Easier Hikes
Artist Bluff: 1.5 miles | 400 feet
Arethusa Falls: 2.8 miles | 800 feet
Mount Kearsarge: 2.1 miles | 1100 feet
Mount Major: 3.6 miles | 1100 feet
Moderate Hikes
Red Hill Fire Tower Trail: 3.4 miles | 1300 feet
Black Mountain: 3.7 miles | 1600 feet
Mount Monadnock: 8.4 miles | 2300 feet
Mount Chocorua: 9.4 miles | 3100 feet
Mount Moosilauke: 7.1 miles | 3200 feet
Challenging Hikes
North and South Twin Mountain:
Franconia Ridge: 8.5 miles | 3600 feet
Bondcliff and Mount Bond:
Artists Bluff
Artist Bluff is a short and popular hike in Franconia Notch State Park that starts at the Cannon Mountain ski resort. The trail is straightforward, with a slight climb that offers a bird’s eye view of Franconia Notch. From the top, you’ll be peering down on Echo Lake with the backdrop of the Front Five at Cannon Mountain.
The hike is extremely popular during the height of fall foliage. If you want to see colors like the picture above, I recommend playing hookey from work and doing the hike during the week.
Stats:
Distance: 1.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 400 feet
Trailhead: Artist Bluff Loop Trailhead
More information: Alltrails
Arethusa Falls
Arethusa Falls is accessible from Crawford Notch State Park. A short hike takes you to the base of Arethusa Falls. The 140-foot waterfall is the tallest in New England.
The family-friendly hike takes you along the Bemis Brook Trail. It follows a well-defined hiking trail through the forest. You will also cross a bridge over Bemis Brook. If you have small children, they’ll love the bridge, and it’s a great pit stop for some bribery candy to complete your hike. Arethusa Falls receives hiking traffic in the winter, making it an excellent snowshoe option.
Stats:
Distance: 2.8 miles
Elevation Gain: 800 feet
Trailhead: Arethusa Falls Trailhead
More information: Hiking Project
Mount Kearsarge
Mount Kearsarge is one of the best bang-for-your-buck hikes in New Hampshire. It is also close enough to southern New Hampshire residents that you can drive to the trailhead, hike up, enjoy the views, descend, and go home before lunchtime.
There are a few trailhead options, but the Winslow Trailhead allows you to make it a loop hike which is generally preferred to an out-and-back. To do this, combine the Winslow Trail and the Barlow Trail to create a loop.
The bald summit offers sweeping views and a wide area that disperses hikers looking to spend extra time soaking in the views. This 52-With-A-View (52 WAV) hike is a great first summit for kids. This is a great hike to complete during the height of fall foliage.
Stats:
Distance: 2.8 miles
Elevation Gain: 800 feet
Trailhead: Winslow Trailhead
More information: Outdoor Project
Mount Major
Mount Major is another 52-With-A-View (52 WAV) hike that is a must for outdoor enthusiasts. The summit offers the best views of Lake Winnipesaukee and some of the best hiking in New Hampshire.
The hike is best when turning several routes to the summit into a loop. I’m a fan of connecting the Boulder Loop Trail and the Mount Major Trail (blue dot) together from the Mount Major Trailhead.
The trailhead parking lot fills up, and the hike is popular due to its proximity to southern New Hampshire. The summit views of the lake and exposure to the sun make it a great place to hang out on a warm and sunny summer day.
Stats:
Distance: 3.6 miles
Elevation Gain: 1100 feet
Trailhead: Mount Major Trailhead
More information: Chasing Advntr
Red Hill Fire Tower Trail
Like Mount Major, the Red Hill Fire Tower offers sweeping views of the Lakes Region, including Lake Winnipesaukee and Squam Lake. There are several routes to the top, but the shortest hike begins from the Red Hill Fire Tower Trailhead on Red Hill Road near Wakondah Pond. The parking lot is tiny.
