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Family-Friendly Hikes near Manchester

We track 129 routes that match this search near Manchester. They average 1.8 km, with the longest running to 6.4 km.

That is 75 percent of the 172 routes we map near Manchester. They are shorter than the local average, 1.8 km against 3.0 km, which is what makes this a practical shortlist for a half day. They also climb less than the area average, 22 m (72 ft) against 49 m (161 ft), so they suit a recovery day or a group with mixed fitness.

Family routes here are short, gently graded and interesting enough to keep younger legs moving. Every one is under seven kilometres with limited climbing. Most of these are on the gentler end, which makes the list a good starting point if you are new to the area.

Trails

view from fire watchtower at pack monadnock
Easy

Summit Loop

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
35 m
Typical duration
10 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
View of Massachusetts taken during ISS Expedition 59.
Easy

Little River Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
2.7 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
26 m
Typical duration
36 min
  • River
  • Waymarked route
Groton School, as viewed from the top of the chapel.
Easy

Sabine Woods Loop

Massachusetts · United States

Distance
4.3 km
/ 2.7 mi
Elevation gain
35 m
Typical duration
57 min
  • River
  • Forest
Front Street 1976
Easy

Beech Loop

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
9 m
Typical duration
10 min
  • Waymarked route
Phillips Exeter Library, New Hampshire - Louis I. Kahn (1972) - Atrium opening into book stacks
Easy

Blue Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
1.1 km
/ 0.7 mi
Typical duration
13 min
  • Waymarked route
Back of the Folsom Tavern, c 1775, in Exeter, New Hampshire. This building is part of the American Independence Museum and an example of historic taverns
Easy

Gas Pipeline Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Typical duration
10 min
  • Waymarked route
Dudley House , Exeter New Hampshire
Easy

Stadium Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
1.1 km
/ 0.7 mi
Typical duration
14 min
  • Waymarked route
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 60.
Easy

Sweet Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
6.4 km
/ 4.0 mi
Elevation gain
48 m
Typical duration
1 hr 24 min
  • Waymarked route
Established 1715
Easy

Yellow Loop

Massachusetts · United States

Distance
3.6 km
/ 2.3 mi
Elevation gain
80 m
Typical duration
53 min
  • Waymarked route
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 42.
Easy

Old Mountain Road

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
2.4 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
63 m
Typical duration
36 min
  • Mountain
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 42.
Easy

Ridge Loop

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
11 m
Typical duration
7 min
  • Mountain
Picture of Pawtuckaway Lake with two small islands on either side.
Easy

Big Island Trail Loop

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
2.3 km
/ 1.4 mi
Elevation gain
41 m
Typical duration
32 min
  • Waymarked route
Picture of Pawtuckaway Lake with two small islands on either side.
Easy

Big Island Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
1.9 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
42 m
Typical duration
27 min
  • Waymarked route
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 42.
Easy

Lake Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
1.8 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
15 m
Typical duration
23 min
  • Lake
Pickpocket Dam
Easy

Falls Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Typical duration
7 min
  • Waterfall
  • Waymarked route
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 62.
Easy

Round Pond Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
1.6 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
47 m
Typical duration
24 min
Westford Center Historic District , Westford Massachusetts
Easy

Tom Paul Trail

Massachusetts · United States

Distance
4.3 km
/ 2.7 mi
Elevation gain
29 m
Typical duration
57 min
Carlisle, MA 01741, USA
Easy

Acorn Trail

Massachusetts · United States

Distance
2.9 km
/ 1.8 mi
Elevation gain
29 m
Typical duration
39 min
The Memorial Building in the Concord Hospital Campus in 2017
Easy

Blue/Yellow Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
0.4 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
29 m
Typical duration
8 min
The Memorial Building in the Concord Hospital Campus in 2017
Easy

Constance Winant Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
14 m
Typical duration
7 min
Holy Trinity Church, a Greek Orthodox Church located at 62 Lewis Street, Lowell, Massachusetts. Shown are the west and south (front) sides of the building, as viewed from a distance.
Easy

Heritage Hike

Massachusetts · United States

Distance
1.9 km
/ 1.2 mi
Typical duration
24 min
Squannacook River Dam, West Groton, Massachusetts, USA.
Easy

