PLACES TO HIKE
Regional RESOURCES
A1 Trails — Info on select hiking, biking and XC-skiing trails; search by state.
Appalachian Mountain Club — The club’s huts, lodges and campsites are open to all; the bulletin board has info on trail conditions and good hiking talk; and you can keep updated on conservation news.
Appalachian Trail Conference — This comprehensive site has state-by-state info for planning a hike on the Appalachian Trail, conditions and updates, thru-hiking stats, etc.
Appalachian Trail Homepage — This website, created by some folks in West Virginia, has state-by-state info about the trail, advice from hikers, a discussion forum, and some unique odds and ends.
Appalachian Trail Shelters List — Information on shelters along the AT, complete with maps, waypoints and useful links.
Appalachian Trail International — As if walking from Georgia to Maine wasn’t far enough, this trail runs from Mt. Katahdin deep into Canada.
The Backpacker — Find trails and parks in a state near you. The site also has hiking articles, tips for beginners, and an active message board.
4000footers of New England — Tons of info on routes and answers to FAQ about submitting New England’s 4,000-footers.
Dolores and Dan’s 4,000-footers site — Dolores and Dan have a goal of hiking New England’s 4,000-footers and Hundred Highest peaks. And they have info on these peaks and more at their site.
Eastern Waterfall Guide — Info on great waterfalls and how to reach them.
Family Camping in New England — This is a thorough list of campgrounds throughout the area.
Get Outdoors New England — An excellent site for outdoor enthusiasts. The site is a big, informal bulletin board for people to meet one another, talk about the outdoors, and organize and participate in their own cool events. Definitely worth checking out.
L.L. Bean Park Search — If you’re looking for a place to hike, bike, paddle or ski, check this out. It has info on virtually every park, big and small, in THE WORLD.
National Park Service — Search for national parks in any state. Among the places the site has info on are Acadia National Park, Appalachian National Scenic Trail and Cape Cod National Seashore.
New England Trailhead — Info on parks in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.
Peakbagger — A cool site with info on ranges and peaks throughout the world. Check out the Eastern US peak lists.
Peak to Peak – Links to hiking, backpacking, trail and wilderness links around the globe.
Recreation.gov – Info on hiking, camping, biking and other recreational opportunities throughout the country.
Slackpacker — Website with links to hiking info divided by state.
Tim’s Website — One guy’s private site with good weather links and some Northeast hiking links.
Trail Place — An online resource center for those planning to hike the Appalachian Trail.
Views from the Top — Covering New England and New York, the site has trail conditions, weather reports, and an active discussion forum.
Western New England Hiking and Orienteering — One man’s private site where you can learn to orienteer. It also has info on a few hikes in western Mass and Connecticut, and good info on the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail.
Wilderness.net – Info on wilderness areas throughout the country.
Connecticut
Berkshire Hiking — A great, user-friendly site devoted to hiking, biking and kayaking in the Berkshires. Easy to find hikes with great views, observation towers, water views and open fields. And info on camping in the Berks.
Connecticut Audubon Societies — Links to local chapters of Connecticut’s Audubon Society.
Connecticut Explorer’s Guide – Maps and info for all of the state’s adventure sports.
Connecticut State Parks & Forests — Excellent site to learn about the state’s many parks. You can download maps of many of the parks and forests.
Connecticut Waterfalls — Learn about Connecticut’s water falls.
Earthplace — This Nature Discovery Center in Westport has hiking trails. It’s also a good place to bring the knee-highs.
Mount Frissell — Info on trails up Connecticut’s highest peak.
Mount Frissell Narrative — One hiker’s take on climbing Frissell. It’s a good read for getting an idea of what to expect.
Mount Frissell South Slope— Peakbagger site with info on summiting Frissell.
Hockanum Trails — Info on 15 miles of trails along the Hockanum River in Manchester, Connecticut.
Shelton Lakes Trails — Find maps and descriptions of the trails in Shelton at this site.
Simsbury Hiking Trails — A guide to local hiking trails from the Simsbury Land Conservation Trust.
Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge — This refuge spans 60 miles along the state’s coast.
Taconic Range — This Peakbagger site has information about this range on NY/CT/MA border.
Maine
Acadia National Park — The National Parks Service site for Acadia.
Exploring Acadia — This link on the NPS site has the lo-down on hiking, biking, climbing and everything else in Acadia.
