Because they had just gotten some snow a few days before our hike, we wore spikes pretty much the whole way up and down. By the time we made our way back down, a lot of the snow had melted and things were getting muddy—ah yes, the joys of mud season hiking!

The views were pretty awesome the whole way up, and we were curious how different it would look in the summer once the leaves return.

When you hit the rock ledges, make sure to look behind you—the views are incredible. And on the way down? You’re in for a treat! Funny enough, when we reached the summit, we actually questioned if we had made it. (Spoiler: we had.) The reason we second-guessed it is because, while the views from the peak were cool, they weren’t quite as jaw-dropping as the ones from the ledges. The summit gives you a “window” view of the White Mountains, including Mount Washington and Mount Chocorua in sight. The ledges, though, offer sweeping views of the Lakes Region. Honestly, you can’t go wrong here.

When we rate hikes, we know it’s totally subjective. So many things can impact the experience—how we’re feeling, whether we slept well, if we worked out too hard the day before—you get it. So take our non-expert rating with a grain of salt:

Rating:
Views: 10/10
Difficulty: 4/10
Dog friendly: Yes, as long as they’re leashed
Bathrooms: None in sight (remember, we were there in late winter/early spring)

Stats: 5.2 miles round trip

1,335 feet of elevation gain