New Hampshire doesn’t hold back in the fall. From the exposed granite slabs of the White Mountains down to the quieter, lower peaks near the Seacoast, there’s a hike for basically every mood, skill level, and patience-for-crowds threshold once the leaves start turning.
I already have another guide to the classic White Mountain fall foliage hikes over on Chasing ADVNTR, so this list of the fall hikes in New Hampshire skips those and goes wider: 18 hikes across the whole state, grouped by region, so you can pick based on where you’re starting from or what kind of day you want. I’ve personally hiked every trail below, and I’ve linked out to the full trail guides on Chasing ADVNTR wherever I’ve written one.
A quick note on timing before we get into it: peak foliage in New Hampshire typically runs from late September in the higher elevations of the White Mountains down through mid-October in the Lakes Region and southern part of the state. If you’re chasing peak color, it’s worth checking a foliage tracker before you commit to a drive
White Mountains
Mount Willard
Distance: 3.1 miles | Elevation Gain: 600 feet | Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
A classic for a reason. The route from Crawford Notch Depot is easy to follow and gains elevation steadily until it ends on a rocky cliff looking south down Crawford Notch, with Route 302 winding through the valley below. It’s become one of the most photographed viewpoints in the state, and fall is when it earns that reputation.
Show Image Mount Willard in September, right before the leaves change
Full guide on Chasing ADVNTR → Hiking Mt. Willard NH
Artist Bluff
Distance: 1.5-mile loop | Elevation Gain: 500 feet | Difficulty: Moderate
Short, steep, and one of the most rewarding views-per-mile hikes in the state. From the rocky outcropping at the top, you’re looking south over Route 93 as it cuts between Cannon Mountain and the valley, with Echo Lake below. This one gets discovered fast every October — I’ve arrived right at sunrise and still found the summit crowded, so go early or go on a weekday if you can.
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Full guide on Chasing ADVNTR → Artist Bluff and Bald Mountain
Boulder Loop Trail
Distance: 3 miles | Elevation Gain: 900 feet | Difficulty: Moderate
Right off the Kancamagus Highway, this is a great stop-and-stretch hike if you’re already driving the Kanc for the scenery. It’s mostly easy walking with some rocks and roots, gaining almost 1,000 feet over 1.5 miles, and the best views are on the short spur trail near the top. Park at the Albany Covered Bridge lot and hike the loop in either direction.
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Full guide on Chasing ADVNTR → Hiking the Boulder Loop Trail
Welch-Dickey Loop Trail
Distance: 4.4 miles | Elevation Gain: 1,800 feet | Difficulty: Moderate to challenging
This is one of my favorite hikes in the entire state, fall or otherwise. You spend an enormous amount of time walking on open granite slabs with almost no tree cover, which means near-constant views the whole way up and over both summits. My favorite time of year to do this loop is September and October, specifically to catch the changing leaves from up on the ridge.
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Full guide on Chasing ADVNTR → Hiking the Welch-Dickey Loop Trail
Table Mountain
Distance: 4 miles | Elevation Gain: 1,300 feet | Difficulty: Moderate
Tucked off Bear Notch Road in Bartlett, this one’s a little quieter than most of the Kancamagus crowd. We hiked it on a Sunday in October with the kids and the dog, and it turned out to be exactly the kind of hike I wanted: a stream with small waterfalls for the first half, then a steady climb up rock slabs to a summit ledge with sweeping views south toward Chocorua. A great one if you want real fall color without fighting for a parking spot.
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Full guide on Chasing ADVNTR → How to Hike Table Mountain NH
Sabbaday Falls
Distance: 0.7 miles | Elevation Gain: 100 feet | Difficulty: Easy, wheelchair accessible
If you want a fall foliage stop that barely counts as a hike, this is it. A wide, flat trail along the Kancamagus Highway leads to a 45-foot waterfall with wooden stairs and viewing platforms. We visited on one of the busiest fall foliage weekends of the year and the lot was completely packed, but it was still worth it — go early or on a weekday if you want it to feel less like a theme park.
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Full guide on Chasing ADVNTR → Visiting Sabbaday Falls
Ripley Falls
Distance: 1 mile round trip | Elevation Gain: 300 feet | Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
A short, steep-in-sections hike in Crawford Notch to a 100-foot waterfall sliding down a smooth rock face. We visited in September and had the falls entirely to ourselves — a nice contrast if Arethusa or Sabbaday feel too crowded that day. You can also combine this with Arethusa Falls for a longer loop if you want more mileage.
Full guide on Chasing ADVNTR → Ripley Falls, NH
Mount Garfield
Distance: 9.6 miles | Elevation Gain: 3,000 feet | Difficulty: Moderate/Difficult
I’ve personally hiked Garfield in the off-season, but it’s on this list because the summit is a completely exposed 360-degree slab with views straight across to the Presidential Range — exactly the kind of payoff that makes a fall hike worth the mileage. It’s a full day (5–7 hours), with a gradual climb through the woods and a steep, scrambly final push to the top.
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Full guide on Chasing ADVNTR → How to Hike Mount Garfield NH
Tripyramid Loop
Distance: 11 miles | Elevation Gain: 3,000 feet | Difficulty: Challenging
This is the toughest hike on this list, and I hiked it in the summer rather than fall — but the North and South Slides are so exposed that this would be a spectacular color hike for anyone comfortable with steep, loose rock scrambling. Budget a full day, expect real scrambling on the North Slide, and skip it if there’s any chance of rain or ice.
