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Moderate Hiking Trails near Fitchburg

The directory currently contains 51 quality-checked routes matching this guide near Fitchburg. Their average mapped distance is 3.8 km and average recorded ascent is 112 m (367 ft); the longest route in the set is 14.8 km.

This subset represents 41% of the 125 quality-checked routes near Fitchburg. Its average distance is 3.8 km, compared with 5.7 km across the full local set.

Every route in this set is rated moderate by the directory’s distance-and-elevation model. Technical terrain and live conditions are not part of that rating. Within this set, 0 routes (0%) are rated easy, 0 (0%) are rated hard or expert, and 6 (12%) 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

0.6 km

Monte Rosa

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

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

10 m

Cascade Link

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

Return logistics

1 recorded loop

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

Summit of the 2nd most or perhaps 3rd most frequently climbed mountain on the planet.
Moderate

Smith Summit Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
1.0 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
234 m
Typical duration
34 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
Moderate

Watatic Summit

Massachusetts · United States

Distance
5.3 km
/ 3.3 mi
Elevation gain
246 m
Typical duration
1 hr 29 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Moderate

Town Forest Loop Trail

Massachusetts · United States

Distance
9.5 km
/ 5.9 mi
Elevation gain
68 m
Typical duration
2 hr 5 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Cascade Link

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
2.1 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
10 m
Typical duration
27 min
  • Waterfall
Moderate

Cliff Walk

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
2.4 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
257 m
Typical duration
53 min
  • Coastal
Moderate

Monte Rosa

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
114 m
Typical duration
17 min
  • Mountain
Acton Minutemen and citizens marching from Acton to Concord on Patriots Day 2012
Moderate

BCT 6 Acton/Concord

Massachusetts · United States

Distance
14.8 km
/ 9.2 mi
Elevation gain
81 m
Typical duration
3 hr 12 min
Moderate

Mountain House Trail

Massachusetts · United States

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.9 mi
Typical duration
17 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Mossy Brook Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
0.4 km
/ 0.3 mi
Typical duration
5 min
  • River
Moderate

White Dot Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
2.8 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
534 m
Typical duration
1 hr 23 min
Moderate

White Arrow Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
1.6 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
332 m
Typical duration
49 min
Moderate

White Cross Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
1.9 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
352 m
Typical duration
55 min
Moderate

Lost Farm Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
1.6 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
243 m
Typical duration
41 min
Moderate

Red Spot Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
11 m
Typical duration
18 min
Moderate

Harling Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
1.1 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
135 m
Typical duration
26 min
Moderate

Side Foot Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
0.9 km
/ 0.5 mi
Typical duration
11 min
Moderate

Spellman Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Typical duration
9 min
Moderate

Royce Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
7.0 km
/ 4.4 mi
Elevation gain
236 m
Typical duration
1 hr 49 min
Moderate

Amphitheatre Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
53 m
Typical duration
12 min
Moderate

Around Muddy Pond

Massachusetts · United States

Distance
7.3 km
/ 4.6 mi
Elevation gain
118 m
Typical duration
1 hr 42 min
Moderate

BoundaryTrail

Massachusetts · United States

Distance
5.4 km
/ 3.3 mi
Elevation gain
125 m
Typical duration
1 hr 18 min
Moderate

Fairy Spring

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
103 m
Typical duration
15 min
Moderate

Maple Heights Farm

Massachusetts · United States

Distance
6.8 km
/ 4.2 mi
Elevation gain
151 m
Typical duration
1 hr 38 min
Moderate

Smith Connecting

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
73 m
Typical duration
16 min
Moderate

Thoreau Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Typical duration
6 min
Moderate

Two Brothers Trail

Massachusetts · United States

Distance
2.1 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
54 m
Typical duration
31 min
Moderate

Hello Rock

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
45 m
Typical duration
11 min
Moderate

Shepley Steeplechase Trail

Massachusetts · United States

Distance
3.7 km
/ 2.3 mi
Elevation gain
70 m
Typical duration
53 min
  • River
Moderate

Birchtoft Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
2.9 km
/ 1.8 mi
Elevation gain
35 m
Typical duration
39 min
Moderate

Cascade Loop

Massachusetts · United States

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Typical duration
10 min
  • Waterfall
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Stone Cliffs Loop

Massachusetts · United States

Distance
0.9 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
33 m
Typical duration
14 min
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Bancroft Castle

Massachusetts · United States

Distance
0.9 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
46 m
Typical duration
16 min
  • Castle and ruins
Moderate

Charm Bracelet Trail

Massachusetts · United States

Distance
11.1 km
/ 6.9 mi
Elevation gain
142 m
Typical duration
2 hr 32 min
A trail on the abandoned right-of-way of the never-used Lancaster Railroad in the Danforth Creek Property in Hudson in May 2017
Moderate

Danforth Loop

Massachusetts · United States

Distance
1.7 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
61 m
Typical duration
27 min
Moderate

Heald Pond Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
1.6 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
39 m
Typical duration
23 min
Moderate

Whale Rock Loop

Massachusetts · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
36 m
Typical duration
12 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Crow Hill Ledges

Massachusetts · United States

Distance
7.6 km
/ 4.7 mi
Elevation gain
296 m
Typical duration
2 hr 2 min
Moderate

Camp Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
3.7 km
/ 2.3 mi
Elevation gain
71 m
Typical duration
53 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

East Groton Tour

Massachusetts · United States

Distance
12.3 km
/ 7.7 mi
Elevation gain
127 m
Typical duration
2 hr 46 min
Moderate

Fisk Hill - Spring Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
2.6 km
/ 1.6 mi
Elevation gain
97 m
Typical duration
41 min
Moderate

Cranberry Meadow Pond Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
4.8 km
/ 3.0 mi
Elevation gain
65 m
Typical duration
1 hr 6 min
  • Alpine meadow
Moderate

Jeff Smith Trail

Massachusetts · United States

Distance
8.3 km
/ 5.2 mi
Elevation gain
76 m
Typical duration
1 hr 51 min
View of Punkatasset Hill from Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
Moderate

Punkatasset Estabrook Loop

Massachusetts · United States

Distance
5.3 km
/ 3.3 mi
Elevation gain
98 m
Typical duration
1 hr 15 min
Moderate

Mount Hunger Views

Massachusetts · United States

Distance
10.2 km
/ 6.4 mi
Elevation gain
212 m
Typical duration
2 hr 27 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
Smith Summit TrailNew Hampshire1.0 km234 m34 minModerateApril to October
Watatic SummitMassachusetts5.3 km246 m1 hr 29 minModerateApril to October
Town Forest Loop TrailMassachusetts9.5 km68 m2 hr 5 minModerateApril to October
Cascade LinkNew Hampshire2.1 km10 m27 minModerateApril to October
Cliff WalkNew Hampshire2.4 km257 m53 minModerateApril to October
Monte RosaNew Hampshire0.6 km114 m17 minModerateApril to October
BCT 6 Acton/ConcordMassachusetts14.8 km81 m3 hr 12 minModerateApril to October
Mountain House TrailMassachusetts1.4 km0 m17 minModerateApril to October
Mossy Brook TrailNew Hampshire0.4 km0 m5 minModerateApril to October
Groton Town Forest Race 9.5 mile LoopMassachusetts14.5 km110 m3 hr 11 minModerateApril to October

Smith Summit Trail, Watatic Summit, Town Forest Loop 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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