The hike to the top is well-shaded. While a bit more challenging for younger hikers due to the elevation gain, it is still a family-friendly hike. The modest 3.4-mile round trip ensures that young hikers will enjoy it.
Stats:
Distance: 3.4 miles
Elevation Gain: 1300 feet
Trailhead: Red Hill Fire Tower Trailhead
More information: Alltrails
Black Mountain
Black Mountain is a hidden gem in the White Mountain National Forest. Located on the backside of the Kinsman Ridge, Black Mountain offers excellent views of the White Mountains while allowing you to avoid the busy Pemigewasset Wilderness area.
This was a hike I did on Father’s Day with my two daughters. It has a few steep sections but nothing that a few snacks and an extra break couldn’t handle. The first 0.7 miles ascends only 350 feet, whereas the final 0.9 miles climb almost 1200 feet. I rate the trail moderate due to the unyielding ascent. Hikers in good physical condition will find this trail easy.
Echo Lake State Park and Beach are a short drive away. Pair a morning hike with an afternoon swim and picnic at the lake.
Stats:
Distance: 3.7 miles
Elevation Gain: 1600 feet
Trailhead: Chippewa Trailhead
More information:
Mount Monadnock
On a clear day, you see skyscrapers from Boston and the summit of Mount Washington from the top of Mount Monadnock. It’s almost like you’re looking at the entire state of New Hampshire.
Multiple trailheads and hiking trails within Mount Monadnock State Park lead to the top. The most popular are the Pumpelly Trail and the Old-Halfway House Trail. Both of those require reservations with the NH State Parks.
I recommend the Dublin Trailhead. Parking is free and easy to come by, albeit you are parking on the shoulder of a narrow road. The Dublin Trail takes you through several wide-open areas before hitting the rocky terrain that takes you to the summit.
The peak is viral but is aided by multiple approaches and a ton of area at the summit to spread everyone out. Rumor has it that Monadnock is one of the most climbed mountains in the world.
Stats:
Distance: 8.4 miles
Elevation Gain: 2300 feet
Trailhead: Dublin Trailhead
More information: Trailspotting
Mount Chocorua
Mount Chocorua is a New Hampshire classic located at the eastern edge of the Sandwich Range. The peak is best summited as a loop hike by connecting the Carter Ledge Trail, the Middle Sister Trail, the Mount Chocorua summit, and the Piper Trail.
The views from the Carter Ledge alone make this one of the best hiking trails in New Hampshire. The trail is steep early, modest across the ledge and ridge line, and then is a minor scramble to the summit. If you’re afraid of heights, this trail is not for you.
The summit of Mount Chocorua has 360-degree views of the White Mountains. To your north, you can see the Presidential Range and Mount Washington. Lakes dot your view in every direction. There are several points where the trails merge, but there is helpful signage to guide you. Use care when descending the rocky summit. Either the Piper Trail back the way you came or continue to the Hammond Trail will return you to your car.
Stats:
Distance: 9.4 miles
Elevation Gain: 3100 feet
Trailhead: Piper Trailhead
More information: Hiking Maine (I know, but it’s a great trip report)
Mount Moosilauke
The Appalachian Trail passes right through the summit of Mount Moosilauke. The summit is one of the highlights for many Appalachian Trail hikers.
The ravine trail is steep and full of rocky terrain. Trekking poles are a must. The trail can be challenging if it’s wet as the rocks become slippery.
The views from the treeless summit are stunning. Many of the highlights from the White Mountains and the Green Mountains are visible. The Kinsman Ridge, Pemigewasset Wilderness with the Franconia Ridge, and the Presidential Range, including Mount Washington. The summit gets breezy, so be prepared even on a nice day.
Stats:
Distance: 7.1 miles
Elevation Gain: 3200 feet
Trailhead: Beaver Brook Trailhead
More information: KatieWanders
North and South Twin Mountain
North and South Twin Mountains make a great hike for your next outdoor adventure. The challenging route is 10.7 miles round trip. The hike beings in a modest fashion, following the Little River for the first 2.1 miles. There are several swimming holes to be found along the trail.