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Full guide on Chasing ADVNTR → How to Hike the Tripyramid Loop
Lost River Gorge and Boulder Caves
Distance: About 1 mile of boardwalk | Difficulty: Easy
Near North Woodstock, this is less a hike and more a walk through a series of waterfalls, caves, and boulders on a well-built boardwalk — a great option if you’re traveling with people who don’t want a strenuous climb but still want to be outside among the leaves. Book tickets in advance since it does have an entry fee.
Full guide on Chasing ADVNTR → see the easy hikes in the White Mountains guide for details.
Lakes Region
Mount Morgan and Percival Loop
Distance: 6.5 miles | Elevation Gain: 1,500 feet | Difficulty: Moderate to challenging
Just north of Squam Lake, this is one of the most fun trails in the state — there’s a ladder, a boulder cave to climb through, and views over Squam Lake and Winnipesaukee from both summits. We’ve hiked this loop in fall several times and it never gets old. Just watch the yellow trail markers carefully once the leaves come down, since a few sections of the trail get hard to follow.
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Full guide on Chasing ADVNTR → Hiking Mount Morgan and Percival Loop Trail
Mount Major
Distance: 3 miles round trip | Elevation Gain: 1,150 feet | Difficulty: Moderate
The classic Lake Winnipesaukee hike, and deservedly popular — the trail climbs through forest with several outlooks before a summit that looks straight out over the lake. Short, satisfying, and a good pick if you only have half a day. Just know that the parking lot fills early on fall weekends; cars line up down the road once it’s full.
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Full guide on Chasing ADVNTR → Mount Major Trails and Hike
Monadnock Region & Southern NH
Pack Monadnock & North Pack Monadnock
Distance: 3 miles round trip | Elevation Gain: 1,000 feet | Difficulty: Moderate
A loop over two connected peaks in Miller State Park via the Wapack Trail, with a fire tower at the summit of Pack Monadnock for panoramic views. It’s a manageable distance with a solid payoff, and far less crowded than its famous neighbor.
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Full guide on Chasing ADVNTR → North Pack Monadnock
Mount Cardigan
Distance: 5 miles round trip | Elevation Gain: 1,500 feet | Difficulty: Moderate
Cardigan’s exposed granite summit and stone fire tower make it one of the more dramatic hikes in this part of the state. The West Ridge Trail is the classic route up, and on a clear fall day you can see clean across to the White Mountains from the top.
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Full guide on Chasing ADVNTR → see the Southern NH hiking guide for full trail notes.
Mount Monadnock
Distance: 4 miles round trip | Elevation Gain: 1,800 feet | Difficulty: Moderate
Mount Monadnock is often called the most-hiked mountain in the world, and once you’re on the White Dot or White Cross Trail in October, you’ll believe it. It’s short by New Hampshire standards but genuinely steep and rocky near the top. Reservations are required at busy times, so plan ahead rather than showing up and hoping for the best.
Full guide on Chasing ADVNTR → see the Southern NH hiking guide for trail details.
Pawtuckaway State Park (South Mountain)
Distance: 5 miles | Elevation Gain: 825 feet | Difficulty: Moderate to challenging
A network of trails through Pawtuckaway State Park leads to the South Mountain fire tower, with a detour possible to the boulder field if you’re into bouldering as much as hiking. The varied terrain and lake views make this one of the more interesting trail systems in southern NH, and it’s a good pick if you want options rather than a single fixed route.
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Full guide on Chasing ADVNTR → see the Southern NH hiking guide for trail details.
Mount Sunapee
Distance: 5 miles round trip | Elevation Gain: 1,800 feet | Difficulty: Moderate
A mix of forest and open ledge leads to summit views over the Sunapee region. Less famous than Monadnock or Major, which makes it a solid pick if you’re trying to avoid the worst of the fall crowds while still getting a real climb.
Full guide on Chasing ADVNTR → see the Southern NH hiking guide for trail details.
Seacoast & Near Seacoast
Blue Job Mountain
Distance: 2 miles round trip | Elevation Gain: 630 feet | Difficulty: Easy
If you live on or near the Seacoast and want a real hike without a long drive, Blue Job is the answer. It’s one of the closest mountains to the coast, an easy climb through forest to a scenic summit, and a great option for families or anyone who wants a foliage payoff without a full day commitment.
Full guide on Chasing ADVNTR → see the Southern NH hiking guide for trail details.
A Few Things to Know Before You Go
Crowds. Fall weekends across New Hampshire get busy, especially Columbus Day weekend and anywhere along the Kancamagus. Arrive at sunrise, hike on a weekday, or pick one of the lower-traffic spots on this list (Table Mountain, Ripley Falls, Pack Monadnock) if crowds aren’t your thing.
What to pack. Weather swings hard once you gain elevation — it’s not unusual to have snow up high while it’s still mild at the trailhead. Bring real layers, food, water, and basic safety gear even on the short hikes.
Fees. Most White Mountain National Forest lots run $4–5 for parking, paid in cash envelopes at the lot. State parks like Pawtuckaway, Miller State Park, and Monadnock State Park have their own separate fee structures, and Monadnock requires reservations during peak periods.
Leave no trace. These trails see more traffic every fall, and it shows. Pack out everything, including food scraps, and keep dogs leashed where required.
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