12 Best Day Hikes in New England

Great things really do come in small packages: At just over 70,000 square miles, New England is small enough to fit into California two times over. And its highest peak is a mere 6,288 feet. Don’t let its small stature fool you, though. Stretching across the peaks of the Berkshire, Green, and White mountain ranges to the shores of the Atlantic and up north to Acadia, the area’s only national park, these six states are filled with alpine forests, backcountry lakes, epic panoramas from rocky summits, broad coastal views, and billowing waterfalls. The country’s original thru-hike, Vermont’s Long Trail, and 736 of the most challenging miles along the Appalachian Trail also call New England home.

These are just the basics. Add in the fireworks of color in autumn, snowpack in winter, and moderate evening temps come spring and summer, New England hikes just keep giving.

Here are 12 best day hikes in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine that will let you size up for yourself all New England has to offer on the trail.

Maine

Knife Edge Trail, Mount Katahdin

Distance: 9.8-mile loop

Elevation: 4,000 feet

Difficulty: Strenuous

Dog-Friendly: No

What makes it great: Exposed, Alaska-like hiking

Route: Roaring Brook Campground, Helon Taylor, Pamola Peak, Knife Edge, Baxter Peak, Saddle, Chimney Pond, Parking Lot

Baxter State Park’s 5,267-foot Mount Katahdin is the AT’s northern terminus and home to one of the most challenging trails in New England, Knife Edge. This aptly named 1.1-mile hike from Pamola Peak to Katahdin’s summit measures a mere 4 feet across in spots and sits extremely exposed with 2,000-foot drops on either side. This rock scramble takes an average of 1-1.5 hours to complete and offers expansive and breathtaking views. Katahdin requires a reservation for parking and camping.

Tumbledown Ridge Trail, Tumbledown Mountain

Distance: 5.6-mile loop

Elevation: 1,952 feet

Difficulty: Challenging

Dog-Friendly: Not this loop. Other trails on the mountain are.

What makes it great: Beautiful alpine pond and technical rock scrambling

Route: Loop Trail to Tumbledown Ridge to Brook Trail to Byron Road

The 3,068-foot Tumbledown Mountain is nestled in Maine’s western mountains and offers hikers a lot of bang for their buck. The steep Tumbledown Ridge Trail requires a lot of scrambling. One section, called Fat Man’s Misery, has hikers squeezing between boulders and using iron rungs to help with the ascent. The unique and beautiful alpine lake near the twin summit is a great spot for a quick swim during the summer and the views from the summit are worth every step.

Precipice Trail, Acadia National Park

Distance: 2.5-mile loop

Elevation: 1,059 feet

Difficulty: Challenging

Dog friendly: No

What makes it great: Via-ferrata-style hike with amazing summit views

Route: Precipice Trail, Champlain Summit, North Ridge Trail, Orange and Black Path

Known as Acadia National Park’s most dangerous hike, the highly exposed 1-mile Precipice Trail offers a thrilling hike and great views. This via-ferrata-esque trail ascends a vertical cliff face and traverses narrow ledges, offering hikers a series of iron rungs and ladders for assistance on the journey. Stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and Acadia National Park can be seen from Mount Champlain’s summit before a much mellower hike back to the car.

New Hampshire

Tuckerman Ravine Trail, Mount Washington

Distance: 8.4 miles

Elevation: 4,250 feet

Difficulty: Strenuous

Dog-Friendly: Yes

What makes it great: New England’s highest peak

Home to the world’s worst weather and the highest winds ever clocked by a staffed weather station at 231 mph, 6,288-foot Mount Washington is New England’s highest point. The highly challenging and popular Tuckerman Ravine Trail takes hikers through Tuckerman Ravine, a large bowl that attracts winter enthusiasts for some of the best backcountry skiing and riding in the Northeast. A series of narrow but well-traveled switchbacks lead to the summit and spectacular views of New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, and Canada.

Champney Falls Trail, Chocorua Mountain

Distance: 7.6 miles out and back

Elevation: 2,250 feet

Difficulty: Challenging

Dog-Friendly: Yes

What makes it great: Stunning views from a rocky top and waterfalls

Route: Champney Falls Trail to Piper Trail to Summit

Chocorua Mountain, situated at the southernmost end of the White Mountains, is known as one of the most photographed mountains in the world. Its unique, exposed rocky top makes it one of the most recognizable peaks in New Hampshire. The Champney Falls Trail is one of the most popular hikes to the Chocorua summit as it passes multiple waterfalls, including both Champney and Pitcher. The exposed summit is fun for rock scrambling and offers stunning 360-degree views of the surrounding New Hampshire wilderness.

