send it in with five bucks and the patch is yours.

Get going

Gilford's Don Watson, a singer/songwriter who is equally at home behind a six-string as he is outside hiking, paddling and skiing, is the program's coordinator.

He once lived in New York's Adirondacks which has a four-thousand foot hiking club like the one in New Hampshire. But there was also a patch awarded to hikers who did mountains in a smaller range. He liked that.

"I wanted to do something that was more attainable for families and senior citizens," he said. "I wanted people out hiking in the Belknaps to see the beauty here in the Lakes Region and instill a sense of connection to their home area with some stewardship as well."

Dogs too

The program is beginning its fourth season and some 180 people, plus eight dogs, have earned a patch. Most hikers are from New Hampshire and Maine, from maybe half about an hour or two drive away. There were even some people from Arizona making the grade, doing the hikes while on vacation.

"I got a flurry, like 10 people, who sent in for their patches after the first two nice weekends in April," he said. "They finished most of them last fall, then winter and snow came so they stopped and then they were waiting for the first nice weekend to bag the last one or two."

Located west of the Big Lake, the range encompasses low-lying mountains in Gilford, Alton and Gilmanton, and is named after author and explorer Jeremy Belknap (the county bears his name too). Belknap was part of one of the earliest scientific exploration teams on Mount Washington in 1784 and also wrote the first thorough history of New Hampshire.

Name the peaks

The range has some familiar and celebrated mountains. Alton's Mount Major is widely known and easily accessible from Route 11 as it towers over Alton Bay. The 1786-foot peak sees lots of tourist traffic but has fine outlooks (and cliffs) along the way to the summit.

Belknap Mountain is another outstanding hike. The highest of the range, a fire tower stands on its summit with fantastic views. Overachievers hiking the mountain can double dip as the peak also is part of the state's Tower Quest program where hikers get a patch if they climb five fire Granite State fire towers.

Gunstock Mountain, home to the ski area, is a recognized peak on the list. A pair of trails—Flintlock and Brook—wind up the peak. Brook is a more traditional hiker's footpath while Flintlock utilizes ski trails to the summit where there are far-ranging lake and mountain vistas.

Whiteface—not to be confused with the White Mountain four-thousand footer—is the smallest in the collection at 1664 feet. Rowe, Piper, Mack, Klem, Rand, Anna, West Quarry and Straightback complete the list.

"People always comment on Straightback Mountain, Mount Major's neighbor," he says. "It is a long, flat-topped mountain with incredible views and is loaded with blueberries."

Mount Anna is fairly unimpressive while Whiteface has stunning views but also has an active ATV trail. There is a fire ring at the top often in the company of broken glass and trash.

Mounts Mack and Klem are little gems as is Round Pond, a relatively remote pond. In spring, several small waterfalls are found in the range too.

Hunt, fish, hike

Watson also hunts and fishes. He says the Association's members have a strong interest in getting families outdoors.

"We want to get families and kids connected to the land, protecting open spaces and caring about the land," he said. "We all have a lot more in common than you might think."

Several  guide books detail the hikes, but the Gilford Public Library has $3 maps for sale that help hikers get above those shimmering  jewels.