East Coast By Region

New Hampshire

Summit of Mount Washington in Distance

The White Mountains

Hiking in New Hampshire is fantastic.  The White Mountains are known for their steep and rugged trails that are easily accessible from trailhead parking giving you a great bang for your buck while raking up miles.  The White Mountains contain some of the best above treeline and ridge hikes on the East Coast.  Kids love the simple rock scrambles, stunning views, and swimmable waterfalls.  When the kids get older, knocking off New Hampshire’s 48 4,000 foot mountains becomes a fun quest.  These summits can be completed in a single day cutting out the need to camp during the hike.

*Fun Bonus: Hard hiking kids can be celebrated with a trip to Story Land in Glen, NH or Santa’s Village in Jefferson, NH.  Both are charming old fashioned children’s theme parks worth a visit!

4,000 Footer

Mount Washington Valley and Franconia Notch

This area sits in the shadow of Mount Washington, the tallest mountain in the North East and is comprised of villages of Conway, North Conway, Jackson, Bartlett, Intervale.  It is filled with numerous opportunities for outdoor adventures like skiing, cross country skiing, biking, kayaking, climbing, and more.  However the hiking in the area is incredibly unique for much of the East Coast.  The many scenic notches that make up the valley offer hiking that is easily accessed from parking at the start of the steeply cut trails.  

The Oldest Trail in the United States

Five Favorite Intermediate Hikes with Kids

Tuckerman Racine to Hermit Lake
  • Tuckerman Ravine to Hermit Lake Shelter
  • 5 miles round trip, 1,800 feet of gain, Hard.
  • This hike starts at the Pinkham Notch AMC and follows the Ravine Trail past a beautiful waterfall called Cascade falls. It cross a few scenic brooks and then starts a steady but doable incline. It is a rocky trail in summer, but it is not overly steep. The elevation gain is 1,800 feet in the 2.5 miles out and once you reach the Hermit Lake Shelter, you will have stunning views at the base of Tuckerman’s Ravine on Mount Washington. There is a filtered water pump for refills, but no snacks available. The small hermit lake sits in front of the Ravine and during the winter, this serves as the base of the most well known back country skiing site on the East Coast.


Summit of Black Cap
  • Black Cap Mountain
  • 2.3 miles round trip, 660 feet of gain, Moderate
  • Black Cap Mountain trail starts on Hurricane Mountain Road in Conway. It’s a great for beginner or intermediate family hike. It’s incline is very doable for children ages 5 and up, and the reward at the summit is a panoramic view of the valley and surrounding mountains.
Summit of Mount Willard
  • Mount Willard
  • 3 miles round trip, 895 feet of gain, Moderate
  • The trailhead for Mount Willard is behind the Crawford Train Depo. It’s a relatively steep hike that rewards the family with beautiful views of Crawford Notch below. You pass a small waterfall and centennial pool which are marked off the easy to follow trail. This is a popular one, and is a step up in difficulty from Black Cap Mountain.
Zealand Falls Hut
  • Zealand Falls Hut
  • 5.5 miles round trip, 616 feet of gain, Moderate
  • The trailhead is found at Zealand Parking off of Route 302. The trail is flat and crosses a few bogs where wildlife such as moose can be seen! The last quarter of a mile is very steep and rocky, but beginner intermediates or children 6 and up will have no problem. After the climb, you arrive at the Hut that is used for overnight camping by through hikers. There is a stunning waterfall, Zealand Falls, located behind the Hut and offers a great break before the hike back to the trailhead.
Summit of Mount Pierce, a 4,000 Footer
  • Mount Pierce via Crawford Path
  • 6 miles round trip, 2,398 feet of gain, Hard
  • This is a great first 4,000 footer for families to hike! The Crawford Path is the oldest continuous hiking path in the United States and the trail head is located on Mount Clinton Road off of 302. There is a steady incline and elevation gain the entire length of the 3 miles to the summit. Once you arrive, there is a flat rocky area to rest and take in incredible views of Mount Washington and other surrounding mountains.
  • Note: the summit is exposed and careful following of weather reports are important before hiking this trail.