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Loop Trails in New Hampshire

The directory currently contains 32 quality-checked routes matching this guide in New Hampshire. Their average mapped distance is 2.5 km and average recorded ascent is 91 m (299 ft); the longest route in the set is 7.3 km.

This subset represents 8% of the 390 quality-checked routes in New Hampshire. Its average distance is 2.5 km, compared with 5.3 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 91 m (299 ft), versus 260 m (853 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

Every route in this set is classified as a loop and returns to its starting area. A loop can still reuse part of the same path. Within this set, 23 routes (72%) are rated easy, 0 (0%) are rated hard or expert, and 32 (100%) 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

0.5 km

Summit Loop

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

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

9 m

Beech Loop

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

Return logistics

6 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

Wapack National Wildlife Refuge. Credit: Matt Poole/USFWS. Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/USFWSNortheast Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/USFWSNortheast
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
Pemigewasset River, Flume Gorge, Lincoln
Moderate

Flume Gorge Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
3.2 km
/ 2.0 mi
Elevation gain
163 m
Typical duration
54 min
  • Canyon and gorge
Easy

Beech Loop

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
9 m
Typical duration
10 min
  • Waymarked route
Horse Island
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
Horse Island
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
Easy

Lake Trail

New Hampshire · United States

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

Boulder Loop Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
4.7 km
/ 2.9 mi
Elevation gain
360 m
Typical duration
1 hr 31 min
Easy

Lovequist Loop

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
17 m
Typical duration
19 min
Moderate

NALMC Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
7.3 km
/ 4.5 mi
Elevation gain
150 m
Typical duration
1 hr 45 min
Easy

Green Loop

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
2.6 km
/ 1.6 mi
Elevation gain
46 m
Typical duration
37 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Hill Loop

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
20 m
Typical duration
10 min
Easy

Marsh Loop

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
2.5 km
/ 1.6 mi
Elevation gain
29 m
Typical duration
34 min
Easy

Pine Grove Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Typical duration
8 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Eagle Scout Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
0.9 km
/ 0.6 mi
Typical duration
11 min
Moderate

Watson Path

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
4.3 km
/ 2.6 mi
Elevation gain
666 m
Typical duration
1 hr 53 min
Easy

Red Loop

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
7.3 km
/ 4.6 mi
Elevation gain
44 m
Typical duration
1 hr 36 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Red Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
3.8 km
/ 2.4 mi
Typical duration
48 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Daniels Mountain Loop

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
2.6 km
/ 1.6 mi
Elevation gain
116 m
Typical duration
43 min
  • Mountain
Easy

Blue Loop

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
2.3 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
13 m
Typical duration
30 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Castor Pond Loop Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
2.6 km
/ 1.6 mi
Elevation gain
30 m
Typical duration
35 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Jude's Pond Loop

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.9 mi
Typical duration
17 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Spring Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
0.9 km
/ 0.6 mi
Typical duration
11 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Yellow Loop

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
1.6 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
7 m
Typical duration
20 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Mount Monroe Loop

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
2.1 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
139 m
Typical duration
39 min
Moderate

Welch-Dickey Loop Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
6.5 km
/ 4.0 mi
Elevation gain
542 m
Typical duration
2 hr 10 min
Easy

Howard C. Nowell Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
3.7 km
/ 2.3 mi
Elevation gain
46 m
Typical duration
50 min
Moderate

Mount Eisenhower Loop

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
1.9 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
155 m
Typical duration
38 min
Easy

Krupa Loop

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
1.2 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
23 m
Typical duration
17 min
Easy

Pond Loop

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
2.3 km
/ 1.4 mi
Elevation gain
13 m
Typical duration
29 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
Flume Gorge TrailNew Hampshire3.2 km163 m54 minModerateApril to October
Beech LoopNew Hampshire0.8 km9 m10 minEasyApril to October
Turtleback Mountain Summit TrailNew Hampshire0.7 km39 m12 minEasyApril to October
Big Island Trail LoopNew Hampshire2.3 km41 m32 minEasyApril to October
Big Island TrailNew Hampshire1.9 km42 m27 minEasyApril to October
Lake TrailNew Hampshire1.8 km15 m23 minEasyApril to October
Boulder Loop TrailNew Hampshire4.7 km360 m1 hr 31 minModerateApril to October
Lovequist LoopNew Hampshire1.4 km17 m19 minEasyApril to October
NALMC TrailNew Hampshire7.3 km150 m1 hr 45 minModerateApril to October

Summit Loop, Beech Loop, Flume Gorge 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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