Bucket-List Trails
From majestic mountains to picturesque winding coastlines, outdoor explorers can get up close to New England’s diverse natural beauty thanks to the region’s many hiking and cycling trails. There are routes of all kinds, for all kinds of adventurers, but a few trails stand out from the rest because of their particular identities. These so-called bucket-list trails may be steeped in history, or they may have inspired generations of writers and artists. Or they may simply traverse the most scenic spots imaginable. All of them, though, help define the heart and soul of New England.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Legendary trails abound in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, a region widely considered to be the crown jewel of New England’s hiking and climbing scenes. The focus of many explorers here is the Northeast’s tallest peak, Mount Washington (6,288 feet/1,917m), which offers myriad routes to the summit. The granddaddy of these is the Crawford Path, which was first established more than 200 years ago. It offers the full White Mountains experience in one hike: steep ascents, boulder-strewn peaks, and wide-open plateaus where hikers can linger and take in the panoramic views before pushing on to the top.
Another unforgettable excursion, the Franconia Ridge Loop, can be found among Mount Washington’s neighboring mountains. This 8.3-mile (13km) hike connects four trails as it traverses three peaks—Mount Lafayette, Mount Lincoln, and Little Haystack—with scenic waterfalls and extended above-the-treeline viewing along the way.
The White Mountains region doesn’t disappoint when it comes to bike tours, either. The Cross New Hampshire Adventure Trail is a stunning 83-mile (133.5km) cycling route spanning the region’s northern half, passing through nearly a dozen little mountain towns along the way. You could do it in a day, but why rush? Pack a camping tent, or enjoy the warm welcome at a local lodging establishment.
A favorite hike in southern New Hampshire, meanwhile, proves that not all of New England’s bucket-list trails are lengthy excursions. True family-friendly adventure awaits at Mount Monadnock (3,165 feet/965m), where just a few hours of effort will get you to the top of the second-most-climbed peak in the world—after Japan’s Mount Fuji—and the only one with views of all six New England states.
CONNECTICUT
Among serious hikers, there may be no grander pursuit in the United States than the Appalachian Trail, which runs 2,194 miles (3,531km) between Georgia and Maine. The A.T. enters New England through Connecticut’s northwest corner, where it travels 52 miles (84km) mostly along the Housatonic River Valley, an area marked by deep forests, rugged rocky hills, open valleys, ravines, and waterfalls.
Bikers, on the other hand, will relish the chance to explore the 50-mile (80.5km) Air Line State Park Trail located in eastern Connecticut. Created from a former Boston-to-New York railway line, the trail offers a mix of riding surfaces—crushed rock, gravel, stone dust—with an even wider variety of sights and stopping points, including state forests, town centers, and wildlife management areas. One highlight: In the village of Willimantic, history fans can dive into train lore at the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum.
Central Connecticut also boasts a don’t-miss bike trail, the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail, which runs from New Haven up to the Massachusetts border and beyond. The longest paved trail in the state, the Connecticut portion spans nearly 50 miles (80.5km) and brings the charms of the Nutmeg State into full focus as it passes through both urban and rural communities.
VERMONT
Built between 1910 and 1930 on the main ridge of the Green Mountains, Vermont’s Long Trail hiking path actually inspired the creation of its more famous neighbor, the Appalachian Trail. The 272-mile (438km) Long Trail runs right through the center of Vermont, from the Massachusetts state line to the Canadian border, and hiking its full length usually requires three to four weeks to complete. But if you’re looking for a singular experience that brings you deep into Vermont’s pristine wilderness and over its biggest peaks, nothing else compares.
While Vermont is widely known in mountain biking circles for its challenging backwoods terrain, that’s just one part of its appeal for two-wheeled explorers. Combining paved, dirt, and gravel sections, the Cross Vermont Trail is a 75-mile (121km) sightseeing route across the width of Vermont, from the shores of mighty Lake Champlain to the Connecticut River, on the New Hampshire border. Similarly, the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail—hailed as the longest rail trail in New England—is a 93-mile (150km) cruiser that offers cyclists some of the most beautiful scenery in the state. It passes through 18 northern towns as it runs beside the Lamoille River and into the heart of the Green Mountains.
MAINE
For that feeling of total immersion in nature, hikers prepared for a longer trek (6–9 days) can tackle the 100-Mile Wilderness, the next-to-last section of the Appalachian Trail and widely considered the A.T.’s wildest stretch. This area was famously described by New England–born writer Henry David Thoreau, and some 150 years later, little of its rugged charm has changed. The full route runs from Monson, just south of Moosehead Lake, to the edge of Baxter State Park. Camping is required for a good portion of the trail, but there are also a handful of cabins operated by the Appalachian Mountain Club, where home-cooked meals and hot showers await.
The last piece of the Appalachian Trail, of course, ends in Maine’s most famous summit hike—up the 5,269-foot (1,606km) Mount Katahdin in Baxter State Park. There are different ways to reach the top, but experienced climbers will want to include the stretch known as the Knife Edge Trail, a narrow, 1-mile (1.6km) path across a rocky ridge with sheer drop-offs on either side.
Away from the mountains and over on the coast, the 10-mile (16km) Bold Coast Trail is a lesser-known gem in the region known as DownEast Maine. Located near the town of Cutler, this remote hiking trail has the power to make visitors feel as though they have the entire Gulf of Maine to themselves.
MASSACHUSETTS
New England’s best coastal biking adventures can be found in Massachusetts, starting with the 27.5-mile (44km) Cape Cod Rail Trail. Flat and paved, the course runs through seven towns on Cape Cod, from Yarmouth to Wellfleet, with so many options for rest and refreshments breaks that you can choose to linger for hours or have a good workout before cooling off on a Cape beach. There are plenty of offshoot trails, too—such as those in lovely Nickerson State Park—and at the end of the ride lies the Cape Cod National Seashore, one of the most treasured national parks in the United States. For a shorter route that packs just as much scenic appeal, head to the Shining Sea Bikeway in Falmouth—an almost perfect encapsulation of the Cape’s natural beauty in one simple, easy-to-cruise 10.7-mile (17km) ride.
For those traveling to Boston—aka “the capital of New England”—a bucket-list hike lies just south of this bustling metropolis. The 7,000-acre (2,833ha) Blue Hills Reservation has 125 miles (201km) of trails that lead visitors over small summits, through marshes, and across meadows, but you can’t top the Blue Hills Skyline Trail, a 15-mile (24km) out-and-back trek that welcomes hikers of all abilities. The short ascent up Great Blue Hill, the tallest point in the reservation, offers commanding views of the region, including the Boston skyline.
RHODE ISLAND
Don’t let Rhode Island’s size fool you: The smallest U.S. state still has lots of terrain for explorers of all kinds. Among its signature trails is the East Bay Bike Path, a 14.5-mile (23km) jaunt along Narragansett Bay, between the cities of Providence and Bristol. Possible stops include the Crescent Park Carousel in East Providence, the Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium in Bristol, and—for a classic Rhode Island refreshment—the Del’s Frozen Lemonade stand at Colt State Park.
For an even more robust exploration of Rhode Island, set your hiking boots on the North-South Trail, a 75-mile (121km) trek that runs the entire length of the state, from Charlestown to Burrillville. State parks, former farmland, and even an abandoned ski resort are all among the sights to see. Near the Massachusetts border, you can hop onto the Midstate Trail, which runs another 95 miles (153km) to the peak of Mount Watatic in Ashburnham, Massachusetts.
