Hikes With the Best Views
With 125+ miles of hiking trails, Waterville Valley is a hiking mecca. Whether you're looking to scramble up alpine summits, weave through luscious forests, or meander next to rivers and streams, Waterville Valley has hikes suited for explorers of all ages. When hiking, the most gratifying reward is often the view from the top. These views allow us to admire the beauty of the White Mountains from a new perspective, plus you can feel a sense of pride about your traverse. Here in the valley, there's no shortage of gorgeous summit vistas. Waterville welcomes hikers of all ability levels! You can discover awe-inspiring views on easy, moderate, and challenging hikes alike.
EASY
Elephant Rock Trail
Elephant Rock Trail is the fastest, easiest way to hike up Snow's Mountain! The 1-mile trail leads to the top of Snow's Mountain Chairlift, where you can enjoy gorgeous views of Mount Tecumseh and Mount Osceola. Bring along some discs and snacks, you can play Snow's Mountain 18-Hole Disc Golf Course on your hike down!
MODERATE
The Scaur
The Scaur is a 4.2-mile hike to a rocky ridge along Flume Peak. Offering incredible views of the ski area and the surrounding mountains, this moderate hike features a few steep patches but is generally considered easy-moderate, depending on your hiking experience.
Goodrich Rock
Goodrich Rock is an incredibly unique hike, weaving through conifer trees and over large glacial erratic boulders. This 4-mile hike culminates at Goodrich Rock, where you climb a 20-foot ladder to the top of the largest glacial erratics in New England - Goodrich Rock! From the top of Goodrich Rock, enjoy sweeping views of Mount Tecumseh and Sandwich Mountain Range.
Welch & Dickey
Welch & Dickey is a moderate 4-mile loop where hikers can enjoy panoramic mountain views throughout the bulk of their traverse. Featuring gigantic granite slabs, rock scrambles, and wild blueberries during the warmer summer months, this hike is a favorite among locals and visitors alike! We recommend hiking this loop counter-clockwise, beginning with Welch Mountain followed by Dickey Mountain.
ADVANCED
Mount Osceola
Mount Osceola is a 6.1-mile out-and-back hike leading to an incredible summit vista. Hikers traverse up a challenging slope with a few technically challenging areas. The summit view is well worth the trek, with stunning views of Mount Tecumseh, Waterville Valley, and the Sandwich Mountain Range.
Mount Tecumseh
Home to Waterville Valley Ski Resort, Mount Tecumseh also has a unique and beautiful National Forest trail that weaves up to the summit. Mount Tecumseh trail is a challenging, rocky, 4.9-mile round-trip hike, but hikers are rewarded with incredible views of the entire Mad River Valley and Sandwich Mountain range. Looking for a sunrise hike? Mount Tecumseh faces directly east, so it's the perfect adventure to enjoy a breathtaking alpine sunrise.
Tripyramid Loop
One of the most challenging loops in the valley, the Tripyramid Loop is a 10.2-mile loop that summits three mountain peaks: North Tripyramid, Middle Tripyramid, and South Tripyramid. While the summits are wooded, there are incredible views from the slides. We recommend hiking this loop clockwise, starting with North Tripyramid, traversing to the Middle, and then South.