AcadiaNet— This site, created by Mainers, has more information on visiting the park, including good tips on visiting during the winter.
Acadia – The Precipice — This is one hiker’s narrative about hiking the Precipice Trail, which is the most challenging and well-known trail in the park. As a story it ain’t all that, but it will give you good details about what to expect along the trail.
Acadia Magic — This link has a rundown of Acadia’s hiking trails, a great map of the park, and info on local lodging, shopping and dining.
The Bermel’s Guide to Acadia — A couple of locals put this site together to give visitors some activities to consider to get a feel for the area.
Appalachian Trail in Maine — Site about Maine’s 270 miles of the AT, considered the toughest stretch of all 14 states.
Aroostook State Park Hiking Trails — Information on a few short hikes in Aroostook.
Camping at Aroostook State Park — Thirty wooded sites are open to tent and trailer camping in the park.
Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge — The refuge has several trails totaling about six miles. It’s a great place to view wetlands, hardwood forest, and check out moose, black bear and — for warbler fanatics — up to 20 species of warblers. Score!
Maine Audubon Society — This site has a list of the society’s sanctuaries throughout the state. It’s also a great place to stay up-to-date on conservation issues.
Baxter State Park, official site – The state park’s official site with all you need to know about visiting the area and tackling Katahdin. It’s a great place to hike. There are 175 miles of trails in the park, and 46 peaks and ridges.
Baxter State Park, the Maine Way — This site has a list of the major trails within the park.
Baxter State Park Winter Rules — The park authority has a list of procedures and guidelines to make sure people don’t get into trouble. Don’t be a moron. Check them out.
Bigelow Preserve — These 36,000 acres in western Maine provide great hiking opportunities. The AT runs through it, and above the treeline one gets a great view of western Maine and northern New Hampshire.
Camp Maine — If you’re looking for a campground anywhere in Maine, this is what you want.
Eastern Trail — This group is working to open a trail from Portsmouth, New Hampshire to Maine’s Casco Bay.
Grafton Loop Trail — This trail in the Mahoosuc area runs through some phenomenal mountainous areas. The site has some great descriptions, and you can download a map and more info.
Healthy Maine Walks — Looking for a place to walk? This group, working to promote a healthier Maine, helps people find walking routes near their homes.
Katahdin Basecamp— A hiker named Mike created this site to help people plan trips to Baxter State Park. Here you can view maps of the northern and southern sections of the park, and a list of trails and their mileage.
Katahdin Narrative — This narrative is one hiker’s account of a trek up Katahdin. It’ll give people an idea of what to expect from the mountain.
International Lakeland Trail — This trail runs from Lincoln, Maine to McAdam and Harvey, New Brunswick.
Longfellow Mountains — The Peakbagger site on Maine’s Longfellow Range, which is home to Katahdin, not to mention 7 other peaks over 4,000 feet.
Maine Aerial Photography – An internet mapping tool with aerial photography images of Maine.
Maine Department of Conservation — This state website has info on all of Maine’s state parks. It’s the place to start when planning a trip.
Maine Office of Tourism — Helpful site with info on different regions, activities and businesses.
Maine Outdoors — Details about some of the more popular hikes in the state.
MaineToday.com — The outdoors section of Maine’s popular newspaper company. It has helpful information on planning activities.
Mattawamkeag Wilderness Park — Information on camping and hiking the 15 miles of trails within this park.
Moosehead Lake Hikes — Information about a number of hikes — from easy to challenging — around the lake region.
Nesowadnehunk Lake Wilderness Campground — Campground and cabins at the base of Katahdin.
Northern Maine Hiking Trails — Info on trails in the state’s upper regions.
Portland Trails — 23 trails (with maps) around the awesome city of Portland.
Saco Bay Trails — More than a dozen trails around Saco Bay.
Massachusetts
Mass Audubon Society — The site has a list of all society sanctuaries in the state, as well as conservation news, and info on programs and events.
Berkshire Hiking — A great, user-friendly site devoted to hiking, biking and kayaking in the Berkshires. Easy to find hikes with great views, observation towers, water views and open fields. And info on camping in the Berks.
Boston Area Hiking Guide — Comprehensive site about hiking places near Boston. It has maps, public transportation info, hiking organizations, and tons of other goodies.
Boston Harbor Islands National Park — The National Park Service site for this oft forgotten park.
