5 Hikes Challenge 2024: ALL the Hikes

SEACOAST REGION

Easy 1.8 mile out-and-back hike with nice wetland views and hemlock forests

Easy 2 mile hike, pine forest, fields, and wetlands

Easy 1.5 mile loop with shoreline views of Sagamore Creek, salt marsh, and historic mansions

  • Lamprey River Forest Epping
  • Powder Major's Forest, Madbury

MERRIMACK VALLEY REGION

Easy 1.5 mile walk along Merrimack River, silver maple floodplain forest and wetland habitats

Easy 2-3 mile walk, cultural history of abandoned colonial settlement, nice wetland and field views

Strenuous 3 mile round trip hike to nice views from Mount Wallingford, wetlands

MONADNOCK REGION

Moderate hike along the Silver Mountain Trail that is 1 mile round trip.

Easy 1.6 mile hike adjacent to wildlife pond, or moderately strenuous 4.0 mile loop with beaver pond, varied habitats

Easy 0.7 mile climb on woods road to spectacular panoramic views

Easy 1.7 mile hike, partially along Contoocook River 

Moderately strenuous 2 mile loop to scenic Indian Pond and/or easy 0.2 mile hike to remnants of Madame Sherri’s “castle”

Moderate 1.2 mile round trip climb to ledges on Hedgehog Ridge, views of Contoocook Valley

Moderate 2.4 mile hike to highest point in Walpole, beautiful fields, vernal pool, several viewpoints

Strenuous ~2.5 mile round trip climb to rocky summit of Gap Mountain, great views of Mount Monadnock. Two options for reaching the summit- either north trail, or south, similar difficulty.

The Dublin Trail is a very strenuous climb for experienced hikers only. 4.4 miles.

This moderate, 2-mile trail includes a stop at the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire marker installed in 2021 to honor the family of James Due. The Dues were one of the first African American families to settle in Hancock in the 1700s, and were subject to many prejudices.

DARTMOUTH/LAKE SUNAPEE REGION

Moderate 2 mile loop through mixed forest types, beaver pond, streams, views of Mount Sunapee

Strenuous 3.8 mile round trip climb along Andrew Brook to beautiful Lake Solitude on the eastern slope of Mount Sunapee

Moderately strenuous 2.4 mile round trip climb to summit of Sunset Hill, views of Lake Sunapee and old cellar holes

Moderately Strenuous to Strenuous for length and steepness - a steady climb along the Lincoln Trail on woods roads and narrow forest trails to a nice lookout at Baker's Ledge, 4.2 miles round trip.

LAKES REGION

Moderate 1.7 mile hike to fantastic views of Lake Winnipesaukee and White Mountains

Easy 1.4 mile rolling trail through old field white pine, spruce, beech and red oak - once a former pastureland

Strenuous 3.6 mile round trip climb on trails and woods roads to Bald Knob, great mountain views

Strenuous, steep 1.2 mile climb to overlook with fantastic views of Squam Lake

Easy 0.7 mile walk, partially on boardwalks, through rare Atlantic Cedar Swamp habitat

Moderately strenuous 2.5 mile round trip climb on trails and woods roads to summit of Phoebe’s Nable Mt, beautiful views, former farm fields

Easy to moderate 2 mile hike on old logging roads and trails, fields, forests

Strenuous 3.3 mile hike with some rock scrambling to reach stunning views of Lake Winnipesaukee and White Mountains beyond

Strenuous 3-mile hike that climbs up the southeast side of Green Mountain.

WHITE MOUNTAINS & NORTH COUNTRY

Moderately strenuous 1.5 mile hike to entrance of an abandoned gold mine

Easy 0.5-2 mile hikes, interpretive nature trails and picnic area by wildlife pond 

This forest hosts a short trail that is .90 mile, roundtrip, and accesses the Ammonoosuc River

  • Lost River, North Woodstock- *NOTE: LOST RIVER GORGE AND TRAIL ENTRANCE CLOSE AFTER OCTOBER 20*

The Kinsman Notch Ecology Trail is a half-mile loop of easy to moderate hiking difficulty. *Want to go inside the gorge? Select this hike and you will receive a free ticket to Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves! (Note that new members receive two free passes when they join.)*

  • Peabody Forest & Bald Cap Peak Forest, Shelburne: TBA
  • Forest Society North at The Rocks, Bethlehem: TBA

Varied 4.6 mile trail meanders through The Rocks, crossing managed woodland and overgrown apple orchards, and skirting beaver ponds and wetland habitat. Hikers may explore this trail as one long loop or by selecting one or more of the various spurs: Gozzo Rocks Loop (1.8 mile/moderate); Gozzo Trail to South Road (.67-mile/one-way/difficult); Gozzo South Road Loop (1.5-mile/moderate)