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Trail Talk

Hiking Trails in NH Click

NH Mountains Click

Hike New England

Disclaimer: The trail info on this page is provided by other resources listed below. This site can not verify the accuracy of all the information and is not responsible for the contents of this page.  Use of the information on this page is at the viewers own discretion.

Read what people are saying about individual Hiking and Walking Trails around New Hampshire.  It's always nice to know what you're up against before you head out on the trail.  

White Mountains    

Crawford Notch to Mt.Washington to Base of the Cog Railway This was a fun hike...challenging but not too killingly difficult...WATCH THE WEATHER!  We parked at the lot on Mt. Clinton Rd. For directions see the AMC White Mountain Guide for the "Crawford Path" and assuming that you summit Washington (weather permitting!) and down hike the way we do, the directions for the "Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail". We took the Crawford Path across Mt. Pierce, Mt. Eisenhower, Mt. Franklin, Mt. Monroe and stopped at Lake of the Clouds hut to rest a bit and fill our water bottles as well as to just scope out the views before we summited Washington. We then summitted and hung out a while (enjoy talking to the people that drive up or take the Cog to the summit as they don't have the same level of accomplishment that you do having just busted yourself to get up there!!!!!!) and checked out the cafeteria and museum before heading down. We then went back down to the Lake of the Clouds hut and took the Ammonoosic Ravine Trail down....use caution if it is wet as a lot of this trail follows the route (and is) of the Ammonoosic River. As long as proper care is taken you should have no problems.... take this trail back down to the base of the Cog and then you do have a road hike back down to the Mt. Clinton Rd. parking area. (A way to ease this road hike is to find a spot at the Cog Base Station to lock up a bike and ride back to the parking area and your vehicle!) The total mileage for this trip is about 11.5 miles (NOT including the road hike or ride back to the parking area--add about 3 or 4 miles, I haven't clocked it!). Like I said, watch the weather, take a good friend, give yourself enough time (START EARLY!!!), take a camera, a bunch of food and water,(water is hard to find so you will want to carry a lot!), a First Aid kit, a good attitude and patience, know your limits, turn back if necessary, an AMC White Mt. guidebook and most of all HAVE A LOT OF FUN!   Do this hike in great weather and it is a tiring form of Euphoria; do it in lousy weather and you will be asking yourself "Am I really having fun?"!  KNOW YOUR LIMITS BUT NEVER BE AFRAID TO CHALLENGE YOURSELF A BIT!    See you on the Trails! Contributed by: larryfine635@aol.com 

UNH Trail to Hedgehog Trail (3475-ft) - located off the Kancamangus Highway--Rte. 112.  This is a wonderful trail to hike, but be forewarned, the AMC guide and the DeLorme map make this sound like a relatively easy trail,  It is not.  If entering the loop from the left, or clockwise direction, as is recommended because of its easier ascent, you may be misled to believe it is relatively easy.  However, it is poorly marked throughout  and you must be extremely careful about watching where you are going.  Like many other trails in NH, I've discovered  they are poorly maintained and even more poorly marked, part of the Live Free And Die philosophy.  If I do this hike again, I'm bringing some blue and yellow spray paint, in order to save someone's life on the trail, so they don't get lost.  Anyway, when you finally reach the ledges, be very careful, not just because of the incredible danger involved, as there nearly always is in the Whites on any ledges, but because the trail is poorly marked with yellow blotches, angles, and arrows, which can easily be confused with the natural yellowish stains on the rocks in some places.  The view is spectacular, but if you have a dog and/or smaller kids or people not in the best shape physically, turn back now!  The ledges are not good for dogs, no traction, and small kids are in danger, plus, the real hiking starts after the first ledges, on your way up to the summit of Hedgehog Mt.  There is a lot of climbing involved--not technical rock climbing--but clambering, jumping, grabbing tree trunks, pulling yourself up, etc.  There is a lot of up and down hiking, winding between great boulders, and lots more scrambling over poorly marked open rock trails.  Yes, it's a great hike for the relatively short length of the trail and a great work out.  Just before the descent, I had a great view of Mt. Washington, covered in snow (it was April 2003.)   Adding to my difficulty was the snow and ice on the trail.  The snow was surprisingly as much as a foot deep or more in spots.  The descent is quite steep at first, and mine was icy and snowy, more of a challenge.  But it is also rocky and eroded--no place for kids under ten.  I enjoyed this hike immensely, but true to AMC standards, it is apparently considered relatively easy.  The Boulder Loop, if you follow the trail just to the ledges, using the left hand ascent is a better alternative, or even the Mt. Potash trail, on the other side of the parking lot from the UNH trail.  But even that one is tricky--and that's another hike and story!  The trail  named after a forestry camp for UNH students.  Contributed by Snowymt

