52 With a View Hiking list
New Hampshire 52 with a view our list as we work on it and our ratings for views and difficulty.
When my hiking journey began 20+ years ago, my dad and I had one goal for every hike: great views and a little challenge—but not so hard that we’d be limping into work the next day. We used to search through a book called Foghorn Outdoors New England Hiking: The Complete Guide to more than 380 hikes by Michael Lanza, where the author rated trails 1/10 for both views and difficulty. And so, our quest began.
Little did we know about the 52 with a View list back then.
When Mike and I started hiking more, we also had goals—maybe we’d tackle the 48 4,000-footers one day. But before diving into those bigger challenges, we wanted to get our hiking legs under us. So, we set out to find hikes that checked the boxes: beautiful views with some challenge… but not 4,000-footer-level challenging—yet.
Enter 52 With a View
A friend eventually introduced me to Ken MacGray’s book: New Hampshire’s 52 with a View: A Hiker’s Guide. This list was originally created by the Over the Hill Hikers Club in 1990. Apparently, it took me a while to catch on! We love having a list of mountains with great views!
Funny thing? We’d already hiked some of these mountains before we even got the book! Now, we’re thrilled not to have to scour the internet for hike suggestions anymore.
In 2024, we officially started checking off these beautiful spots. In this blog, we’ll tell you all about each one, updating the list as we go.
Mt. Willard
We conquered Mt. Willard on July 4, 2024. It was a warm, beautiful day. We hit the trail early, and I’m so glad we did because that parking lot is happening! There are multiple trailheads in the area, and since it was a holiday, we knew it would be busy.
The trail itself is pretty easy—no rock climbing or scrambling, just good ol’ fashioned hiking. The views along the way are lovely, especially when passing Centennial Pool.
Rating:
🌄 View: 10/10
⛰️ Difficulty: 3/10
Family & Dogs: Dogs on a leash are cool. This would be a great hike for families with kids!
Location: Crawford Notch
Distance: 3.1 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 895 ft
2. Mt. Cardigan
Another July hike for us—and I’m so glad we stumbled upon this one! It was a great hike with some steep sections. You can listen to our podcast where Mike talks about how he wasn’t sure he was going to make it off the mountain… spoiler: he did, and he’s fine.
There’s a loop section here, and if you know us, you’ll know we somehow got lost… not sure how that happened, but we made it! And, bonus: we took the correct way down. FYI, anytime we’ve gotten lost, it’s because we didn’t have the AllTrails app yet. Don’t make the same mistake we did—get the app. It’s a game-changer.
Anyway, back to the hike! It was a steady climb to the summit, and the views from the top were more gorgeous than I expected. There’s a fire tower at the summit that wasn’t open when we visited, but if it’s staffed, you can climb up, learn about fire spotting, and enjoy even more amazing views.
Rating:
🌄 View: 10/10
⛰️ Difficulty: 3.5/10
Family & Dogs: A little more challenging than Willard but doable for kids who aren’t afraid of heights. Dogs are welcome as long as they’re on a leash.
Location: Cardigan State Park, Orange, NH
Distance: 3.1 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 1,194 ft
3. Mt. Chocorua
This was one Mike and I had both done before—just never together. I was so excited to show him the Brook and Liberty Trail, which is absolutely beautiful and never seems to be busy when I go. But this particular day? If you’ve listened to our podcast, you already know—it was a very challenging hike for me. If you want to hear all about my struggles, go check out that episode. Spoiler alert: I’d do this hike again in a heartbeat because it’s amazing.
As of writing this, I haven’t completed the 52 With a View list yet, but Chocorua was by far the most challenging for me. If you choose the Liberty and Brook Trail, I recommend hiking it clockwise. You’ll follow a stream for most of the way up, and I highly recommend doing this in the fall. The colors are breathtaking. Have I mentioned how amazing it is?
Rating:
🌄 View: 10+/10
⛰️ Difficulty: 8/10
Family & Dogs: I saw families with older kids, maybe middle school and up. This isn’t to say younger hikers couldn’t do it, but I’d only recommend it if your child has hiking experience. Definitely not a beginner hike. You know your kids best, but this is not one I would have brought my daughter on when she was younger.
