Sometimes, all we want to do is go outside. While we’re excited about all things outdoors, the weather isn’t entirely on our side just yet. But that doesn’t mean we can’t explore. Our recommendation is to start with a shorter hike so that you’re out and back before the weather turns. We’ve compiled some great easy trails in New Hampshire that are all under one hour. Enough time to enjoy the outdoors without committing to all day on the trails! Here are some of the best hikes in New Hampshire for anyone who has an hour or less to spend:

1. Mount Cardigan Loop Trail, Cardigan Mountain State Park
Mount Cardigan, Mt Cardigan, Orange, NH 03741, USA
Amy Poutre / alltrails.com
There's a good reason Mount Cardigan is so popular – it's so very hikeable! even for older children, and the sights from the top are just plain stunning. The Mount Cardigan Loop trail is about three miles long, with around 1,100 feet of elevation gain.
2. Big Rock Cave Trail, Tamworth
Tamworth, NH, USA
Cortney Cote / alltrails.com
Big Rock Cave Trail, near Tamworth, is a looped trail that covers about 3.5 miles of beautiful land. This is very fun, and one of the best hikes in New Hampshire if you love an interesting hike!
3. Pitcher Mountain, Stoddard
Pitcher Mountain, Stoddard, NH 03464, USA
Mandi Swanson / alltrails.com
While called a "mountain" there really isn't too much to be daunted by. This is a very doable hike, just over half a mile each way. It has great views from the top of the trail, and in August you'll find plenty of ripe blueberries growing alongside the paths on your way! This is a short hike in New Hampshire you'll want to do again and again. One of the best easy trails in NH, especially for the whole family!
4. The Gonic Trails, Rochester
The Gonic Trails, 103 Rochester Neck Rd, Rochester, NH 03839, USA
Cesar Davila / alltrails.com
You'l find three trails here and two of them are well-under two miles making them super accessible for even the most beginner hiker. Locke’s Local Loop and Watson’s Way are loop routes that are each about 1.5 miles in total. We love both Locke's Local and Watson's Way for their ease in navigating and short distance. They're great for little legs and those who are just looking for a short trip into nature before returning to a bustling day. It won't take long to see why these are a couple of our favorite scenic hiking trails in New Hampshire.
5. Lockes Hill Trail, Gilford
Lockes Hill Road, Lockes Hill Rd, Gilford, NH 03249, USA
NH Offroads / alltrails.com
This beautiful 1.8 mile loop trail in the Kimball Wildlife Forest is actually pretty simple. It's got just 418 feet of elevation gain, making it perfect for families! Once you reach the top of the Lockes Hill Trail, you'll enjoy views of Lake Winnipesaukee and beyond that stretch for miles.

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6. Old Bridle Path, West Rattlesnake Natural Area
West Rattlesnake Mountain, Center Sandwich, NH 03227, USA
Nate Calfa / alltrails.com
This perfect trail is less than 2 miles out and back. It includes some climbing, but after that you'll end up at the most incredible overlook of Squam Lake.
7. The Artists Bluff Trail, Franconia Notch State Park
Artists Bluff, Franconia, NH 03580, USA
Sarah Hines / alltrails.com
The Artists Bluff trail is about 1.5 miles leading to an extraordinary overlook in Franconia Notch State Park. Artists Bluff is about 2,368 ft high which means the hike is steep, but the shorter distance makes this trail a bit easier on the legs despite some rocky uphill portions. The views of Echo Lake and Cannon Mountain at the top are totally worth it.
8. Black Cap Trail, Green Hills Preserve
252 Thompson Rd, North Conway, NH 03860, USA
Ellen Miano / alltrails.com
This wonderfully fun trail is near North Conway and it's just a short two miles long and provides a great view of the White Mountains and the Presidential Range.
9. Lonesome Lake Trail, Franconia Notch State Park
Franconia Notch State Park, Flume Gorge, Daniel Webster Hwy, Lincoln, NH 03251, USA
Madeleine Ryderheim / alltrails.com
This beautiful loop trail in New Hampshire is just over three miles, and while it has some rocky spots, it'll all be worth it when you reach the magnificent sight of Lonesome Lake. Lonesome Lake Trail is an easy hike near me if you’re near Franconia Notch State Park!
10. Sabbaday Falls, near Conway
Sabbaday Falls, Waterville Valley, NH 03259, USA
Derek Palmer / alltrails.com
These beautiful falls are one of the most popular waterfalls in New Hampshire, and for good reason. It's an easy walk of about a quarter mile to get to the falls, and once you do you'll be rewarded with a real stunner. It’s one of the best trails in Southern New Hampshire.

For more easy trails in NH, check out some of our favorite waterfall hikes in New Hampshire. What would you call the best hikes in New Hampshire? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

Make sure to sign up at Alltrails.com for access to all the best trails in New Hampshire.

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More to Explore

Easy Trails in New Hampshire

Tori Jane | July 18, 2022

What are some of the most amazing scenic hikes in New Hampshire?  

The most scenic hikes in New Hampshire are:

  • Mount Washington
  • Franconia Ridge Loop
  • Mount Monadnock
  • Mount Chocorua
  • Mount Cardigan
  • Arethusa Falls
  • Mount Osceola
  • Welch-Dickey Loop
  • The Gorge Brook Trail
  • The Flume Gorge

With almost 2,000 amazing easy trails in NH to choose from, it can feel a little overwhelming! We get it, which is why we’re here with a handful of hikes to choose from that you’re sure to love. Among the most amazing scenic hikes in New Hampshire are gems like the awe-inspiring Mount Lafayette and Franconia Ridge Trail Loop, which is located at Franconia Notch State Park and is outrageously popular despite being quite challenging. It’s easy to see why, though: it’s one of the most awe-inspiring hiking trails in the United States! Another beloved scenic hike in New Hampshire is the Mount Willard Trail, at Crawford Notch State Park, which is pretty steep but worth the effort. Trust us. It’s amazing.  

What are the best kid-friendly hikes around New Hampshire?  

Okay, so what about some easy hikes around New Hampshire that kids can do? There are more than 400 trails that fit this writer’s definition of “kid-friendly” that are both brief – two miles long or shorter – and easy. If you end up at Franconia Notch State Park and can’t do the Ridge Trail Loop we mentioned above, no worries. Do the Artist Bluff Trail instead. It’s just one and a half miles long, and kids and adults alike will absolutely love it. Sabbaday Falls, in the White Mountain National Forest, is another excellent kid-friendly hike in New Hampshire; it’s less than a mile in length and leads to one of our favorite little waterfalls in New Hampshire.  

Where are the most awesome easy hikes in New Hampshire? 

Once again, Franconia Notch State Park earns a mention. Yet another trail within this state park in New Hampshire is worth mentioning here, and it’s the Flume Gorge Trail. It’s just over two miles long and offers up some amazing views. It’s so popular you need to pay an admission fee to access it! We also love hiking trails like the Glen Ellis Falls Trail (which is less than a half mile long), the Lake Massabesic Trail, and the breathtaking Crystal Cascades hike in White Mountain National Forest.  

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