Lakes Region

Mt. Fayal Trail - (Holderness 1067'  ft)  Beautiful lookout onto Squam Lake.  Not a bad hike to do with kids, it takes about an hour to complete.  One side of the trail is a little steep and rocky, the other side was a nice walk paths.  This trail is located at the Science Center at Holderness.

Monadnock Region

Mt. Monadnock - (3165 Ft.) Jaffrey, NH southwest NH - NH 124.  The top half of the mountain are big slabs and boulders of rock that are fun to climb over.  There are many trails of varying levels of difficulty so there is something here for everyone.  This mountain is known as the most climbed mountain in the world, because it provides spectacular views in all directions.  This is definitely a mountain.  The trails are very steep and rocky  in places, so be prepared with good footwear, water and food.  We hiked this in early September where it was very warm at the base, but it was extremely cold at the peak.  It was a very nice hike, but as I mentioned you have to be prepared because it's not easy.  

Merrimack Region

Lake Massabesic Walking Trails - Manchester - There are many trails around this lake which is located in Manchester and Auburn off Bypass Route 28 and Route 121, respectively. Most trailheads are marked with silver and yellow 'gates'. Some of the trails loop around and come back to the trailhead, others are what I would call 'dead-end' trails meaning you go out and come back on the same trail. For more specific trail information you can contact or visit the Audubon Center off Bypass Rte 28 or the Manchester Water Works (they maintain the trails on the Manchester side).  Both of these places have maps of the different trails around Lake Massabesic. Most of the trails are well marked and they range from 1/2 mile to 3+ miles. I would definitely recommend this area of trails to all who enjoy to hiking and biking.

Mine Falls Park Walking Trail - Nashua - This park has over 325 acres, very nice scenic park.  Great for hiking or biking has both paved and stone dust paths.  The paths are generally level so it's a good one to do with kids.  While we were there we found a Blue Heron taking flight along the water (What a site!).  Getting there can be tricky, Take exit 5 A. off Everett Turnpike, follow loop around, toward Simon St., take Whipple St.  - Or you can go 111 West through Nashua, go past Main St. and before you get on the Everett Turnpike, take Simon St. on right to Whipple St.  There are also Soccer Fields toward the back end of the park.  There are about 20 miles of multiuse trails.  Contributed by Meri

Seacoast Region

Hampstead Conservation Trails Walking - Hampstead - The trails are off West Road & Rte 121 in Hampstead, they are marked by Wooden signs.  I took my 2 children ages 2 & 6 and walked from West Road to the other end of the trail to Rte 121 then back again, fairly long distance I estimate about 3 miles total walk.  Pretty good as far as sign are concerned maybe could use a few more to keep you on the right trail.  Lots of other loops everywhere that bring you back to the main trail.  We had an enjoyable time, my kids love to hike.

Odiorne State Park Walking - Rye off of Route 1A.  Very nice walk which weaves in and out over looking the beach.  There is about a 7 mile walking or biking trail that is fairly level and very easy to do.  Definitely a nice hike to take with the children and they have a Science Center with tide pools to discover all sorts of underwater creatures.  Pretty nice picnic area to pack a lunch and a small swing set area for the kids to enjoy.  Over all you can spend a few hours enjoying this Park.  Contributed by Keith

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