Location: Albany, NH
Distance: 7 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 2,582 ft
Mt Kearsarge on a cloudy day
4. Mt. Kearsarge
This wasn’t our first time hiking Kearsarge, but it was the first time we were disappointed by the views. No fault of the mountain—it was just one of those cloudy days.
We did the loop here (no getting lost this time—win-win!) and went up Winslow and down Barlow. It was definitely a relentless climb up, but overall, a beautiful hike. There are some big rocks to step up, but nothing too challenging. You can find out why we hiked the day we did and other details of the trail HERE on our podcast.
Rating:
🌄 View: 3/10 (blame the clouds!)
⛰️ Difficulty: 3/10
Family & Dogs: Popular hike for families, and dogs are welcome on a leash. A little more challenging than Willard, but if your kids are up for a fun adventure, this is a great mountain to tackle.
Location: Winslow State Park (fee required unless you have the NH State Park plate)
Distance: 5.7 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 2,565 ft
One of the famous caves on Morgan & Percival
5. & 6. Morgan & Percival
I’ll admit—I was skeptical about this one. I mean, how many pre-hike Google searches include “Will I fit in the cave?” or “How sketchy are the ladders?” Or worse… “Has anyone died in the cave?”
Let me put your worries at ease—none of my crazy Google searches came true. The caves are avoidable if you pay attention, and the ladders felt totally safe… even if we went down instead of up. Yep, you guessed it—we went the wrong direction. It’s recommended to go clockwise, but we somehow went counterclockwise. You can listen to the podcast episode where we recount that adventure!
Fun fact: This double-peak hike counts as two spots on the 52 With a View list. And with a loop, you’re already committed—might as well do both!
Rating:
🌄 View: 7/10
⛰️ Difficulty: 7/10
Family & Dogs: Yes, families ready for adventure and dogs on a leash are welcome!
Location: Holderness, NH
Distance: 5.5 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 1,522 ft
7. Middle and North Sugarloaf
Only Middle Sugarloaf makes the official 52 With a View list, but honestly, do both. The trail looks like a sloppy capital “T” if you were looking at it from above. We went right first to conquer North Sugarloaf and then headed to Middle Sugarloaf.
The views from both peaks were stunning, even on a cloudy morning. The trail starts pretty steep—no breaks until you get to the top of the “T.” You’ll also find some cool glacier boulders, a staircase, and even a cold plunge spot at the end. Honestly? It’s a pretty magical place. Listen to more details about this hike HERE on our podcast.
Rating:
🌄 View: 9/10
⛰️ Difficulty: 5/10
Family & Dogs: Great spot for the whole family, and leashed dogs are welcome.
Location: Bethlehem, NH
Distance: 3.5 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 1,059 ft
8. Welch & Dickey
Another two-for-one deal in a loop! We hit this one at the peak of fall foliage, and if you can time it as perfectly as we did—do it! The views and the trails here are pure magic.
We hiked counterclockwise (and actually followed directions this time—thanks, AllTrails!). The hike starts off with a gradual climb but eventually gives you a solid cardio workout. Once you hit Welch, you can see the peak of Dickey, and while it looks intimidating, it’s not as bad as it seems. You can listen to more details about this hike on our Welch & Dickey episode.
Rating:
🌄 View: 10/10
⛰️ Difficulty: 7/10
Family & Dogs: Yes to both, as long as your dog stays on a leash. It’s a bit more challenging due to the length, steepness & a little bit of rock climbing, so gauge what your kids are up for.
Location: Waterville Valley, NH
Distance: 4.4-mile loop
Elevation Gain: 1,781 ft
9.Mt. Pemigewasset
This was our first winter hike, and I fell in love with winter hiking. I mean, if we live in New England, we might as well embrace the never-ending winters, right?
It was the perfect hike for everything to go wrong too… not really, but when you start by locking yourself out of your car, it’s a tough beginning. You can listen to all that drama (and how well we handled it) on our podcast.
