Best Short Quick Easy Hikes In NH

Another option would be to drive up the Mt. Washington Carriage Road & park in the Air Force Lot (~500' below summit on the NW side of the road) and walk toward Mt. Clay.

dug said:

East Pond, Black Pond, Lonesome Lake, Greeley Ponds, Three Ponds, all have views of peaks from their shores, and are pretty flat.

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I like that notion of a pond as a destination, some have a mountain backdrop, but it sounds like Lonesome Lake and Greely Ponds would have an unacceptable combination of distance and elevation gain. They would, however, be excellent destinations if an easier hike worked out and progressively more challenging hikes were in order. Zealand, as many have indicated, also fills that bill nicely. We've enjoyed Church Pond (off the Kanc), which starts with an easy crossing of the Swift River and proceeds in an ancient lake bed surrounded by mountains. It is a flat 3 miles loop, or less, doesn't get much traffic (shhhhhhhhhh), and offers an above average chance of spotting moose.

If you've got an AMC White Mountain Guide (any edition), they list easy hikes with a good summary of what to expect.

Easy walking in view of the Northern Presis-- Way of the Wildcat trail right from the base lodge of Wildcat.

Follows the Peabody River for a short ways then heads gently uphill and ends at those Thompson Falls. Parking right there, and the opportunity for Gondola ride to the summit, where there are pretty good treadways and great views, also picnic tables.