Boston Harbor Islands Island Alliance — A visitor’s guide for the harbor islands. Learn how to reach them, how to camp on them, and discover their hiking trails.
Cape Cod Trails Conference — This site has long and short hikes on the Cape.
Carlisle Area — About 25 percent of Carlisle, Mass is protected conservation land, and has some great hiking trails.
Dayhiker’s Guide to Northampton — Despite its name, this site has less to do with Hamp and more to do with hiking places throughout western Mass. It has info on some great hikes you might not find elsewhere.
Department of Conservation and Recreation — This state site list all Massachusetts’s state forests and parks and has info on hiking them.
DCR Reservations — This site lists the state’s woodland, river and coastal reservations.
Essex County Trail Association – Info on trails in Essex County.
Friends Of Our Trails — This site, run by a group of outdoors enthusiasts in the Greater Newburys area, has info on hiking trails around the North Shore.
Friends of the Middlesex Fells Reservation – The Fells is a 2,060-acre natural treasure. A diverse landscape of rocky hills, meadows, wetlands, oak and hickory forests, quiet ponds, vernal pools, panoramic vistas and intriguing geological features distinguish this woodland.
MassParks — Find state parks and forests by region.
Metacomet-Monadnock Trail — The M-M trail runs 117 miles from Connecticut to New Hampshire. This site describes each section, complete with a detailed elevation profile.
Day Hikes on the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail — If you don’t feel up for all 117 miles in one shot, this site describes with good detail more than 20 dayhikes along the M-M trail.
Mid-State Trail — This little-known, 92-mile-trail runs from Rhode Island, through central Mass, to the Wapack Trail in New Hampshire.
Midstate Trail Homepage — Internet base camp of the 92-mile trail in Worcester County that runs from Rhode Island to New Hampshire.
The Pirate Trail — These two trails (4 mile & 10 mile) in the Lynn Woods Reservation are home to pirate legends.
Purgatory Chasm State Reservation — The reservation in Sutton, Mass has five short hiking trails with interesting geological landmarks. The site has a map of the area.
Taconic Range — This Peakbagger site has information about this range on NY/CT/MA border.
The Trustees of Reservations — This conservation group that’s been around since the 1890s has nearly 100 reservations open to the public. They have great hiking opportunities in places you might not know about otherwise. Download maps from their trail map library.
Wachusett Greenways – Grassroots group working to expand a network of trails and open spaces in the Wachusett area.
Warner Trail — This 30-mile trail runs from Canton, Mass to Rhode Island.
Westborough Charm Bracelet Trail System — This is a system of trails throughout the scenic town of Westborough.
New Hampshire
4,000-footers – Site has a list of 48 4,000-foot peaks in the state with photos from hikes on each one.
AMC Huts – Info on huts available along the AT in the White Mountains.
Audubon Society of NH – Descriptions of the Audubon Society’s sanctuaries and trails.
Cohos Trail Association – Everything you need to plan a trip along this new 162-mile remote trail in the northern-most part of the state.
Friends of the Wapack – Site has maps and info on this 21-mile trail running from Ashburnham, Massachusetts, to Greenfield, New Hampshire.
Guide to NH Trails – Search for trails by region, trail name, distance or difficulty level.
Hike New Hampshire – A couple of hikers (Chris and Rob) have chronicled their hikes up dozens of NH peaks. The result is a site with comprehensive trip descriptions, plus some good gear and how-to info.
The Leisurely Backpacker – Trip reports for a number of NH hikes, plus articles and gear reviews.
The Moat Range – Info and photos for hiking the Moat Range near North Conway.
Mt. Lafayette – A detailed rundown of climbing the 5,260-foot peak, the highest summit of the Franconia Range.
Mt. Madison – This narrative about a hike up Madison gives hikers an idea of what to expect.
Mt. Passaconaway – A narrative of one hiker’s experiences.
Mount Washington Avalanche Center – Besides avalanche updates, this site has camping and other info about Tuckerman and Huntington Ravines.
Mount Washington Summit Cam – A collection of web cams on and around the mountain.
Mount Washington Winter Hike – One hiker’s experience on Washington in winter, the site details his preparation and climb. Warning: Don’t get dead. Don’t try this unless you really know what you’re doing.
Mt. Webster – A narrative of one hiker’s experience on the mountain.
Mt. Moosilauke – Click on the trailhead link for a map and info about the mountain.