Ice Line Trail

Massachusetts · United States

Distance
4.1 km
/ 2.5 mi
Typical duration
51 min
The Memorial Building in the Concord Hospital Campus in 2017
Easy

John Winant Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
0.9 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
29 m
Typical duration
14 min
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 42.
Easy

Lost Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
3.0 km
/ 1.9 mi
Elevation gain
28 m
Typical duration
40 min
Appleton Mills. Located at 219 Jackson Street, Lowell, Massachusetts. Viewed from the top of Edward Early Jr. Garage.
Easy

Redevelopment Rove

Massachusetts · United States

Distance
2.0 km
/ 1.2 mi
Typical duration
25 min
St. Joseph's Convent , located at 517 Moody Street, Lowell, Massachusetts .
Easy

Riverwalk Ramble

Massachusetts · United States

Distance
3.5 km
/ 2.2 mi
Elevation gain
20 m
Typical duration
45 min
The former Pine Ridge station, now a private residence, in November 2016
Easy

Stone Arch Bridge

Massachusetts · United States

Distance
1.2 km
/ 0.7 mi
Typical duration
15 min
Boott Mills boardinghouse and storehouse, now restored and part of Lowell National Historic Park. Lowell, Massachusetts
Easy

Waterpower Walk

Massachusetts · United States

Distance
1.7 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
7 m
Typical duration
22 min
Canaan Chapel , Barrington, New Hampshire.
Easy

Overlook Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
1.6 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
6 m
Typical duration
21 min
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Northwood Congregational Church
Easy

Huckins Orchard Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
1.1 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
10 m
Typical duration
15 min
Established 1715
Easy

Unmarked Trail

Massachusetts · United States

Distance
1.3 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
97 m
Typical duration
25 min
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 42.
Easy

Parsonage Loop Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
1.6 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
18 m
Typical duration
22 min
Maj. John Gilman House , Exeter New Hampshire
Easy

Green Loop

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
2.6 km
/ 1.6 mi
Elevation gain
46 m
Typical duration
37 min
  • Waymarked route
Sulphur Dust Lichen ( Psilolechia lucida )
Easy

Rocky Hill Scenic Walk

Massachusetts · United States

Distance
4.5 km
/ 2.8 mi
Elevation gain
76 m
Typical duration
1 hr 3 min
  • Lake
  • Wildlife watching
Jonathon Keyes Sr. House , Westford, Massachusetts.
Easy

Buckboard Trail

Massachusetts · United States

Distance
1.2 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
18 m
Typical duration
17 min
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 42.
Easy

CBNA Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Typical duration
8 min
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 42.
Easy

Demon Pond Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
1.0 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
25 m
Typical duration
14 min
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 42.
Easy

Guptill Road

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
1.1 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
13 m
Typical duration
15 min
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 42.
Easy

Hill Loop

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
20 m
Typical duration
10 min
Westford Center Historic District , Westford Massachusetts
Easy

Kingfisher Trail

Massachusetts · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
7 m
Typical duration
8 min
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 42.
Easy

Ledges Loop

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
0.4 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
15 m
Typical duration
7 min
View of Massachusetts taken during ISS Expedition 59.
Easy

Mill Pond Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Typical duration
6 min

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
Summit LoopNew Hampshire0.5 km35 m10 minEasyApril to October
Little River TrailNew Hampshire2.7 km26 m36 minEasyApril to October
Sabine Woods LoopMassachusetts4.3 km35 m57 minEasyApril to October
Beech LoopNew Hampshire0.8 km9 m10 minEasyApril to October
Blue TrailNew Hampshire1.1 kmflat13 minEasyApril to October
Gas Pipeline TrailNew Hampshire0.8 kmflat10 minEasyApril to October
Stadium TrailNew Hampshire1.1 kmflat14 minEasyApril to October
Sweet TrailNew Hampshire6.4 km48 m1 hr 24 minEasyApril to October
Yellow LoopMassachusetts3.6 km80 m53 minEasyApril to October
Groton Town Forest Race 3.4 Mile LoopMassachusetts5.2 km31 m1 hr 7 minEasyApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with Summit Loop, Little River Trail, Sweet Trail. Those are the routes people come back to. Every route on this page links through to a full guide with the map, elevation profile, seasonal advice and what to bring.

Frequently asked questions

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