10 Easy New Hampshire Hikes With Incredible Views

I love a good New Hampshire mountain view. Do I always want to hike six hours uphill to see it? Absolutely not.

So if you're looking for the view without making hiking your entire day, here are 10 New Hampshire hikes to put on your list.

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1. Artist Bluff — Franconia

If we're talking about maximum view for minimum hiking, Artist Bluff has to be near the top of the list.

The famous overlook gives you a beautiful view of Echo Lake, Cannon Mountain and Franconia Notch.

If you skip the full loop and hike directly to Artist Bluff, Visit New Hampshire says the trip to the bluff is only about a half-mile.

Fair warning: because the payoff is so good for such a short hike, you won't exactly have this place to yourself... especially once fall foliage arrives.

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2. Pitcher Mountain — Stoddard

This might be one of the best-kept secrets on this list.

The hike is less than a mile round trip, but Visit New Hampshire says the summit views rival those found on some of the state's much bigger mountains.

There's also a fire tower at the top, and during summer you may even find wild blueberries and raspberries growing around the summit.

That's a pretty good return on your investment.

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3. Mount Willard — Crawford Notch

This one requires a little more work, but the view at the end is one of my favorites in New Hampshire.

The Mount Willard Trail is roughly 3.2 miles and climbs gradually through the woods before opening onto a huge ledge overlooking Crawford Notch.

From the top, you're looking straight down the notch with Route 302 and the Conway Scenic Railroad tracks running through the valley.

It's one of those views that looks like it should require a much harder hike.

4. West Rattlesnake Mountain — Holderness Area

If lake views are more your thing, put West Rattlesnake on the list.

The hike leads to open ledges overlooking Squam Lake with mountains stretching out behind it.

It's another popular family hike because you don't have to climb one of New Hampshire's giant peaks to get a classic Granite State view.

Bring lunch. The ledges at the top practically beg you to sit down and stay awhile.

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5. Cathedral Ledge — Bartlett

I'm bending the definition of "hike" a little with this one.

That's because you can actually drive the mile-long auto road to the top of Cathedral Ledge when it's open.

Once you're there, New Hampshire State Parks says there's a short accessible trail leading from the summit area to views overlooking the Saco River Valley and White Mountains.

If your goal is simply an incredible view with as little climbing as possible, this is tough to beat.

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6. Lonesome Lake — Franconia Notch

You don't necessarily need to reach a summit to get a beautiful mountain view.

Lonesome Lake sits above Franconia Notch and gives hikers beautiful views of the surrounding mountains reflected in the water.

The hike is around three miles and is a little more involved than some of the shortest options on this list, but it's still a popular family outing.

And there's something pretty great about arriving at a mountain lake instead of another summit.

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7. Barringer's Cliffs and Collins Point — Auburn

Here's one for those of us closer to southern New Hampshire.

This trail near Lake Massabesic is just under three miles and is generally considered a fairly easy route.

Make your way to Barringer's Cliffs and you're rewarded with views overlooking the lake.

It's proof that you don't always have to drive all the way to the White Mountains to find a great New Hampshire hike.

8. Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge — Newington

We're changing scenery completely for this one.

Instead of mountains, the Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge gives you forests, salt marshes, mudflats and glimpses of Great Bay.

The Ferry Way Loop is about 1.9 miles and offers a much more leisurely hike than climbing a mountain.

For those of us on the Seacoast, this is an easy one to add to the list.

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9. Odiorne Point State Park — Rye

Here's another option where "hike" doesn't have to mean "climb."

Odiorne Point offers a network of walking trails along New Hampshire's coastline, including a paved recreational trail.

You'll trade summit views for ocean views, rocky shoreline and salt air.

Not every incredible New Hampshire view has to come from the top of a mountain.

10. Cathedral Ledge/Echo Lake Area — North Conway

If you want to turn an easy outdoor adventure into an afternoon, the trails around Echo Lake give you views of Cathedral and White Horse ledges without committing to a major mountain climb.

New Hampshire State Parks lists the scenic trail around Echo Lake at about one mile.

Pair that with Cathedral Ledge and you've got a pretty fantastic low-effort North Conway adventure.

Easy Doesn't Mean Unprepared

There's one important disclaimer here.

"Easy" is relative.

New Hampshire trails can include rocks, roots, mud, steep sections and rapidly changing weather... even when the mileage doesn't look intimidating.

Bring water, wear appropriate footwear, check the weather and trail conditions before leaving, and know what you're comfortable doing.

One of the things I've learned since moving to New Hampshire is that you don't necessarily have to tackle a 4,000-footer to get one of those "wow, this is why people live here" views.

Because the whole point of this list is pretty simple:

You don't have to exhaust yourself to experience some incredible New Hampshire scenery.