New Hampshire
Live Free or Die
There are over 1,200 hiking known and trekking trails in New Hampshire.
Most popular trails:
Mount Washington via Tuckerman Ravine and Lion Head Trail: 10.4 miles, difficult. This challenging hike climbs to the summit of Mount Washington via Tuckerman Ravine, one of the most popular hiking destinations in New Hampshire.
Mount Lafayette and Franconia Ridge Trail Loop: 5.2 miles, moderate to difficult. This loop hike offers stunning views of the Franconia Ridge and the White Mountains.
Mount Monadnock via White Dot and White Cross Trails: 4.7 miles, moderate. This hike to the summit of New Hampshire's most-climbed mountain is a popular choice for families and first-time hikers.
Mount Major via Brook and Main Trail Loop: 4.7 miles, moderate. This loop hike climbs to the summit of Mount Major, with views of Squam Lake and the White Mountains.
Mount Willard Trail: 3.8 miles, moderate. This hike to the summit of Mount Willard offers views of Mount Washington and the surrounding mountains.
Mount Moosilauke and South Peak Loop: 4.6 miles, challenging. This challenging loop hike climbs to the summits of Mount Moosilauke and South Peak, with views of the White Mountains and the Connecticut River Valley.
Best trails for certain activities:
Flume Gorge Trail: 1.5 miles, moderate. This moderate hike takes you through a series of natural waterfalls and gorges.
Arethusa Falls Trail: 2.8 miles, moderate. This moderate hike leads to a beautiful 140-foot waterfall.
Kinsman Falls Trail: 1 mile, easy. This easy hike leads to a beautiful 60-foot waterfall.
Mount Washington via Tuckerman Ravine and Lion Head Trail: 10.4 miles, difficult. This challenging hike climbs to the summit of Mount Washington via Tuckerman Ravine, one of the most popular hiking destinations in New Hampshire.
Mount Washington Auto Road: 7.6 miles, scenic drive. This scenic drive takes you to the summit of Mount Washington, the highest peak in the Northeast.
Mount Washington Cog Railway: 3.7 miles, scenic train ride. This scenic train ride takes you to the summit of Mount Washington, offering stunning views of the surrounding mountains.
Most challenging trails:
Mount Washington via Tuckerman Ravine and Lion Head Trail: This challenging 10.4-mile hike climbs to the summit of Mount Washington via Tuckerman Ravine, one of the most popular hiking destinations in New Hampshire. The trail is rated difficult and should only be attempted by experienced hikers.
Mount Washington via the Crawford Path: This challenging 10.6-mile hike climbs to the summit of Mount Washington via the Crawford Path, one of the oldest and most popular hiking trails in New Hampshire. The trail is rated difficult and should only be attempted by experienced hikers.
Mount Washington via the Huntington Ravine Trail: This challenging 7.4-mile hike climbs to the summit of Mount Washington via the Huntington Ravine, one of the most technical hiking trails in New Hampshire. The trail is rated difficult and should only be attempted by experienced hikers with proper gear.
Mount Moosilauke via the Kinsman Ridge Trail: This challenging 6.2-mile hike climbs to the summit of Mount Moosilauke via the Kinsman Ridge Trail, one of the most scenic hiking trails in New Hampshire. The trail is rated difficult and should only be attempted by experienced hikers.
Mount Lafayette via the Falling Waters Trail: This challenging 7.2-mile hike climbs to the summit of Mount Lafayette via the Falling Waters Trail, one of the most popular hiking trails in New Hampshire. The trail is rated difficult and should only be attempted by experienced hikers.
Mount Monadnock via the White Arrow Trail: This challenging 5.4-mile hike climbs to the summit of Mount Monadnock via the White Arrow Trail, one of the most popular hiking trails in New Hampshire. The trail is rated difficult and should only be attempted by experienced hikers.
Most challenging trails:
Franconia Ridge Trail Loop: This 5.2-mile loop hike offers stunning views of the Franconia Ridge and the White Mountains. The trail is rated moderate to difficult and should be attempted by experienced hikers.
Mount Washington via Tuckerman Ravine and Lion Head Trail: This 10.4-mile hike climbs to the summit of Mount Washington via Tuckerman Ravine, one of the most popular hiking destinations in New Hampshire. The trail is rated difficult and should only be attempted by experienced hikers.
Mount Moosilauke and South Peak Loop: This 4.6-mile loop hike climbs to the summits of Mount Moosilauke and South Peak, with views of the White Mountains and the Connecticut River Valley. The trail is rated challenging and should only be attempted by experienced hikers.
Mount Chocorua: This 3.2-mile hike climbs to the summit of Mount Chocorua, with views of the White Mountains and the Pemigewasset River Valley. The trail is rated moderate and can be challenging for some hikers.
Mount Pemigewasset: This 5.2-mile hike climbs to the summit of Mount Pemigewasset, with views of the White Mountains and the Pemigewasset River Valley. The trail is rated moderate and is a popular choice for families.
The Bonds (Bondcliff, South Twin, and North Twin): This 11.2-mile hike climbs to the summits of Bondcliff, South Twin, and North Twin, with views of the White Mountains and the Connecticut River Valley. The trail is rated difficult and should only be attempted by experienced hikers.
Most family-friendly trails:
Mount Major via Brook and Main Trail Loop: This 4.7-mile loop hike climbs to the summit of Mount Major, with views of Squam Lake and the White Mountains. The trail is rated moderate and is a popular choice for families.
Mount Willard Trail: This 3.8-mile hike climbs to the summit of Mount Willard, with views of Mount Washington and the surrounding mountains. The trail is rated moderate and is a popular choice for families.
The Flume Gorge Trail: This 1.5-mile moderate hike takes you through a series of natural waterfalls and gorges. The trail is wheelchair accessible and is a popular choice for families.
The Rattlesnake Loop: This 2.4-mile easy hike takes you through a variety of habitats, including forests, fields, and wetlands. The trail is popular with birdwatchers and is a great choice for families with young children.
The Beaver Ponds Trail: This 2.6-mile easy hike takes you through a forest to two beaver ponds. The trail is popular with families and is a great choice for a peaceful walk in nature.
The Lonesome Lake Trail: This 4.2-mile moderate hike takes you to the shores of Lonesome Lake, a beautiful lake surrounded by mountains. The trail is popular with families and is a great choice for a relaxing day in nature.
Most family-friendly trails:
Battell Conservation Area: This area has several trails that are wheelchair accessible, including the 0.6-mile Bear Brook Trail and the 0.4-mile White Birch Trail.
Great Brook Farm State Park: This park has several trails that are wheelchair accessible, including the 0.7-mile Mill Pond Trail and the 0.5-mile
Where to get permits for trails in New Hampshire:
Permits are required for hiking to the summit of Mount Washington via the Tuckerman Ravine Trail and the Lion Head Trail in Mount Washington State Park. Permits can be obtained online or at the park office.
Permits are required for parking at the AMC Pinkham Notch Visitor Center and for hiking to the summit of Mount Washington via the Crawford Path in Franconia Notch State Park. Permits can be obtained online or at the park office.
Permits are not required for hiking to the summit of Mount Monadnock in Mount Monadnock State Park. However, a voluntary $5 donation is suggested to help support the park.
Some other state parks and forests in New Hampshire may also require permits for hiking or camping. Be sure to check with the park or forest office before you go.
