The Best Hiking Trails in New Hampshire
Explore Hiking TrailsTrail adventures in the Granite State
New Hampshire is an amazing state for hikers. There are hundreds of hiking trails to choose from, from the foothills of the south to the beautiful White Mountains in the north. Whether you’re looking for a family friendly trail or setting out to conquer Mount Washington, you’re guaranteed to have a great time on one of these top trails.
The Mount Lafayette and Franconia Ridge Trail is probably the most famous hike in New Hampshire. People travel from all around to complete its 3 summits. There are also welcoming trails for the whole family like Artists Point in Franconia Notch State park.
To create this list of the best hikes in New Hampshire, we aggregated data from millions of hikes. This ensures you have up-to-date and accurate information about trails so you can have fun and stay safe in the woods.
The Mount Lafayette and Franconia Ridge Trail is probably the most famous hike in New Hampshire. People travel from all around to complete its 3 summits. There are also welcoming trails for the whole family like Artists Point in Franconia Notch State park.
To create this list of the best hikes in New Hampshire, we aggregated data from millions of hikes. This ensures you have up-to-date and accurate information about trails so you can have fun and stay safe in the woods.
Top 10 hiking trails in New Hampshire
1
Tuckerman’s Ravine Trail
Tuckerman's Ravine Trail is a popular route to a beautiful section of Mount Washington, the tallest mountain in New England. The trail follows an out-and-back route, and most hikers consider it a hard hike. This is one of the most popular hikes in the area with Strava members. Mount Washington is famous for having the “worst weather on earth,” so be sure to bring layers in case things turn sour up there. You can also extend this hike to the summit if you'd like to adventure farther.
2
Franconia Ridge Trail & Mount Lafayette Loop
The Franconia Ridge Trail takes you along several stunning ridges to 3 of New Hampshire’s most scenic summits: Mount Lafayette, Mount Lincoln, and Little Haystack Mountain. The trail follows a loop route, and most hikers consider it a hard hike. The most popular routing is to proceed counterclockwise, beginning with the Falling Waters Trail, but the clockwise direction is fantastic as well. This is one of the most popular hikes in the area for Strava members. The trail also has several resources to help you have a great hike including an American Mountain Club hut where you can stop for water and a bathroom break.
3
Welch Dickey Loop Trail
The Welch Dickey Loop Trail is a popular hike that takes you to two beautiful New Hampshire summits. You guessed it, Mount Welch and Mount Dickey! This trail is considered hard, and most hikers choose to complete the loop in the counterclockwise direction. You can of course go the other way and still have a great adventure. The Welch Dickey Loop is one of the most popular hikes in the area with Strava members. Check out the photos to get a sense of the beautiful views of Waterville Valley that you’ll enjoy along the way.
4
Mount Kearsarge North Trail
The Mount Kearsarge North Trail is a fantastic hike that leads to a historic New Hampshire fire tower. You can even go up to the tower’s deck when you get there! The trail follows an out-and-back route, and most consider it a hard hike. This is a popular hike with Strava members and the views from the top of the fire tower are worth all the climbing. Check out some recent photos to get a sense of what you’ll see along the way.
5
Mt. Osceola Trail
The Mount Osceola Hiking trail is one of New Hampshire's classic “4000 footers.” At the summit you’ll be treated to stunning views of the Waterville Valley area and peer along a ridgeline to another nearby 4000 foot peak, East Osceola. The trail follows an out-and-back route, and most consider this a hard hike. This is a popular trail in the area for Strava members. Did you know that New Hampshire has 48 peaks above 4000 feet? The American Mountain Club offers a patch to those who climb all 48. Show them your Strava account to prove it!
6
Presidential Traverse route to Mount Madison
The Presidential Traverse Trail is a 20+ mile point-to-point challenge often completed by avid hikers in New Hampshire. The Valley Way Trail to Mount Madison is a great out and back option to give you a taste of the north half of the traverse. You’ll take the Valley Way Trail to the summit of Mount Madison, named of course for one of the US presidents, and enjoy stunning views of The White Mountains. The trail follows an out-and-back route, and most hikers consider this a hard hike.
7
Mount Monadnock, White Dot and White Cross Trails Loop
The White Dot, White Cross route to the summit of Mount Monadnock is a classic, fun New Hampshire hike. Some sources suggest Mount Monadnock is one of the most summited mountains in the world, so you’ll likely see a lot of like minded hikers out on the trail. The White Dot, White Cross route follows a loop with out-and-back sections at both ends. Most hikers consider this a hard hike. The great views from the exposed, rocky summit make it a memorable place to eat lunch. Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson both wrote about the beauty of Mount Monadnock, so it’s sure to be worth the trip!
8
Black Cap Trail
The Black Cap Trail is a short but steep hike in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The Black Cap trail follows an out-and-back route. Because of the steep grades, especially near the summit, most hikers consider this a hard hike. On a clear day, you may be able to see all the way to Mount Washington from the stunning summit. Check out some of the photos from the community to get a sense of what you’ll see along the way.
9
Mount Willard Trail
Get ready for great views! The Mount Willard Trail takes you from the shores of Saco Lake to a summit with spectacular views of The Crawford Notch State Park. These are some of the best views in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. This trail follows an out-and-back route. Because of the steep sections, especially near the halfway to the summit, most consider this a hard hike. Be sure to stop for a picture of the historic Crawford Notch Train Station near the trailhead when you return.
10
Mount Tripyramid Loop Trail
The Mount Tripyramid loop trail is a challenging hike that takes you to the summits of three of New Hampshire’s “4000 footers.” The trail takes a lollipop shape, with an out-and-back section giving way to a loop. Most hikers choose to turn right at the trail intersection and proceed around the loop in a clockwise direction. The first summit you’ll reach is that of North Tripyramid, your first 4000 footer of the day. You’ll then descend briefly before climbing to the second summit, Middle Tripyramid. After another brief dip, you’ll climb a third time to the third and final summit, South Tripyramid. This trail is one of New Hampshire’s most memorable, with interesting, forested ridges between each of the three summits.
Top regions for hiking trails on Strava
- Austin, TX
- Boulder, CO
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
- Las Vegas, NV
- Los Angeles, CA
- Maui, HI
- Mt. Rainier National Park, WA
- New Hampshire
- New York, NY
- Phoenix, AZ
- Portland, OR
- Salt Lake City, UT
- San Diego, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Santa Fe, NM
- Seattle, WA
- Sedona, AZ
- South Lake Tahoe, CA
- Yosemite National Park, CA
- Zion National Park, UT