New Hampshire Travel Forum

We are visiting the Mt Washington area of the White Mtns for a couple of nights camping at the end of June as part of a tour of New England and would like to do a really good hike in the area. We are very fit, experienced walkers with a lot of mountaineering experience.

We want to do an interesting, decent length walk of anything from 10 - 20 miles (day hike) and preferably gain some height (a summit). Can anyone recommend a really good hike?

Also be interested in any recommendations for nice quite, scenic campsite (pref rustic to over developed or commercialised sites).

Many thanks,

Sam from England

Great idea! There are tons of hiking opportunities up there, and the best people to tell you about them will be the rangers at the various ranger stations in the White Mountains National Forest. Find out more here: http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/white_mountain/recreation/hiking/
http://gorp.away.com/gorp/resource/us_national_forest/nh/hik_whit.htm

There is camping in the national forest and I suggest you go with that. It will be the most rustic. See the list:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/white_mountain/recreation/camping/developed_campsites.html

We did some hiking in the southern White Mountains in December 2006 (it was supposed to be XC skiing, but the snow did not cooperate!) and relied on the rangers at the Kancamagus station for suggestions. They were extremely helpful. I would also suggest you stop into the nearest REI or any camping/hiking gear shop to pick up trail maps--they're all over the place.

I've camped at the Crawford Notch Campground. Not sure if it is rustic enough for you though...there are hot showers and flush toilets. They have great tent sites along the Saco River that are fabulous.

I'm not a really experienced hiker so can't recommend anything at your level. The AMC has a great guide for the area though, www.outdoors.org. They are a great resource.

Definitely the best hiking IMHO is up to the summit of Mt Washington itself. There are lots of trails up the mountain but I really enjoy hiking up the Jewel Trail and then down the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail. Both trailheads are at the Cog Railway station at the end of Base Road, so you start & end at the same place. I think it's only 8 miles or so round trip but it will take you most of the day. It usually takes me about 8-9 hours round trip but I'm not the quickest hiker. Beautiful views of the cog trains and surrounding landscape. The Lakes of the Clouds are a nice place to stop on the way down on the A.R. Trail. It's quite chilly & windy at the top, even when it is hot at the bottom so you'll need to bring a sweatshirt or something warm in your pack.

A good investment if you are looking to hike up there is an Appalachian Mt Club hiking guidebook: http://amcstore.outdoors.org/amcstore/dept.asp?s_id=0&dept_name=Hiking+Guides&dept_id=3012. The store at the Cog Railway station will most likely have the AMC White Mt & Presidential Range guidebook. The books come with topo-maps!

As for camping, I've always been fond of the White Mtn National Forest campgrounds on the Kancamagus Highway (aka Highway 112), which runs between the towns of Lincoln & Conway. My favorite camp is called Jigger Johnson. Sites 47 thru 59 on the river are the best:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/white_mountain/recreation/camping/jigger_johnson.html

Have a great time! Buy lots of bug repellent! The black flies will be in top form!

- Sharon