Hiking Mt Kearsarge: A Kid-Friendly Adventure (and by kid-friendly, I mean no rock climbing or whining—well, maybe a little whining)

If you’re looking for a hike that screams "family fun" (or at least softly whispers it), Mt Kearsarge in Winslow State park in Wilmot, NH, is the spot. We saw families of all hiking abilities on the trail, so if you’re nervous about taking the kiddos, don’t be—this is the hike for you. The trail is about a mile to the summit with a 1,100-foot elevation gain. Don’t worry; there are no sudden rock scrambles or steep drop-offs—just a steady incline that even your most reluctant hiker (or spouse) can handle.

We've hiked this mountain before when our daughter was younger with friends it one of those magical days with kids and friends we treasure. Plus, we were on this side of the state anyway, so why not dust off the hiking boots? Spoiler alert: this wasn’t the best day for epic views. But hey, we enjoyed the beautiful trails, and it’s all about the journey, right? We took the Winslow Trail up, which has exactly zero breaks—just one continuous mile of uphill trekking. You’d think we’d remember that mountains go up, but it’s good to be reminded. At least you don’t have to climb over any boulders, and you can take it at your own pace (i.e., slowly). On a clear day, you can see into Vermont and enjoy views of the White Mountains. But today? Not so much. We reached the top and found ourselves...in the clouds. But hey, it was like being on our own personal foggy island—kind of cool, right?

At the summit, there’s a tower you can climb (if you haven’t had enough uphill for one day), and picnic tables where you can sit and contemplate life (or just eat your sandwich). Side note: who even hauls picnic tables and towers to the top of a mountain? Those are the real heroes of the hiking world. Like for real how do they get up there?

For the descent, we took the Barlow Trail—a slightly longer, less steep path that’s easy on the knees. The trail winds through these gorgeous wooded areas that honestly look like fairy villages. I kept expecting Tinkerbell to pop out from behind a tree and start sprinkling pixie dust. She must have been on vacation no fairies spotted today.

Back at the base, you’ll find bathrooms that are under construction (so fancy!) and some port-a-potties standing in for your bathroom needs. There are also picnic tables and a playground for the kids who somehow still have energy after hiking.

Have you hiked this mountain? If not, I highly recommend it, especially for families looking for an easy-going, no-drama hike. Our final verdict: 3.5/10 for difficulty (because uphill is still uphill), and 3/10 for views—usually, it’s a solid 10, but today’s foggy vibes brought it down a notch. What do you think? Worth the trip? Let me know in the comments!