We parked at the Flume Gorge—if you’re visiting during the busy season, get there early or plan accordingly because it’s a very popular spot. The trail was gorgeous and not overly challenging. In winter, there was no rock scrambling, but there were some steep parts. I loved the vibe here and would definitely like to check it out during a different season.
Rating:
🌄 View: 9/10
⛰️ Difficulty: 5/10
Family & Dogs: Dogs are welcome as long as they stay on a leash.
Location: Franconia Notch State Park
Distance: 3.3 miles out and back
Elevation Gain: 1,259 ft
Mt. Roberts with views of Gunstock Mountain
10. Mt. Roberts
Hiked on March 26, 2025—just three days after a surprise spring snowstorm. There was no snow left at home, but we came prepared for whatever the trails had in store.
The adventure begins the moment you pull into the parking area for Mt. Roberts. You’re immediately greeted with views that make you question if you even need to hike. (But trust me, you do!) The trailhead is located near Castle in the Clouds, which, unfortunately, was closed for the season.
The Hike:
The trail itself was fairly easy, with a slow and steady incline that offered plenty of opportunities to pause and soak in the scenery. And the views? Pretty much nonstop—especially if you remember to look behind you! About halfway up, there’s a scenic lookout point that’s well worth a quick break.
Now, here’s where Mt. Roberts likes to play tricks on you. A few times, you’ll think you’ve reached the summit… but nope, not quite! The actual peak isn’t the most dramatic, but it rewards you with stunning views of the White Mountains.
The Descent:
On the way back down, we stopped for lunch on a rock slab with breathtaking views of Lake Winnipesaukee and Gunstock Mountain. It was one of those “this is why we hike” moments.
Location: Moultonborough, NH
Family & Dogs: Great for families and dogs on a leash
Distance: 5.2 miles (though my watch begged to differ and clocked a bit more)
Elevation Gain: 1,335 feet
View Rating: 🌄 10/10
Difficulty Rating:⛰️3.5/10
Almost to the summit of MountChocorua
Whew, that’s a lot of views—and we’re just getting started! Stay tuned for more as we continue to check off the list! 🥾🌲
Mt Willard Crawford Notch, NH
We had a great time hiking Mt Willard and then enjoyed delicious lunch in Littleton, NH. Also discovered a great beer store Little Town Brews.
What a beautiful hike—fairly easy and absolutely stunning! We rolled in around 7:30 am, only to discover that the bathroom in the parking lot had decided to sleep in. But fear not! A quick stroll over to the AMC revealed a bathroom that was actually open, plus a store for any last-minute snack emergencies. Because, let’s face it, no one wants to hike on an empty stomach!
We hit the trail shortly after 7:30 am, and by 8:30 am, we were already basking in the glory at the peak of Mt. Willard. The climb is a steady incline, starting with a charming little stream to cross—no rock climbing or scrambles here, which I definitely appreciated. As you near the top, the views of Crawford Notch hit you like a beautiful postcard.
The elevation gain is about 895 feet, so you can impress your friends by saying you conquered a mountain while still getting your morning cardio.
Ratings:
Difficulty: 3/10
Views: 10/10 (bring your camera and your jaw for all the dropping!)
The After the Hike-
After our invigorating hike, we hopped in the car and zoomed over to Littleton, NH, for lunch and some retail therapy. First up: a much-needed coffee at Crumb Bum Bakery. We strolled around town, trying to kill time until Schilling Beer Co opened for lunch—because who doesn’t want to combine carbs and hops?
Littleton is home to a few delightful shops that we absolutely adore and can’t wait to raid again. We had fun picking out our own 4 pack at Little Town Brews local New England brews. It’s a fantastic little store that’s like a treasure chest for beer lovers—offering everything from local favorites to NA options for those who prefer their fun sans alcohol.
We also stumbled upon Shaun Terhune Fine Art Photography, which is basically an Instagrammer’s dream. His incredible photography and rustic pieces would make any mountain home feel like a cozy retreat—or at least help you pretend you’re in one while you binge-watch reality TV.
In short, I’d return to Littleton, NH, just to hit up these spots again. And maybe to revisit Crumb Bum for more treats & coffee. Who’s with me?