Trail Rating System
Nature Walk — Good for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and abilities.
Family Hike — Pack the baby in the Kelty and lace up the older kids’ boots, these trails are loved by all.
Weekend Warriors — A healthy heaping of distance, elevation gain and challenging terrain.
Pack the Aleve — Couch potatoes need not apply. These trails will kick the fannies of experienced hikers.
Sign the Will — You were warned. Just sayin’.
Valley Way is the access route to Mt. Madison and Mt. Adams most travelled by, and for winter hiking that makes all the difference. The easiest and most direct route to Madison Hut, hikers come one and all for day hikes to the aforementioned summits, overnights at the Valley Way Campsite or above treeline (winter only), to venture into the Great Gulf for ice climbing, or to begin treks across the Presidential Range. Read More
A fresh coat of snow, drizzled in hues of blue from the early morning light, blanketed the Mt. Moosilauke field. The snow was broken only by a classical cross country ski track showing the way. To the west, through the towering trees, the hills were awash in sunlight, fulfilling the promise of a rare cloudless day. The ascent of Mt. Moosilauke via the Glencliff Trail (also the Appalachian Trail) was just beginning, and already it was hard not to love this idyllic winter hike. Read More
Looking for an ideal winter hike to break-in the snow trail legs? Or perhaps you're a casual hiker interested in bagging a (relatively) easy winter peak? Then again, maybe you just want a trail teeming with scenic charm for a little natural healing? If your head is nodding with any of these, then Mt. Pierce—the mountain formerly known as Mt. Clinton—via the historic Crawford Path, is the ticket. Read More
The Osseo Trail ascent of Mt. Flume has to rank as one of the "easier" 4,000-foot climbs in New Hampshire's White Mountains. Practically serving as a boundary marker between the Pemigewasset Wilderness and Franconia Notch State Park, it packs plenty of scenery to boot. All of which makes it a great option for casual hikers wanting to bag a 4,000-foot peak, or as a starter mountain for those eager to collect all 48. Read More
Mt. Tripyramid, a three-headed mountain monster, kills two peaks off the New Hampshire 48 over 4,000 feet bucket list with one tremendous hike. Just be careful not to break your neck in the process. The gnarly rock slabs on the steep North Slide are a bunny slope for rock climbers, but for anyone accustomed to ascending mountains sans rope and harness, this hike will put hair on your chest and lead in your pencil. Read More
On paper (aka the map) Mt. Kearsarge in Winslow State Park appears to be an easy, breezy hike perfect for families with young kids. You drive more than halfway up the mountain to reach the trailheads, after all, and there’s a playground adjacent to the parking lot. Don’t count your peaks before their bagged, however, as this hike will test the mettle of little feet (not to mention their parents’ patience). Read More
Mt. Washington may get the glory, but the Mt. Jefferson Castle Trail has more than its fair share of guts. With 4,200 feet of elevation gain over 4.8 miles, and a tip-top height of 5,716 feet, the Castle Trail packs a wallop as challenging as anything the New Hampshire Presidential Range has to offer. But is it a technical hike? Read More
Let's first make one thing clear: Flume Gorge is a bonafide nature walk, not a hike. Hiking requires a trail that's not navigable by a golf cart with at least the threat of breaking a sweat. Not to mention the optional shuttle bus, which shortens the "trek" to .7 of a mile round trip, is an automatic disqualification. As far as nature walk's go, Flume Gorge is exceptional. Read More
It was nine degrees in the Lafayette Place parking lot and the car was getting blasted by wind. At a little past seven on a February morning, I had a good mind to retreat home to the warmth of my down comforter. Fortunately, common sense was in short supply. Read More
You can't sleep. You toss. You turn. Visions of the "world's worst weather" pummel the sugar plum fairies trying to dance through your head. Bitter cold. Biting winds. Fickly visibility. Winter hiking Mt. Washington—New England's highest peak at 6,288 feet—is all fun and games with the added disclaimer of avalanche danger. Read More
The White Mountain Guide describes Lowe's Path as the "easiest way to climb Mt. Adams." There's an important distinction to be made here: easiest doesn't exactly equate easy, especially in the winter. The 4.7-mile climb to New England's second highest peak, 5,799 feet, will beat your legs into submission like a drill sergeant at boot camp. Don't worry, though, it's jolly good fun. And the rewarding views of neighboring Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Madison, and big brother Mt. Washington will quickly cleanse any residue of a pre-dawn rise and shine. Read More
On paper the Garfield Trail looks to be a daunting challenge: a five-mile, 3,000-foot climb in the White Mountains to the summit of 4,500-foot Mt. Garfield. In reality, compared to neighboring hikes such as the Liberty Springs Trail, Falling Waters Trail and Old Bridle Path, it's a walk in the White Mountains National Forest park. Read More
If you're looking to boldly hike where no explorer has gone before, this trail isn't for you. On the contrary, Mt. Washington is a major New Hampshire tourist destination, and the Tuckerman Ravine Trail is the White Mountains' version of hiking Disneyland. This isn't to say you shouldn't do it. Quite the opposite, in fact. Consider it required reading for hiking. Read More
If the Old Bridle Path and Falling Waters Trail in Franconia Notch, New Hampshire, have a younger sibling, the type eager to prove it's every bit as sweat inducing with equally dazzling views, then without question the Liberty Springs Trail is it. Almost literally in the shadows of it's 5,000+ foot neighbors Mt. Lafayette and Mt. Lincoln, Mt. Liberty might not measure up to its bigger siblings, but it's no slouch of a mountain either at 4,459 feet. Read More
8.8 miles round trip 6-7 hours Difficulty: Pack the Aleve Good for: hiking enthusiasts, weekend warriors, psychotic trail runners, Goldendoodles This is one kick-ass hike (Mom, I’m sorry for swearing on the Internet) encompassing the Falling Waters, Franconia Ridge, Greenleaf … Read More
We were looking for a relatively easy family hike to kick-off the season and the Lonesome Lake Trail in Franconia Notch was the perfect fit. The trail has an elevation gain in the neighborhood of 1000 feet, most of which occurs over a .8 mile stretch that switchbacks up the mountain. This segment of the trail can be challenging for young hikers or those of us still getting our "legs" under us as it is rocky and fairly steep. Read More