Best Hikes in New England

New England may not be able to compete with the mountains out west, but opportunities for scenic hikes are plentiful. With hiking destinations ranging in topography from Maine’s rugged coastline to the rolling green summits of the Berkshires, New England has a variety of hiking experiences, many of which are not terribly far from a major city. With so many to choose from, narrowing the list down to 10 is clearly a subjective exercise, and dozens of worthy trails will inevitably be excluded from this list. Nonetheless, we present you with our top 10 best hikes in New England:

Mt. Katahdin is best known for being the norther terminus of the Appalachian Trail, and the sign at the summit is the site of thousands of triumphant photographs of successful through-hikers. There are numerous routes to the summit, but the most famous (and treacherous) is the Knife Edge Trail. The name is fairly self explanatory.

Difficulty: Difficult

With 48 4,000+ foot peaks, New Hampshire has its fair share of beautiful mountain hikes, but it’s tough to beat the view looking across Franconia Ridge. The loop hits the summits of Lincoln, Lafayette, and Little Haystack, and provides sweeping views of the White Mountains.

Distance: 8.8 miles

Difficulty: Difficult

The Cutler Coast Trail is a lesser known New England hike, but this loop trail along the cliffs is as good as it gets in coastal Maine. It is also located in a remote corner of the state on the Canadian border, so crowds shouldn’t be an issue.

Distance: 5.5 or 9.2 mile loop

Difficulty: Easy

Not for the faint of heart, the Presidential Traverse is the marathon of New England day hikes. While it’s much more reasonable to complete as a multi-day hike, it’s a badge of honor among New England peak baggers to complete this point-to-point hike in a day. The trail traverses the summits of 8 of the New Hampshire 4,000-footers, including Mt. Washington, the highest peak in the northeast at 6,288 feet.

Distance: 20-22 miles (depending on “optional” summits)

Difficulty: Very Difficult

The Precipice Trail is one of the classic hikes in Acadia National Park, but not recommended to anyone with a fear of heights. This short hike to the summit of Champlain Mountain involves ladders and iron rungs built into the cliff face with narrow trails hugging the sides of the cliffs. It’s not terribly difficult compared to some of the more strenuous hikes on this list, but it can be dangerous if you aren’t careful. The views of the ocean from the trail and from the summit are some of the best in Acadia. 

Distance:  2.6 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

As Vermont’s third highest peak, Camel’s hump is one of the most popular day hikes in the Green Mountains. There are a few different options for reaching the spectacular views on the summit ranging in round-trip mileage from 4-12 miles.

Distance: 4-12 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

While perhaps less popular than the Presidential Traverse, the Pemi Loop is the other epic day hike in the White Mountains that few have the endurance to complete. This loop through the Pemigewasset Wilderness hits 8 summits over the course of 31.5 miles, including Franconia Ridge, the Bonds, and Garfield.

Distance: 31.5 miles

Difficulty: Very Difficult

8. Cadillac Mountain (Maine)

 

9. Mt. Mansfield (Vermont)

 

10. Mt. Greylock (Massachusetts)