From here, the trail has a long steep section as you cover 2200 feet of elevation gain over 1.9 miles. The views begin as you crest North Twin Mountain. Several side trails will expose viewing areas of the White Mountains.
The hike to South Twin Mountain is a standard down and up, where you intersect with the Appalachian Trail and the Twinway. You can make a larger loop by connecting with either of these hiking trails. Heading west will take you to the Galehead Hut while traveling south along the Twinway to Mount Bond. South Twin offers some of the best views of the Pemigewasset Wilderness and a great vantage point of the Franconia Ridge.
Stats:
Distance: 10.7 miles
Elevation Gain: 3700 feet
Trailhead: North Twin Mountain Trailhead
More information: Nicole the Nomad
Franconia Ridge
The Franconia Ridge is one of the best hiking trails in New Hampshire. Many of us have seen the iconic image of the ridgeline along the Appalachian Trail. It’s a hard day but worth it. The hike begins from the Lafayette Campground. This trailhead fills up before dawn. Alternatively, there is a shuttle from Cannon Mountain at Franconia Notch State Park.
The best way to hike the Franconia Ridge is to go up the Falling Waters Trail, come down the Greenleaf Trail, and connect to the Old Bridle Path to make your loop. Descending the Falling Waters Trail is a mistake.
The Falling Waters Trail dumps you along the Appalachian Trail at the top of Little Haystack Mountain. From here, you’ll follow the trail over Mount Lincoln and to the summit of Mount Lafayette. The summit of Mount Lafayette is where you’ll want to spend extra time. Mount Layfayette is the highest peak in New Hampshire that isn’t part of the Presidential Range (Mount Washington is the highest point).
You’ll have views of the Pemigewasset Wilderness and the White Mountains, including Mount Washington. Take a lot of pictures along the Franconia Ridge. On your descent, the Greenleaf Hut is a great place to stop and grab a snack and refill water.
Note: A longer version of the New Hampshire classic is available for experienced hikers. It involves ascending Mount Liberty via the Appalachian Trail, tagging Mount Flume, retracing your steps back to Mount Liberty, and following the ridge all the way to Mount Lafayette.
Stats:
Distance: 8.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 3600 feet
Trailhead: Falling Waters Trailhead
More information: Backpacker
Bondcliff and Mount Bond
Bondcliff is my favorite of the New Hampshire 4k-foot peaks. So much so that I’ve taken both of my children on backpacking trips to give them a sense of why New Hampshire is called the granite state. The path between Bondcliff and Mount Bond is makes up some of the best hiking trails in the White Mountains.
The Lincoln Woods Trail is accessed from the Kancamagus Highway. The Lincoln Woods Trail is an old railroad bed which is the only reason Bondcliff and Mount can be completed as day hikes. The trail is beautiful and follows the Pemigewasset River.
The first ~5 miles gain gradual elevation that you don’t even feel. Trail runners regularly jog this part of the trail. From here, you head north on the Bondcliff Trail and start to climb. The summit of Bondcliff is open and exposed. The views of the White Mountains include Loon Mountain, the backside of Mount Lafayette, and the Presidential Range.
There is an exposed hiking trail along the Mount Bond ridge that will remind you of Franconia. The ridgeline is probably better than the summit of Mount Bond, but both are worth doing. If you’re really adventurous, go ahead and make it three peaks in one day and tag West Bond.
If you can set up a shuttle, it is possible to continue on and finish up at Zealand, North Twin, or beyond.
Stats:
Distance: 19.8 miles
Elevation Gain: 4200 feet
Trailhead: Lincoln Woods Trailhead
More information: Alltrails
Intentionally Omitted
Mount Willard; beautiful views but far too crowded
Mount Washington; every outdoor enthusiast needs to hike it once
The Presidential Traverse; while technically a day hike, it’s really an overnight classic
Honorable Mention
Mount Cardigan
Isolation Peak
Rodger’s Ledge