NH 52 With-A-View – A list of 52 peaks in the state under 4,000 feet that offer a good view.
NH 32 With-A-View – A list of 32 smaller peaks with a view.
NH Outdoors – The hiking link has lots of info on trails throughout the state.
NH State Parks – State website with the lowdown on hiking, camping and state parks. Check out the Bureau of Trails for lots of great info on area trails.
Presidential Range Traverse – About traversing the Presidentials, it also has info on routes up major peaks in NH and VT.
Sheldrick Forest Preserve – Preserve is 227 acres of old forest in Wilton.
Wildcat D – A narrative of a hike up this 4,000-foot peak.
Whites, Hike The – Covering all aspects of the outdoors in the Whites, the site has trail conditions, suggested hikes, personal essays, maps, and info on camping, shelters, winter hiking and skiing.
White Mountains – Peakbagger site with gobs of info on the range.
White Mountain National Forest – The official Forest Service site for the Whites has maps, news, camping info and more.
Rhode Island
Arcadia Wildlife Management Area – The L.L. Bean site for the 14,000-acre Arcadia park, with info on outdoor activities.
Audubon Society of Rhode Island – Site has trail maps for the state’s Audubon refuges.
Block Island National Wildlife Refuge – L.L. Bean site for the 66-acre refuge with sandy beaches and rolling dunes; an exceptional place for bird-watching.
Department of Environmental Management – At last check, the parks site was under reconstruction. But when it is finally back up it should have plenty of info on the state’s parks.
Blackstone Valley Tourism Council – Info on parks and trails in the Blackstone River Valley.
Jerimoth Hill – The lowdown on summiting Rhodey’s highest point, the 812-foot Jerimoth Hill.
Lincoln Woods – A bouldering site with info for hikers.
Rhode Island Campgrounds – A magazine article listing some of the state’s best campgrounds.
Rhode Island Hotspots – A birding site with good info for hikers.
Rhode Island Outdoors – Overview of some of the state’s best hikes.
Tippecansett Trail – Detailed account of this trail along the RI/CT border.
Yawgoog Trails – An extensive networks of trails spreading throughout 1,800 acres of a Scout reservation in Rockville.
Vermont
Audubon Society of Vermont – The Green Mountain Audubon Center in Huntington offers five miles of trails.
Campgrounds – A directory of campgrounds throughout the state.
Danby Area – Info on a variety of hikes in Danby.
Green Mountain National Forest – The official Forest Service site has boatloads of info and maps on hiking the Green Mountains.
Green Mountain Hikes – Hikes throughout the state suggested by the Green Mountain Club.
Green Mountains – Peakbagger site with information on the Green Moutains.
Hiking Central Vermont – A rundown of some phenomenal hikes in central Vermont.
Hiking Tips – Tips and hints for hiking in Vermont.
LinkVermont – The recreation section of this tourism site has info on wilderness areas and other hiking opportunities in the state.
Moosalamoo – This section of the Green Mountain National Forest comprises 20,000 acres in southern Vermont.
Vermont Hiking Guide – This excellent Vermont Living site divides hikes in the state by region.
Vermont Outdoor Guide Association – A directory of guide services and adventure travel outfits and opportunities throughout the state.
Vermont Rail Trails – A number of rail trails in the state offer great hiking opportunities.
Vermont State Parks – The official site with info on every state park in Vermont.
Waterbury Area – Info on Camel’s Hump and Mount Mansfield are included here, along with a number of short and long hikes.
Wiessner Woods – A network of trails through woods and meadows on 80 acres in Stowe.
Miscellaneous
Adirondack Expeditions – Just over the border in New York great hiking can be had in the Adirondack Mountains.
Adirondack 46er Page – Group of hikers who have climbed all 46 major peaks in the Adirondacks. Site has info on the peaks and trail conditions.
East Coast Greenway – A project aiming to connect all the cities of the East Coast along a continuous, off-road path, spanning 2,950 miles from Calais, Maine, to Key West, Florida. It is currently 21 percent open for public use.
Geocaching – A planet-wide treasure hunt, this is the official global GPS cache hunt site.
Topo Zone – Find a map for where ever you’re going. They have every USGS topographic map, orthophotomap and aerial photograph in the U.S.
Trail Journals – Site where scores of hikers document their treks.
Hiker Central – A huge collection of hiking links and resources.
