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Best Forest Hikes in New Hampshire

The directory currently contains 9 quality-checked routes matching this guide in New Hampshire. Their average mapped distance is 7.9 km and average recorded ascent is 501 m (1,644 ft); the longest route in the set is 14.2 km.

This subset represents 2% of the 390 quality-checked routes in New Hampshire. Its average distance is 7.9 km, compared with 5.3 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 501 m (1,644 ft), versus 260 m (853 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

These routes carry the forest tag. The data does not quantify canopy cover or guarantee shade along every section. Within this set, 1 routes (11%) are rated easy, 2 (22%) are rated hard or expert, and 0 (0%) are recorded as loops. Ratings are computed from available distance and elevation data and do not establish current terrain or access.

Data refreshed September 2026

Choose by the details

How do these routes differ?

A closer look at the first 6 routes in this page’s default ordering. These comparisons describe this sample, not the entire destination or a field-tested recommendation.

Shortest mapped distance in this sample

4.6 km

Kearsarge North Trail

Compare the climbing too; shortest does not necessarily mean easiest.

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

88 m

Lincoln Woods Trail

6 of 6 have ascent data. Missing measurements are excluded.

Return logistics

0 recorded loops

Check start and finish for every option. An unknown shape does not mean a loop, and a loop does not establish access to its start.

Plan the return journey →

Distances follow stored route lines; ascent and time are estimates. Current access, surface and technical difficulty need separate checks. How to turn a comparison into a shortlist.

Trails

Kearsarge Fire Tower
Moderate

Kearsarge North Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
4.6 km
/ 2.9 mi
Elevation gain
808 m
Typical duration
2 hr 10 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Pemigewasset River, Lincoln Woods Trail
Easy

Lincoln Woods Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
4.7 km
/ 2.9 mi
Elevation gain
88 m
Typical duration
1 hr 6 min
  • Forest
Moderate

Sabbaday Brook Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
7.3 km
/ 4.6 mi
Elevation gain
773 m
Typical duration
2 hr 41 min
  • River
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Moderate

College Woods Trail Network

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
10.3 km
/ 6.4 mi
Elevation gain
123 m
Typical duration
2 hr 19 min
  • Forest
Hard

Skookumchuck Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
6.4 km
/ 4.0 mi
Elevation gain
934 m
Typical duration
2 hr 44 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Hard

Moat Mountain Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
14.2 km
/ 8.8 mi
Elevation gain
922 m
Typical duration
4 hr 21 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Moderate

Red Ridge Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
5.2 km
/ 3.2 mi
Elevation gain
60 m
Typical duration
1 hr 11 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Moderate

Weeks Brook Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
7.6 km
/ 4.7 mi
Elevation gain
14 m
Typical duration
1 hr 36 min
  • River
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Moderate

Attitash Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
10.5 km
/ 6.5 mi
Elevation gain
791 m
Typical duration
3 hr 22 min
  • Forest

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
Kearsarge North TrailNew Hampshire4.6 km808 m2 hr 10 minModerateApril to October
Lincoln Woods TrailNew Hampshire4.7 km88 m1 hr 6 minEasyApril to October
Sabbaday Brook TrailNew Hampshire7.3 km773 m2 hr 41 minModerateApril to October
College Woods Trail NetworkNew Hampshire10.3 km123 m2 hr 19 minModerateApril to October
Skookumchuck TrailNew Hampshire6.4 km934 m2 hr 44 minHardApril to October
Moat Mountain TrailNew Hampshire14.2 km922 m4 hr 21 minHardApril to October
Red Ridge TrailNew Hampshire5.2 km60 m1 hr 11 minModerateApril to October
Weeks Brook TrailNew Hampshire7.6 km14 m1 hr 36 minModerateApril to October
Attitash TrailNew Hampshire10.5 km791 m3 hr 22 minModerateApril to October

Kearsarge North Trail, Lincoln Woods Trail, Sabbaday Brook Trail currently rank highest in this filtered set according to the directory score. Open an individual route to inspect its mapped line, elevation profile, data source and planning caveats. Check live access, conditions and local rules with an official source before travelling.

Frequently asked questions

Plan with more confidence

All planning articles →

Choosing a route

How to choose a hike beyond the difficulty label

Compare distance, climbing, route shape and missing information to build a shortlist that fits your day.

Read article →

Understanding the map

Read an elevation profile without misreading the climb

Understand total ascent, net height change, profile scale and the section breakdown on each mapped route.

Read article →

Planning your day

Build a hiking time plan with room for your own pace

Separate moving time, climbing allowance and stops, then explore how changing your assumptions changes the plan.

Read article →

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