Hiking, climbing, skiing, or biking the White Mountains is a one-of-a-kind experience.

With over 700,000 acres of protected forest, which encompasses New England’s highest peak, Mount Washington, 48 4,000-foot hikes, a portion of the Appalachian Trail, scenic overlooks, waterfalls, and more, there is a soul-changing outdoor adventure out there for you!

Hiring a guide can help you get there. 

For more information on planning your Mt. Washington Valley vacation, sign up for our monthly newsletter! (But before you do anything, first, we implore you take the MWV Pledge to promise to protect them! Sign your name and join the others who have pledged to care for the White Mountain National Forest to ensure it sticks around for years to come.)

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1. Go Fishing!

Mt. Washington Valley is a mecca for fishing enthusiasts! With access to rivers and lakes, it provides an abundance of opportunities to catch an array of fish!

To get the most of these pristine bodies of water, we highly recommend learning from the professionals and booking a guided fishing tour.

Randy Ouellette of Swift River Ghillie is a touchstone for fly-fishers looking to learn or become more serious in the sport. He offers Wade Trips and Fly-Fishing 101, which is great for beginners, and Full-Day Wade Trips and Drift Boat Trips that make a great fit for the more advanced fly-fisher.

Fish Nerds Guide Service, another fishing guide service led by a passionate local fisher, offers a selection of excursions for those looking to master the art of fishing, or just to spend a day on the water.

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2. Make it About the Kids!

There are many youth guiding programs offered by professional local guides in Mt. Washington Valley.

Enroll your child in a single or multi-day rock climbing camps that teaches them skill sets that can be applied to both rock climbing and life in general. International Mountain Climbing School offers rock climbing lessons and camps for both youth, families, and adults. Its youth programs are geared toward kids aged 8–17 years old.

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3. Stay Overnight!

The Appalachian Mountain Club offers multiple ways to enjoy your days and your nights in the mountains of Mt. Washington Valley!

Its Highland Center is a beautiful structure with guest rooms and a dining room that offers high-quality breakfast and dinner as part of your lodging reservation, and lunch for purchase. Plan a stay that includes overnights at the Highland Center with trips built around biking, hiking, paddling and more.

While the Highland Center is a great option for lodging, you can also embark on the AMC’s Hut-to-Hut guided hike! Led by a professional guide, you’ll hike your way to a series of huts over the span of a few days as you traverse the Presidential Mountain Range. Trips can be customized or you can sign up through an open enrollment course. Click here to learn more.
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4. Take a Skills Course

Learning how to read maps, plan around weather, and troubleshoot while trekking across more difficult terrain—these are all critical parts of enjoying your time spent outdoors. The fact is, the foundation of any outdoor adventure starts with a skills course. Guiding outfitters in Mt. Washington Valley all offer mountaineering skills course, wilderness education, and navigation courses.

Mike Cherim of Redline Guiding has hiked every single trail described in the book “AMC White Mountains Guide Book,”—which equates to 1,440 miles of actual trail, and he shares his experience through courses such as a Wilderness Navigation Course course and Mountaineering Skills course.

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5. Get in the Water by Kayaking, or Rappelling a Waterfall!

There are many ways to zero in on the kind of adventure you’re looking for in the White Mountain National Forest. Sign up for a camp with the family, take a skills course, or try it all. For beginners and advanced adventurers there are many unique ways to experience the wild.

Northeast Mountaineering offers a waterfall rappelling course that allows you to enjoy waterfalls that are over 100 feet tall with the spectacular scenery of the White Mountains all around you from a whole new angle.

Great Glen Trails offers a Guided Wildlife Kayaking Tour, and a Sunset Kayaking Tour that both get you closer to nature, and offers a more personal excursion led by a local, passionate kayaker with years of experience on the water.

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For complete trip planning resources and information, visit visitmwv.com or call 800-367-3364 (800-DO-SEE-NH) to talk to a Mt Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce rep.  To learn more about New Hampshire vacations, go to www.VisitNH.gov.

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