HOW-TO RESOURCES
Joe’s Ultralight Backpacker – Tips on how to pack light, plus a bunch of links to other ultralight sites.
John’s Ultralight Backpacking Page – No relation to Joe, this site chronicles one man’s ultralight evolution.
Leave No Trace – A non-profit organization promoting responsible recreation to minimize the impact of people on the environment.
The Lightweight Backpacker– Promoting ultralight backpacking and hiking, this site has articles, tips and gear recommendations.
Navigation with Map and Compass – Tips on how to use a compass and read topographic maps.
Ultralight Backpacking – The essentials to getting started in the ultralight method of backpacking.
Ultralight Hiking – Info on how to prepare for lightweight, long-distance hiking.
The Winter Backpacker – Tips and techniques for winter backpacking.
Vermont Hiking Tips – Tips and hints for hiking in Vermont.
CLUBS & GROUPS
Regional
Audubon Society – Working to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, this group has a national network of nature centers and chapters.
Outing and Social Network of New England – A recreational and social network of singles, couples and families who participate in a variety of activities throughout the year. Activities include hiking, biking, skiing and paddling.
Connecticut
New Haven Hiking Club – Group with roughly 250 members who enjoy hiking throughout the Northeast.
Maine
Maine Appalachian Trail Club – MATC is a volunteer nonprofit managing 267 of the state’s portion of the AT.
Maine Outdoor Adventure Club – Members of all skill levels take part in activities throughout the year, doing everything from whitewater rafting to rock-climbing.
Massachusetts
AMC Boston Chapter– With more than 22,000 members, the club offer activities and outdoor skill training for novices and experts alike.
AMC Berkshire Chapter– This Western Mass chapter of the AMC has more than 3,400 members and features hiking, biking, kayking, rock climbing and other adventures.
AMC Southeastern Mass Chapter – The 3,500-member club has a number of activities, including cross-country skiing, hiking, paddling and trail work.
AMC Worcester Chapter – Dedicated to the outdoor resources of Central Mass, the club’s 2,500 members enjoy activities such as rock climbing, cross-country skiing and hiking.
Blue Hills Walking Club – A group of adults who meet for weekly recreational walks in the Blue Hills area near Boston.
Boston Hiking Club – Informal group of hikers who enjoy the outdoors.
Cape Cod Trails Conference – Network of serious hikers working to enhance the Cape’s hiking experience.
Friends of the Blue Hills – The group has fought successfully since 1976 to preserve the reservation for hikers and cyclists, horseback riders and skiers.
Friends of the Middlesex Fells Reservation – The Fells is a 2,060-acre natural treasure. A diverse landscape of rocky hills, meadows, wetlands, oak and hickory forests, quiet ponds, vernal pools, panoramic vistas and intriguing geological features distinguish this woodland.
Pioneer Valley Hiking Club – The club has more than 200 members and holds hikes around New England.
Wachusett Greenways – Grassroots group working to expand a network of trails and open spaces in the Wachusett area.
New Hampshire
AMC New Hampshire – Enjoy outdoor activities and get conservation news and notes from around the state.
Friends of the Wapack – Volunteers dedicated to preserving the Wapack Trail.
Friends of Tuckerman Ravine – A non-profit citizen support organization established to preserve and protect the historic backcountry uses of Tuckerman Ravine and the Cutler River drainage.
Randolph Mountain Club – Members promote the enjoyment of the Randolph area through hiking, trail development, upkeep of camps and shelters, and sharing the knowledge of its members.
Seacoast Dayhikers – Loosely knit club that gets together for day hikes throughout the year.
RHODE ISLAND
Appalachian Mountain Club, Narragansett Chapter – The local Rhode Island affiliate of the Boston-based AMC.
Vermont
Green Mountain Club – Founded way back in 1910, the club has 9,500 members who enjoy hiking and maintain the Long Trail.
National
American Hiking Society – A national advocate for hikers, the group works to protect and preserve footpaths and natural areas.
Appalachian Long Distance Hikers’ Association – An off-trail family of hikers who’ve shared similar experiences on the AT.
Highpointers Club – Their mission is climbing to the highest point in each of the 50 states.
Sierra Club – With 750,000 members, it is the nation’s oldest, largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization.
Miscellaneous
Adirondack Mountain Club – A 30,000-member nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection and responsible recreational use of the New York State Forest Preserve, parks, wild lands, and waters.