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Top Day Hikes in New Hampshire

Appalachian Trail, Mount Washington

Hiking is a the perfect thing to do on your own in New Hampshire or together as a family. Whether it is a walk along a portion of the Appalachian Trail that runs through Mount Washington in the White Mountains or just a simple hike through someplace like The Flume or to the top of where Old Man on the Mountain once was you are sure to find one of these day hikes fun and easy for anyone to do. If you are planning to camp out over night you will find a few of these offer those services also.

The Appalachian Trail in The White Mountains

Whether you are getting on the trail at any of the 16 entry points in the White Mountains, or you entered New Hampshire from Vermont and will be continuing into Maine, the Appalachian Trail runs through the state and it is a great hike for novice to more experienced hikers. A beginner to the trail, and even experienced hikers who know this way well, will find some portions easy and some very hard with some calling this portion of the Trail the most dangerous with some areas barely leaving you enough walking room and no room for mistakes. The lowest point starts with Velvet Rocks at 500ft and the highest point is Mount Washington and The Presidential Range at 5,288ft.

Be aware of seasonal climate changes and be prepared for the worst to happen at any time when you hike here. If you are looking for an easy hike the lower elevations would be best to hike along. If you are looking for a challenge anywhere in the White Mountains to Maine is best for hiking and climbing. Watch out for sudden clouds, fog, rain and drops in temperature in the mountains and snow still present into mid June.

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Best Time to Go: Any time between late April and late September
Difficulty Level: 4 in the lower elevations to 10 in the mountains

The Flume Gorge

Located in the Franconia Notch mountains The Flume is a great place to take your family if you are looking for a day hike through the woods with beautiful views of this natural gorge that extends 800 feet at the base of Mount Liberty. The walls of Conway granite rise to a height of 70 to 90 feet and are 12 to 20 feet apart. Your journey starts at The Flume’s visitor center where you can see a short film and will take approximately 3 hours to complete if you want to take in everything and make it back to the visitors center again. If you are looking for a longer hike you can make your way to Cannon Mountain and hike up the mountain and along several trails. You can also hike to Profile Lake or to where the Old Man on the Mountain once stood.

If you enter through the visitors center admission is $12 for adults, $8 for children 6-11 and children under 5 are free. The Flume is open from late May to late October depending on the weather and it is recommended you take along some warm clothes as the weather changes quickly. Also be aware the flume has wooden stairs that lead into it that are always wet and slippery.

Best Time to Go: Any time in Summer or early Fall
Difficulty Level: 2 if you plan to stay at The Flume. If you venture over to Cannon Mountain the difficulty goes to 9

Pemi Trail

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Just off I-93 in Mittersill you will find a perfect trail nestled in the forests that surrounds the White Mountains that is easy for beginners and families to hike together. This trail gives you a combination of flowing water, lots of wildflowers, occasional views of Franconia Notch and occasional wildlife sightings such as deer and moose. The trail is mostly sheltered by a dense tunnel of forest most of the time which makes this a great trail to take on a hot summer day and you can swim at Echo Lake when you finish.

The Pemi Trail is a relatively level hike that runs along the Pemigewasset River in Franconia Notch from the Flume to Profile Lake with a total distance of 5.6 miles. You can gain access to the trail at a number of points along its length, so you have the option of hiking part of the trail or the entire thing.

Best Time to Go: Late Spring to Early Autumn
Difficulty Level: 1 because of how easy and level the trail is, perfect for families

Mount Starr King / Mount Waumbek

This is one of my favorite trails to hike and is so easy to start from if you are in the Jefferson area. It’s 4 miles to the top of Mount Waumbek via the Mount Starr King trail which curls its way up to the peaks of both mountain ranges. From the top I would recommend spending a good amount of time just taking in the forests that surround you, the White Mountains in the distance and the pastures and fields of Jefferson and Lancaster below you that run along the Israel River. I promise, you won’t be disappointed with this hike.

Best Time to Go: Late Spring to see the wildflowers through Fall to see beautiful fall foliage and leaves changing colors
Difficulty Level: 3 While it is an easy trail to hike up there are some steep points and children should be careful in some areas

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Ethan Pond Trail

If you’re looking for a great family hike that will be simple, and rewarding, one of my favorites is the Ethan Pond trail hike. Ethan Pond runs along the Appalachian Trail and is convenient for long-distance trekkers as well as a perfect destination for short family backpacks if you are coming from nearby Crawford Notch. If you’re planning to camp overnight in the woods you can do that also with this hike, but you are restricted to designated camping spots only in the State Park. You will find tent spots and lean to’s along the hillside that provide beautiful views of the surrounding trees and mountains.

Located on the northeastern fringe of the Pemigewasset Wilderness, Zealand Notch, Thoreau Falls, Shoal Pond, Mount Willey and Ripley Falls are all located within walking distance if you want to take the family exploring. You journey will also bring you to waterfalls that dot New Hampshire’s wilderness.

Best Time to Go: Early Spring to Early Fall if you want an easy hike. If you plan to go in the winter the roads leading to the main trail is not plowed and you will need to walk there in the snow
Difficulty Level: 2 This one is fairly easy