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New England States
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New Hampshire Region Descriptions
Click a region on the
map
to jump to that region's description. Click on a region's header to see a listing of hikes in that region.
NH - Northern
The northern section of New Hampshire is a remote, wild, undeveloped region. It is replete with wildlife, including moose, black bear, and deer. The mountains are low elevation and relatively widely spaced, offering stunning views of shimmering lakes, murky bogs, and dark spires of a forest dense with spruce and firs.
The 162-mile Cohos Trail wends its way through this region from south to north, running from Rt. 302 all the way to the Canadian border. This region also includes the 40,000-acre Nash Stream Forest.
Boundaries:
North of Rt. 2.
NH - Central West
The Central West region of New Hampshire includes the western portion of the White Mountain National Forest. This section encompasses the alluring
Mount Moosilauke
with trails running up its flanks from every direction. And to the north of Moosilauke is the rugged, wild, and seldom traveled
Kinsman Ridge
.
In the southern reaches of the Central West region are
Mount Cardigan State Park
and
Mount Kearsarge
, both peaks providing gorgeous outlooks. There are a variety of paths leading to these summits, allowing the hiker to choose easy or difficult routes to the summits.
Boundaries:
South and west of I-93. North of I-89.
NH - Central East
This region contains the bulk of the White Mountain National Forest, a vast park encompassing 800,000 acres and 1,200 miles of hiking trails. It contains a wide range of habitats due to large elevation changes; an ascent of 1,000 feet is akin to traveling 200 miles north. The Presidential range includes seven summits over 5,000 feet, including the highest peak in the Northeast:
Mount Washington
at 6,288 feet.
The "white" in "White Mountains" comes from the numerous bare peaks in this region. The alpine areas above timberline are home to rare and beautiful plants, many that normally grow in the Artic. Generally speaking, trails through the White Mountains are rocky and rugged.
The Central East region of New Hampshire also encompasses the Lakes district to the south of the national forest. Here you will find more accessible, lower elevation peaks such as
Mount Major
with its mesmerizing view of Lake Winnipesaukee.
Boundaries:
South of Rt. 2. East of I-93. North of Rt. 4.
NH - Southwest
Southwestern New Hampshire generally contains rolling, scenic low-elevation hills. The Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway 49-mile hiking trail runs from
Mount Monadnock
to
Mount Sunapee
, hitting both of these popular and beautiful peaks.
Boundaries:
South of I-89. West of I-93.
NH - Southeast
Southeastern New Hampshire contains the state's short ocean shoreline. Trails include walks along the coast, estuaries, and the region's many rivers.
Farther inland is
Pawtuckaway State Park
, an area of rugged but low-elevation mountains with many interesting boulder fields.
Boundaries:
South of Rt. 4. East of I-93.
Jump to Section
NH - Map
NH - Northern
NH - Central West
NH - Central East
NH - Southwest
NH - Southeast
Forest Statuses
Please check the links below to get the latest status, closures, and alerts regarding forest roads, trails, and campgrounds.
White Mountain National Forest
WMNF Road Statuses on FB
Green Mountain National Forest
Welcome
Welcome hikers, walkers, and snowshoers!
This site is geared towards those that love to be outside. Whether you're looking for outdoor fitness and recreation or wishing to find peace and serenity through nature - we have suggestions for you.
Our free hiking trail guide resource offers everything from short, easy, nature walks to challenging mountain climbs above timberline in the alpine zone. The detailed trail reports with hike descriptions, trail maps, photos, and driving directions serve as a great planning tool. Many of the trail guides are based on hikes in the beautiful White Mountains of New Hampshire.
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