Travel / Thursday, 20-Nov-2025

The Most Underrated Leaf Hikes in New Hampshire

The Most Underrated Leaf Hikes in New Hampshire

The only thing better than hiking in one fall foliage hot spot? Hiking in two. Or three—or four. Use this itinerary to stage a road trip through New Hampshire’s White Mountains to reach the area’s most underrated treks for fall color.

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Get Presidential.

Take the express route into the alpine via the 2.9-mile Edmands Path, which
leads to the domed summit of 4,769-foot Mt. Eisenhower, and gaze over the red-and-orange valleys that split the Presidential Range.

Hide away.

Make the easy, 3-mile trek into the Pemi Wilderness to 25-foot Zealand Falls, tucked in stands of bright hardwoods.

leaf peeping map
Backpacker Staff

Escape the crowds.

Franconia Ridge is a mind-bending classic with extended ridgetop views, but the foliage will fill it with leaf-peepers. Instead, cross the road and take the 1.8-mile trail to the top of quieter Mt. Pemigewasset.

Look out below.

Hike the 3.4-mile out-and-back to Cathedral Ledge to look down on picturesque North Conway, tucked into the colorful forest floor.

Ryan Wichelns
Ryan Wichelns
Ryan is an outdoor/adventure and environmental freelance writer and journalist. In addition to Backpacker, his work has appeared on Outside Online and Gear Junkie, and in High Country News, 5280 Magazine, Rock and Ice, SKI, and more.

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