New Hampshire is home to 48 peaks standing 4,000 feet or more. Completing all 48 is a badge of honor for hikers throughout the Northeast. If you or someone you know is considering tackling your first 4,000-footers, here are some good places to start.
The summit of New Hampshire’s Mount Osceola. (tmaull/Flickr Photo)
- Mount Osceola – The hike up 4,315-foot Mount Osceola is a steady climb along the 3.2-mile Mount Osceola Trail from the Tripoli Road parking area. The large rock slab summit offers breathtaking views and a great place to relax after your climb.
- Mount Pierce – Take Crawford Path – the oldest continually-used hiking trail in the U.S. – up this 4,320-foot summit where you’ll find gorgeous views of the surrounding area.
- Mount Tecumseh – At 4,003 feet, Tecumseh is the shortest of New Hampshire’s 4,000-footers. (It’s also home to Waterville Valley Resort.) The Mount Tecumseh Trail from the Tripoli Road parking area travels roughly 2.5 miles up to the summit, 5 miles round-trip.
- Mount Hale – One of the easiest 4,000-footer hikes in the Whites, it’s a mere 2.2-mile hike to Hale’s 4,055-foot summit. It’s not a terribly popular hike, as the summit is surrounded by trees.
- Mount Waumbek – The third-shortest of New Hampshire’s 4,000-footers, Waumbek stands at 4,006 feet. The hike to the summit is 3.6 miles (roughly 7.2 miles round-trip) and crosses the summit of Mount Starr King before continuing on to Waumbek. The top is surrounded by trees, but hikers are treated to a few nice views along the way.