New England Hikes for Families

I am an active mom of three boys. To keep us healthy and spend quality time together, we love to get out into our surrounding area by hiking. With mountains, forests, and varied coastlines, New England has so much to offer. Whether you want a long hike in the woods or a short hike along the ocean, these are some of the best hiking spots in New England. Read on to find the perfect New England hike to meet your family’s needs.

My Family’s Favorite New England Hikes

1. Purgatory Chasm, Sutton, Massachusetts

Hiking trails in Massachusetts
Being silly while doing some family bouldering in Fat Man’s Misery, Purgatory Chasm in Massachusetts. One of the benefits of hiking is uninterrupted family time.

Purgatory Chasm is definitely my boys’ favorite and the hike they ask to take repeatedly. They love that it can involve a fair amount of bouldering! If you aren’t up for the thrill of that, you can scramble over the bottom of the gully. This hike may be scary or too difficult for small kids. Read more about our hiking at Purgatory Chasm.

2. Cape Cod Canal Trail, Bourne, Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Cape Cod Canal trail
On the Cape Cod Canal Trail you will walk under the Bourne Bridge (pictured), Sagamore Bridge, and the Cape Cod Railroad Bridge.

This 14-mile round trip, multi-use, paved trail runs along the canal that separates the Cape Cod Peninsula from mainland Massachusetts. Read on for information about the Cape Cod Canal Trail. 

3. Lonesome Lake, Lincoln, New Hampshire

New England hiking trails, hiking trails in NH
The marshes at Lonesome Lake, New Hampshire.

Lonesome Lake is a full day hike up to an ATP cabin where you can enjoy lunch on top of the mountain with a gorgeous lake view. I especially enjoy the beauty of the marshes along the lake. Read on for more of our favorite family hikes in New Hampshire.

4. Stepping Stone Falls, Arcadia Management Area, Rhode Island

Although this hike can be tricky to find, the small continuous falls along this short hike are perfect for taking little kids to interact with nature.

5. Talcott Mountain, Simsbury, Connecticut

hiking trails in Ct

Climbing up to Hublein Tower provides one of my favorite views of New England in the fall. You can see all the way into Massachusetts! Read on for more of my favorite New England fall activities.

6. Flume Gorge, Lincoln, New Hampshire

Covered bridges, caves for exploring, waterfalls, and mountain views are all found along a natural chasm- the perfect recipe for a New Hampshire family day in nature.

Read on for more hikes around Lincoln, New Hampshire.

7. Tumbledown Mountain, Franklin County, Maine

Hiking trails in Maine
Tumbledown Mountain is one of the prettiest places I have been to in New England!

We are big fans of the granite stone walls and the coniferous beauty of western Maine. It is not easy, but this spectacular full-day hike will give you an overview of what this area of New England has to offer. Read on for all the details about climbing Tumbledown Mountain.

8. Mount Major, New Hampshire

best new england hikes for families

This moderate hike up a mountain will reward you with views of lakes and New Hampshire’s highest peak, Mount Washington. Read on for all the details.

9. Norman Bird Sanctuary, Middletown, Rhode Island

hiking trails in RI
Hanging Rock at the end of Norman Bird Sanctuary’s trail provides a scenic view of Newport.

As the name implies, you can catch a glimpse of some unique bird species, but this family-friendly hike also ends with a view of Second Beach in Newport. It is an excellent blend of forest, wildlife, and coastline.

10. Cadillac Mountain Summit Path, Acadia National Park, Maine

This US National Park is one of my favorites, and the view from this short paved path is unbelievable, so it tops my list!

Read about the best way to spend a fall weekend in Acadia National Park.

11. High Ledges, The Berkshires, Shelburne, Massachusetts

This half-mile walk through a nature conservatory ends with a panoramic view of the Deerfield Valley.

Read on for information about a day in Shelburne Falls.

What are your favorite New England Hikes? Be sure to let me know in the comments.

For more information, check out my hiking category of posts or check out A Local’s Guide to New England.

Read on for the best New England hikes. Many of these hikes are easy enough for even the little ones, but pretty enough for the whole family. #hikinginNewEngland #visitNewEngland #familytravel

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