NH, VT, MA > Need Recommendations > Mid September

[diakonos1984]

My wife and I are spending our 10th anniversary in New England and are hoping to do some camping/backpacking in New Hampshire, Vermont, and the Berkshires region of Massachusetts. Having never been anywhere near these places, we are in need of some recommendations!

Can any of ya'll (yes, we're coming from the South) give some kindly suggestions for us?

Scenery is more important to us than logging mileage, meaning we are okay backpacking 5-8 miles a day, but expect to be able to stop and enjoy a lot. We're also open to car-camping + day hike options. We'll have three nights to work with in NH/VT, and a couple day hike opportunities in MA.

Where would you start if you were us?

Thanks!

[Bennington.Camper]

Here in VT, the Long Trail is a nice way to spend some time.

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[diakonos1984]

Here in VT, the Long Trail is a nice way to spend some time.

Wonderful! Thanks for the recommendation! Is there a particular section of it (say <20 miles) that would be the most "bang-for-my-buck"?

[Al Icks]

I love VT and MA is alright but my vote goes to NH, specifically the White Mountains. Many more loop options compared to the Long Trail. Mid-September will be great since the crowds will be a little less but on the downside, you'll be too early for the fall foliage. I'm in the Whites every other weekend and mid-September is my favorite time of the year. Less crowds, less bugs, awesome temps both day and night. TrailsNH is a great resource for both trip reports and this map gives you an idea of how much this national forest has to offer. Have fun wherever you decide to go!

http://www.trailsnh.com/maps/index.p...2,-71.392&z=10

[WalksIn2Trees]

So many good ones, also, in NY, Within two-hours of driving of the Berkshires, there's tons of trails in the Adirondacks and Catskills, I've spent a lot of time at Moose River & Cedar River Flow Wilderness areas but that was before my hammocking days, and I remember those woods being really thick. But there's plenty of looping trails....but it seems like you're trying to tend more Eastward.

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[diakonos1984]

TrailsNH is a great resource for both trip reports and this map gives you an idea of how much this national forest has to offer.

Thanks for the great resource! Where to start!?!?! It's almost intimidating. Are there any particular "can't miss" natural features that I should make plans for?

[diakonos1984]

Within two-hours of driving of the Berkshires, there's tons of trails in the Adirondacks and Catskills, I've spent a lot of time at Moose River & Cedar River Flow Wilderness areas

I may have to consider that. We'll be doing day hikes in the Berkshires. I want to get on the AT for a few miles, as I have been telling my wife and kids for 10 years that we're going to thru-hike it as a family some day for my midlife crisis. My boys are 6 and 8... I finally got us into camping/backpacking 2 years ago, and they are warming up to the idea... Got to go visit it for short hikes every once in a while to build up the hype!

[somniferous]

In NH you have the Pemi loop, one of it's most popular loop trails. It's not an easy hike, but it has amazing views. The whites are usually pretty rugged terrain vs the Berkshires.Expect a lot of elevation change and steep trails, the Pemi wilderness area has a lot of unmarked/unmaintained trails. You can find less intense hikes if you look into it, usually shorter day hikes.

The Berkshires has more forest walks with less ridgeline walking. Still some great views, less rugged than the whites. Less elevation change, and fewer steep trail than the whites from my experiences.

Can't speak of Vermont hiking wise, but it seems similar to NH in the way of mountain height.

[Grumpy Squatch]

Can any of ya'll (yes, we're coming from the South) give some kindly suggestions for us?

Scenery is more important to us than logging mileage, meaning we are okay backpacking 5-8 miles a day, but expect to be able to stop and enjoy a lot.

Thanks!

A few thoughts:

First, don't listen to anyone on here (including me) if a 5-8 mile per day adventure with good scenery is your goal. Most people on here are hard core. The Pemi Loop that has been suggested is among the trips of a lifetime, but it is NOT easy, it IS dangerous, and it can feel like a death march at times. As a goal after training for it provided you have time flexibility to adjust to ever-changing weather? Sure, OK. As a fun anniversary adventure? No way, unless you and your wife enjoy running marathons for fun. With heavy packs on. Don't take my word for it. Here's what someone else said about it:

First timers should beware these smiles—they’re fraught with a masochistic amnesia that’s borderline endemic amongst White Mountains’ hikers. After all, Backpacker Magazine didn’t name the Pemi Loop the second hardest day hike in America for nothing. Connecting the dots between the paralyzing vistas is 31.5 rugged, knee-buckling miles with over 9,000 feet of elevation gain.

Also - it gets cold here. Nighttime lows in western MA and NH at this time are in the 40s for sure and we will get our first frost in September. Prepare for that if you're a little thinner-blooded.

Some thoughts for your regions...

Southern Berkshires: Do something around Bash Bish Falls in Mass and combine it with walks on the Taconic Trail in NY. Plenty of good hiking to be done here. Nothern Berkshires: head up to Florida, MA and visit the Hoosac tunnel (see http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/hoosac-tunnel) and combine that with some hiking in nearby Savoy Mountain or Monroe state forests. Monroe is a nice Fall hike and has some of the only old-growth timber left in New England. In northern Central MA, you can also find several small waterfalls and good hiking on property of the Trustees of Reservations around Royalston, MA. Including Doane's Falls and Royalston Falls. These are linked by the 22-mile Tully Trail, which is a loop, and does have an overnight shelter on it. See http://www.thetrustees.org/places-to...lly-trail.html for information.

In the Whites of NH you can find plenty of reasonable hiking. A hike - either as a day hike or an overnight to Thoreau Falls is not to be missed (http://www.newenglandwaterfalls.com/...reaufalls.html). I hammocked this a couple of years ago and there is plenty of hanging to be done nearby. You can't go wrong starting a hike on the Lincoln Woods Trail (though is is very popular) and dispersing from there. See https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE...rdb5365157.pdf for info. Or you can do what I usually do and hike its less-traveled cousin the Pemi East Side Trail into the wilderness. Hanging on both of these trails can be tough to find because the areas were so thoroughly logged as recently as the 50s and 60s so the trees are really dense. But it can be done if you're flexible. Take the Cog Railway up Mount Washington too.

Vermont is a mystery to me so I'll leave those suggestions to others.

One more note - will you be in NH around 9/9? There is an event happening that might be interesting.

Good luck.

[Scubahhh]

With two young kids and your wife I suggest you consider camping in WMNF campgrounds in NH and day-hiking. There are lots of nice campgrounds you can research on-line, and some terrific day hikes for all levels.

Also check out www.vftt.com and www.newenglandtrailconditions.com for helpful info.

Have fun!