Franconia Ridge Loop, Franconia Notch State Park

Distance: 9 miles

Elevation: 3,809 feet

Difficulty: Challenging

Dog-Friendly: Yes

What makes it great: 1.5 miles of hiking above treeline

Route: Falling Waters Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail, Greenleaf Trail to Old Bridle Path Trail

The Franconia Ridge Loop leads hikers over three White Mountains peaks—Mount Lafayette (5,260 feet), Mount Lincoln (5,089 feet), and Little Haystack (4,725 feet). Expect steep, rugged hiking and numerous waterfall sightings, including the 90-foot Cloudland Falls. The exposed, narrow ridgeline that undulates above treeline for 1.5 miles is what makes this hike one of the most picturesque in New Hampshire offering magnificent views of the Pemigawasset Wilderness Area, Cannon Mountain, Mount Washington, and the rest of the Whites.

Vermont

Monroe Trail, Camel’s Hump

Distance: 6.2 miles out and back

Elevation: 2,583 feet

Difficulty: Moderate

Dog-Friendly: Yes

What makes it great: 360-degree views of Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, and Canada

Route: Monroe Trail, AT, summit

At 4,083 feet, Camel’s Hump is the third-highest peak in Vermont. While there are a variety of trails to the summit, the 3.1-mile Monroe Trail is one of the most popular and intersects with a portion of the Long Trail near the summit. Catch stunning views of the Green Mountains, the Whites in New Hampshire, and New York’s Adirondaks from the peak’s rocky top. Hikers can also view remnants of a 1944 B-24 Liberator bomber crash off the Alpine Trail which bisects Monroe.

Long Pond Trail, Bald Mountain

Distance: 4.2 miles round trip

Elevation: 1,250 feet

Difficulty: Moderate

Dog-Friendly: Yes, on leash

What makes it great: Views from the restored fire tower on the summit

Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom is  packed with miles of undisturbed wilderness, natural beauty, and outdoor adventure opportunities. The restored fire tower on the summit of Bald Mountain is an excellent way to take in all it has to offer, including views of lakes Willoughby, Seymour, and Memphramagog, the Green and White mountains, a 360-degree view of the Willoughby State Forest, and the NEK. The Long Pond Trail is well-worn and offers a combination of mellow sections and steeper more challenging ones.

Massachusetts

Mount Greylock Summit Loop, Mount Greylock

Distance: 6.6-mile loop

Elevation: 2,251 feet

Difficulty: Moderate

Dog-Friendly: Yes, on a leash

What makes it great: Massachusetts Highpoint with extensive views

Route: Bellows Pipe Trail, AT, Gould Trail

Situated in the Berkshires along the Massachusetts portion of the AT, 3,491-foot Mount Greylock is one of the best hikes in southern New England for views. While there are many trail options to hike to the peak, the Mount Greylock Summit Loop is a popular one that travels along forested trails past many creeks and small waterfalls. Once on the summit, climb a final 89 steps to the top of the 93-foot Veterans War Memorial Tower for views up to 90 miles that encompass five states.

Skyline Trail Loop, Blue Hills Reservation

Distance: 3 miles

Elevation: 813 feet

Difficulty: Moderate

Dog-Friendly: Yes, on leash

What makes it great: Skyline views of Boston and the Atlantic Ocean

Located just outside downtown Boston, Blue Hills Reservation is 7,000 acres of nature in the middle of suburbia. While there are more than 125 miles of hiking trails in the area, the Skyline Trail Loop promises amazing views of the Boston skyline and Atlantic Ocean. This 3-miler takes hikers up and over five of the reservation’s 22 hills, including 635-foot Great Blue, the highest point on the Atlantic Coast south of Maine. Climb to the top of the hill’s observation tower to soak in the beauty.

Rhode Island

Beavertail Lighthouse Loop, Beavertail State Park

Distance: 2.3 miles

Elevation: 85 feet

Difficulty: Easy

Dog-Friendly: Yes, on leash

What makes it great: Sunrise and sunset views

Hiking along the rocky shores of Beavertail State Park provides some of the most spectacular views of the Atlantic coastline in New England. The Beavertail Lighthouse Loop trail brings you around the park’s edges to Conanicut Island’s southernmost point. Beavertail Light, Rhode Island’s first lighthouse still in operation today, is the perfect spot for catching a sunrise or sunset over Narragansett Bay.

Connecticut

Bear Mountain Loop, Bear Mountain

Distance: 6.1 miles out and back

Elevation: 1,683 feet

Difficulty: Challenging

Dog-Friendly: Yes

What makes it great: Part of the AT with great views

Route: Undermountain Trail, Paradise Lane Trail, AT, summit, AT South, Riga Junction, Undermountain Trail

Tackle CT’s highest peak, though not its highest point (found on the shoulder of nearby Mt. Frissell), by summiting Mount Riga State Park’s most popular spot, Bear Mountain. Located in the northeastern corner of the state and part of the southern Taconic Moutain range, the 2,323-foot mountain offers typical New England hiking along rocky and rooty trails surrounded by forest. Enjoy a portion of the AT on the way to the summit, where stunning views of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York abound.

About the Author – Suzanne Loring

Suzanne has hiked, climbed, and backpacked throughout New England, including in her home state of Vermont. She was the managing editor of RootsRated and is the founder of True Stoke Media.